SEARCH FOR MISSING DIVER

A major search for a diver who went missing as he explored a wreck off the south-west coast of Scotland was resuming this morning, 27 May 2001.

A 30-year-old man, who has not been named, is said to be an experienced diver and had been diving with a partner to the wreck Wallachia, a century-old cargo vessel.

He took his oxygen tank off to go into the wreck, 34 metres below the surface, at about 5.30p.m. on Saturday and has not been seen since.

Mark Clark, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency(MCA), said the man's colleague rose to the surface to raise the alarm and then returned to the wreck to take down an extra oxygen tank, but the diver had disappeared.

Mr. Clark said the diver only had a "limited supply of air".

The search yesterday evening involved divers, a Royal Navy rescue helicopter, the Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Cattestock, a cabin cruiser and inshore lifeboats proved unsuccessful on Saturday night