The searches were conducted yesterday, 24 April by both divers and a specialised sonar operations team, over a 1sq km area.
The experienced diver, reported to be a man aged 61 and from Bristol, was in an eight-strong group of visiting and local divers operating from a charter boat out of Lyme Regis last Thursday, 21 April.
Diving about three miles offshore, the missing diver and his buddy were on their second dive of the day to collect scallops.
The diver’s buddy, reportedly a man from Swindon, raised the alarm at about 5.30pm after making a rapid ascent from a depth of about 22m.
He was put on oxygen aboard the dive boat before being airlifted by the Coastguard’s Portland helicopter for recompression treatment in Poole.
Surface searches were carried out until dark by Lyme Regis and Weymouth RNLI Lifeboats, Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue helicopters from Lee-on-Solent and Portland, the Lyme Regis Harbour Launch, the Royal Naval Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover and some private vessels.
It was reported yesterday that, after treatment, the buddy had been released from hospital.
Related links
Lost divers are named
South Coast diver is feared dead
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