WEEKEND OF DIVING INCIDENTS

Coastguards mounted an air and sea search to the south south east of the Isle of Wight for a 45-year-old diver from Hertfordshire, who failed to surface after exploring the wreck of a First World War cargo ship.

The man was reported missing by the dive boat 'Voyager' after the 50-metre dive to the wreck of the Donegal.

An overnight air search, in the hope that the diver was carrying a light, and an underwater search has been unsuccessful.

A Coastguards spokesman said there are now grave concerns about the man. He said sea conditions made an underwater search currently impossible but it is hoped to resume later in the week, with shipping in the area still being alerted to keep watch for the diver.

Meanwhile, two men have died while diving off the east coast of Scotland.

Richard Smith, 56, from Edinburgh, and James Harris, 36, from Dunbar, had been exploring a Second World War shipwreck on 13 May 2001.

They were among a group at the site near the mouth of the Firth of Forth and about five miles north-east of Torness.

The alarm was raised at 11.41am when the pair failed to surface from the wreck.

Lifeboats were launched from Dunbar, with Royal Navy and RAF helicopters in support.

Royal Navy divers from Faslane carried out an underwater search but were unable to find any trace of the men.

Forth Coastguard said it had called off the search for the men's bodies and that the two Dunbar lifeboats, which had been standing by at the scene throughout the day, had been stood down.

Hugh Shaw, District controller for Forth Coastguard, said: "It is very unfortunate that despite an intensive search we have been unable to retrieve the bodies of the two divers. We are saddened by this outcome."