An 18-year-old freediver has died following a search-and-rescue operation off the coast of Hawaii Island, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Joven Young, from Kailua-Kona, was diving with an acquaintance near Pebble Beach in Captain Cook on Tuesday, October 13, when the other diver lost sight of him underwater.
According to the Hawaiʻi Police Department, officers responded to the beach at the bottom of Kaohe Road at approximately 1 p.m., following a report from the United States Coast Guard that a diver was missing.
Local broadcaster Hawaii News Now reported that Young had been freediving with a friend, who alerted a nearby vessel after losing sight of him. The vessel subsequently contacted the Coast Guard.
Search-and-Rescue Teams Locate Missing Diver
A search operation involving emergency responders was launched after Young was reported missing.
Hawaiʻi Fire Department search-and-rescue personnel located the teenager in the water at approximately 3:46 p.m., more than two hours after police were first alerted.
Young was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m.
Police have opened a coroner’s inquest investigation, and an autopsy has been ordered to establish the exact cause of death.
Authorities have stated that foul play is not suspected.
At the time of publication, investigators had not publicly established what caused Young to become separated from his diving companion or what happened underwater.
Remembering Joven Young
Young was a recent graduate of Konawaena High School, where he played basketball throughout his four years at the school.
According to family and friends who spoke with Hawaii News Now, he was passionate about the ocean and enjoyed diving, fishing, surfing and exploring Hawaii’s natural environment.
He had reportedly planned to join the United States Coast Guard in January.
Friends and former teammates remembered him for his sense of humour, his dedication to basketball and the importance he placed on his family and relationships.
His former basketball coach, Donald Awa, described his death as a terrible accident and remembered him as a valued member of the school community.
Young’s death has prompted tributes from those who knew him, with family members, friends and former teammates mourning the loss of a young man whose future had included plans for a career at sea.
Freediving Safety and Buddy Awareness
The incident also highlights the importance of established safety procedures when freediving, although investigators have not determined whether any particular factor contributed to Young’s death.
Unlike scuba diving, freediving involves descending underwater while holding one’s breath, without breathing apparatus.
Freediving safety organisations emphasise the importance of direct buddy supervision, appropriate training and having someone at the surface capable of responding immediately if a diver experiences difficulties.
The widely recognised one-up, one-down buddy system is designed to ensure that one diver remains at the surface to monitor the other during a breath-hold dive.
Divers should also understand the risks associated with breath-hold diving, including loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient oxygen.
However, there is currently no evidence establishing that hypoxia, loss of consciousness or any specific diving-related medical event caused this incident.
Investigation Continues
The Hawaiʻi Police Department is continuing its investigation and has appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Bradley Llanes of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section.
Investigators can be reached on 808-326-4646, extension 3268, or by email at bradley.llanes@hawaiipolice.gov.
The results of the ordered autopsy may provide further information about the circumstances surrounding Young’s death.
The Scuba News will update this report if authorities release significant new findings.
