American woman missing - Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia

[DandyDon]

A couple who dived the same ocean, but not buddied...

Joint team's search ongoing for missing US diver in Ambon - ANTARA News

Ambon (ANTARA) - A joint search and rescue (SAR) team of military, police officers, and civilians, Saturday, continued to look for US citizen Carol Marie Lakien, alias Leila, who went missing after diving into Amahusu waters, Ambon, Maluku.

Leila, 56, dove into the waters along with her husband, Cevin Scott Pool, 57, after which she went missing on Friday (Aug 7).

The SAR team comprised 40 personnel, including 21 divers, who began the search operation at 10 a.m. local time from Ambon Bay, Djunaedi, head of the Ambon Search and Rescue Office, stated here on Saturday.

The SAR office received a report on the missing US citizen on Friday at 1:20 p.m. local time, Djunaedi stated.

The couple dove into the waters at a spot some 150 meters from the coastal line in front of the Tirta Kencana Hotel, Amahusu Village, while their boat "Aqua Bago" was anchoring.

"It was the victim's husband, Cevin Scott Pool, who dove first at around 9:30 a.m. local time, and she followed suit," he revealed.

Later, Cevin Scott Pool came out to the surface and went to their boat where he waited for his wife. However, she never reappeared. Hence, he then called for help, he stated.

Despite bustling winds, strong currents, huge waves, and rains, the operation will continue until 6:30 p.m. local time. If the victim is still not found, the operations would continue for a week and be extended for another three days.

 

[DandyDon]

Additional information given in this one...

US dive instructor missing in Ambon - Divernet

An American scuba diving instructor who had been stranded in Indonesia for the past six months by the coronavirus pandemic has gone missing while diving from her yacht.

Her husband, also an instructor, reportedly waited more than two hours for her to surface before raising the alarm.

Carol “Laila” Lakien, 56 and from California, had been out diving with her husband Kevin Pool, 57. They had sailed to Ambon on their yacht Aquabago in February and, unable to return to the USA because of Covid-19 restrictions, had remained anchored in the south of the island.

Noted for its coral reefs and diving, Ambon is capital of the Maluku archipelago in the Banda Sea, midway between Sulawesi and West Papua.

The couple had taken the opportunity to dive regularly in Ambon Bay and had been doing so on the morning of 7 August. The yacht was anchored only about 150m out from a hotel in the village of Amahusa, at a reef site noted for its marine life.

After early bad weather cleared, Pool had dived solo for an hour from about 9.30am before Lakien joined him. Completing his dive, Pool had boarded the boat to wait for his wife but, according to the Ambon Search & Rescue Office, had not raised the alarm until around 1.40pm.

As bad weather set in again and strong currents were reported, the search and rescue operation did not get fully under way until 10am the following day, using three teams of navy divers as well as a National Search & Rescue Agency team, Maluku Police sea and air units and volunteer divers.

The operation was set to continue for a week.

 

[drbill]

Leila is a Facebook friend of mine. Hoping she is found safe.