Missing diver found after 4-day search in Big Sur

BIG SUR, Calif. (KION) The Monterey County Sheriff's Office has found the body of a free-diver who went missing while spearfishing in a cove last week.

The search started at a beach north of Gorda when the diver was out with a friend and did not re-surface. A deputy living in the area was the first at the scene Sunday afternoon to begin searching the area, and later the Sheriff's Office requested a CHP Coastal Division Air Operations helicopter, but it was overcast and getting dark.

The next morning, the Sheriff's Office dive team went to the area with their Zodiac dive boat, but there was not a safe launch ramp within 25 miles. They worked with the helicopter crew to come up with a plan to get the boat in the water, but the helicopter was not able to respond because of weather conditions. The Sheriff's Office said the cove was 200 feet below the roadway, and trail access in wet suits carrying heavy gear would have been difficult.

The Search and Rescue team responded that afternoon and created a high line conveyor system using ropes from the road to the beach. The high line was used to lower and raise divers and their equipment from the beach, and the Sheriff's Office said they made several dive searches. The diver was not found, so they decided to return Tuesday.

The Search and Rescue and dive teams returned Tuesday to continue the search, but because of weather conditions, the helicopter still could not respond. The Sheriff's Office said divers swam about 2 miles around kelp beds and the cove.

During an aerial search, the drone team found the diver's spearfishing rope in a kelp bed about 600 yards from shore, and around that time, the clouds started to clear. The CHP helicopter responded to the scene and hoisted two divers. They marked the area where the rope was found and returned to search on Wednesday.

The Sheriff's Office said the dive team, Search and Rescue team and CHP helicopter all arrived to continue the search Wednesday. The helicopter was able to lift the dive team boat into the ocean, and they were able to find the diver's body and bring him to shore.

The Sheriff's Office said they were grateful that they could return the diver to his family and friends.