Dr Judy Beard, an experienced diver, was on a club outing with fellow members of Hastings Sub-Aqua Club when she suffered an unusual accident.
Having completed a late morning dive on the wreck of the Oceana about six miles offshore, Dr Beard fell into the sea as she climbed up the stern ladder of the club’s hardboat, Betty Louise.
Dr Beard, 52, a medical consultant whose married name was Belcher, did not reappear.
An emergency call was put out and surface searches were conducted by the Coastguard SAR helicopter from Lee on Solent and lifeboats from Eastbourne and Hastings.
Other craft to join the searches were a lifeboat on passage in the area, fishing boats, a cargo vessel and private leisure vessels.
Conditions were fair with a moderate swell and good visibility.
However, any hope that the missing diver may have managed to surface some way from the dive boat were not rewarded with any sightings.
Searches continued for about eight hours before being stood down at nightfall.
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