Diver missing on the Aeolian Sky - near Swanage, UK

[DandyDon]

UPDATE: Major search for diver who failed to surface is suspended (From Bournemouth Echo)

A SEARCH operation is under way to find a diver who has not returned after a diving expedition this afternoon.
The UK Coastguard received a call at 4.40pm from the dive vessel Emma J, reporting that only two out of three divers had resurfaced.
A major search was this evening being carried out of an area south of Swanage covering 10.2 square nautical miles. It is understood the area being searched starts seven miles out to sea.
Poole all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboats, together with the Swanage all-weather lifeboat, were all involved in the search.
The Portland search and rescue helicopter was also involved initially, with the Lee-on-Solent SAR helicopter then taking over.
The divers are thought to have been exploring the wreck of the Aeolian Sky. They are not thought to be local but had launched from Swanage earlier in the day. It is understood they were all experienced.
Mark Rodaway, operations centre commander at the National Maritime Operations Centre, which is currently overseeing the search, said earlier this evening: “This is a significant incident.
“This diver has been missing for more than three hours and clearly this is very serious.

“We are concentrating our search on this area and will continue to do so.”
The dive boat recturned to shore just before 9pm. There were numerous RNLI volunteers from Swanage and Poole on the scene as well as Coastguard crews.
Police had also arrived on the scene.

 

[rivers]

Search has been called off

 

[RJP]

Some info from BSAC's FB page...

https://www.facebook.com/BritishSub...92113970059/10152920281460060/?type=1&theater

BSAC would like to pay a tribute to former BSAC Honorary Secretary Andy Moll. Andy failed to surface safely from a dive on a wreck near Swanage on Sunday 24 May 2015. A long standing member of the Severnside branch of BSAC, his branch and the Officers and staff of BSAC extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the Andy at this time.

Severnside SAC Chairman, Leon Smith, said:

"Andy has been a long-standing, active, and well-respected member of the diving community for over thirty years. He has been a dedicated supporter of BSAC and a buddy, instructor, and a good personal friend to a great many members of Severnside SAC. We trust that the diving community will respect the privacy of his family and friends as they deal with this great tragedy. The family have asked that fellow divers show their respects by avoiding speculation as to the circumstances of this incident whilst official enquiries are ongoing."

As well as his branch activities Andy Moll was previously very active on a national scale having been an active Instructor Trainer on the BSAC Instructor Training Scheme and served on the BSAC Board of Directors as first a Council member and then as Honorary Secretary.

Mary Tetley, BSAC Chief Executive said:

"Andy Moll was a very experienced diver, and a good friend of mine for many years. He worked with me on the BSAC Council and also previously served for a time as the Honorary Secretary of BSAC. He was full of passion and enthusiasm and the BSAC, and had a true love of scuba diving, and all that went with it. Andy was also a real family man and our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to them, in particular his wife Elaine and four daughters. Andy will be truly missed by his BSAC club where he had so many friends, and the wider BSAC family."

You can read full statement here: Tributes paid to former BSAC Honorary Secretary Andy Moll - British Sub-Aqua Club

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Andy failed to surface safely from a dive on a wreck near Swanage on Sunday 24 May 2015.

In BSAC language - does that generally mean penetration or just diving on or around a wreck?

 

[TheWartHog]

Sad news indeed but just to clarify that this incident happened off the south coast of England.

 

[rivers]

In BSAC language - does that generally mean penetration or just diving on or around a wreck?

In the UK it's a little of both

---------- Post added May 27th, 2015 at 09:17 AM ----------

If you have good conditions on the Sky, it's a fantastic wreck. But, it's one of those wrecks that if you're not paying attention and vis is bad, you can end up inside and not realise it. Or he could have some sort of health issue. At this point, no one knows what happened.

 

[drmwc]

I don't think they were diving the Sky. The article no longer mentions it - it talks about the Kyarra and Aparima.

I dived the Sky that afternoon (or to be more accurate, the seabed near it). We ended the dive at 4.00, and were last divers up on our rib. So we would have lifted the shot by 4.10-ish. There was no sign of the boat in question by the time we left.

 

[rivers]

strange. it's not like any of those wrecks are even remotely near each other. kyarra is a 20 minute chug from swanage, sky is 45 minutes to an hour, and not sure on the aparima

 

[DandyDon]

Body found: Andy Moll: Body of missing diver found nearly a month after he disappeared in English Channel - Mirror Online