Diver disappears off Portland

Alan Dunster, 64, from Surrey, was one of a party diving out of Weymouth on 22 July aboard the charter vessel Skin-Deeper.

The divers were exploring the wreck of the steam yacht Warrior II which lies in 56m of water, 13 miles south-east of Portland Bill.

An emergency call was made from the dive boat at about 11am, after Dunster had failed to surface.

For the rest of the day, searches were mounted by four RNLI lifeboats including both of Weymouth’s craft, the Coastguard SAR helicopter from Portland, the UK Border Agency vessel Valiant and a Sea Fisheries Protection plane.

Dive boats, private leisure vessels and another plane also took part.

Despite good weather conditions including a quiet sea, no sign of the Dunster was found.

Portland Coastguard confirmed the following day that no further surface and air searches were to be made.

Skin Deep Diving ran a subsequent underwater search of the wreck area with volunteering sport divers, but no sighting of Dunster or any of his equipment was made.

Dunster was an immensely experienced deep wreck diver who for many years organised diving charters for some of the country’s foremost technical diving teams.