The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has stated that the boy had been diving on 12 August with his father from a RIB near Berry Head, in Devon.
The RIB did not carry a VHF radio but a nearby vessel, Jennifer Ann, was able to put an emergency call through to Brixham Coastguard, at 1.15pm.
A search was launched involving helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RAF Chivenor, and lifeboats from Torbay, Teignmouth and Salcombe, in Force 5-6 south-westerly winds, moderate seas and good visibility.
Nothing was found and at 9pm, in fading light, the searches were called off. Coastguard walking teams continued to search the coastline on 13 August.
According to the MCA, the boy's father stated that he had ascended with his son to a depth of 10m, and that the boy had signalled that he was OK before the final ascent to the surface. On reaching the surface, however, the father found that his son had not appeared with him.
*Two divers had to be airlifted off South Devon for recompression treatment on Saturday, 9 August in different incidents just 15 minutes and a few miles apart.
First a 47-year-old man was picked up off Dartmouth after making a rapid ascent from 60m. A lifeboat then tended a woman suspected of suffering from decompression illness off Salcombe.
The lifeboat was able to rendezvous with the helicopter, which was still in the area, and the divers were flown together to Poole for recompression treatment.
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