Search Continues For Missing Diver Off Mana

New Zealand Police National News Release

Navy divers will join the police search tomorrow for diver Robert Hewitt who went missing while diving off Mana Island on Sunday afternoon.

Police dive squad head Senior Sergeant Bruce Adams says police divers and Wellington Police Maritime staff searched from 9am through to about 8pm without success in water up to 30m deep.

"Weather and water conditions were excellent for searching today but we’ve found no sign of Mr Hewitt."

Senior Sergeant Adams says a team of Navy divers from Auckland will join the police divers tomorrow morning to expand the search area. That search is expected to resume around 9am.

The divers were supported today by a police inflatable and a commercial vessel The Alchemist. The Wellington Police launch Lady Elizabeth III will join the search tomorrow.

Family members also spent time searching the area from two helicopters, a shoreline search of both Mana Island and the Titahi Bay coastline, and from commercial vessels.

Family spokesperson Norm Hewitt, brother of the missing man, says the whanau are still focused on retrieving Robert.

"The whanau have been inundated with support from throughout New Zealand," he says. "The Police, Navy and Army have been superb in their support. It’s amazing how many people are helping us in so many ways. Their support is brilliant."

ENDS

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