Eight scuba divers have been rescued alive after a major search operation off Hachijō Island, Japan, after the group failed to surface at the expected time following a dive.
The incident happened on Saturday, October 3, in waters west of Hachijō Island, part of Tokyo’s Izu Islands.
According to reports citing the Shimoda Coast Guard, the group consisted of seven diving customers and one instructor.
Divers Failed to Surface as Scheduled
The divers entered the water at around 11:30am and were expected to surface at approximately 12:30pm.
When the entire group failed to return, the captain of their dive boat contacted the Japan Coast Guard at approximately 1:50pm.
The group had been diving approximately 8.6 kilometres west of Hachijō Island, near the waters west of the island’s Ōgoshi Hana Lighthouse.
A search involving Coast Guard patrol vessels and aircraft was subsequently launched.
TV Asahi reported that the Coast Guard located all eight divers during the afternoon search.
All Eight Found Alive
The group was located at sea at around 4:40pm, approximately three hours after the emergency call was made.
All eight were subsequently recovered by helicopter by approximately 5:30pm.
An updated report from TV Asahi confirmed that all eight divers were conscious following their rescue.
They were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Further reporting carried by Daily Sports, citing Kyodo News said none of the eight was believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.
Divers Found Around 14 Kilometres Away
The group was not found at the original dive location.
According to the Kyodo report, the eight divers were discovered approximately 14 kilometres northeast of the area where they had been diving.
The Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and is considering the possibility that the group was carried away from the dive site.
The precise cause of the separation has not yet been established.
Strong Winds and Three-Metre Swell
Conditions around Hachijō Island were challenging at the time of the incident.
Reports citing the Coast Guard said conditions were cloudy, with north-easterly winds of approximately 14 metres per second and swells reaching around three metres.
The Coast Guard has reminded people taking part in marine activities to check the latest weather information and reconsider entering the water when strong winds or high waves are present.
Diving at Hachijō Island
Hachijō Island is a volcanic island in the Philippine Sea, approximately 290 kilometres south of central Tokyo, and forms part of Japan’s Izu Islands.
The island is an established scuba diving destination, known for its volcanic underwater terrain, warm waters and marine life.
Saturday’s large-scale search ultimately ended successfully, with all eight members of the dive group recovered alive after several hours at sea.
The circumstances that resulted in the group becoming separated from their dive boat remain under investigation.
The Scuba News will update this story if Japanese authorities release further information.
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