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Marine drowns scuba diving off Okinawa
Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
by David Allen

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (Feb 18, 2003) - The body of a Marine reported missing while scuba diving Monday was discovered Tuesday afternoon in an underwater cave.

Japanese police say the body was found by U.S. military divers at about 3 p.m. about 400 meters off Ikei Island.

About 100 Okinawa police, Coast Guard, and fire and rescue personnel assisted U.S. Marines in the search for the 24-year-old Marine who was reported missing by his friends Monday afternoon.

The Marine, a corporal from Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron-36, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was scuba diving off Ikei Island with a small group of other Marines, according to the Consolidated Marine Public Affairs Office.

No other details were available from military sources concerning what led to the incident. The missing Marine's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Okinawa police said the corporal was diving with three others off Ikei Island's northern tip, near the Big Time Resort.

Ikei Island is a small resort area connected to Okinawa by a long bridge. Its offshore waters are known for their strong, unpredictable currents.

But the water was calm Monday, a police spokesman said. The 13th Weather Flight at Kadena Air Base had no water condition warnings posted for the period.

But Okinawa police believe the Marine may have lost his way while exploring an underwater cave, a police spokesman said.

Besides the Japanese Coast Guard, divers and small boats from the Okinawa prefectural police and the local fire department searched the water Monday evening and all day Tuesday.

A police spokesman said the Marines began diving at 4:30 p.m. Monday. When they discovered one person missing after they returned to shore an hour later, they hurried to the nearby hotel to report the incident. Hotel staff contacted the local police and fire departments.

Okinawa waters have claimed the lives of several service members stationed on Okinawa in the past year.

In July, Seaman Apprentices Daniel A. Dotta, 28, and Steven J. Mejie, 19, drowned while diving near Ikei Island. The sailors, assigned to Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa, apparently were unaware of posted warnings about unsafe sea conditions due to the approach of Typhoon Rammasun. Okinawa police said they were wading to a reef with another sailor when they were overcome by high waves. The third sailor managed to swim safely to shore.

In September two Marine lance corporals, Richard Moore, 24, and Beatrice Rodriquez, 20, drowned after being swept to sea while watching high waves churned by Typhoon Rusa crash against the rocks at Bolo Point. A third Marine managed to swim safely to shore. All three were assigned to the 3rd Forces Service Support Group.

 

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Posted February 22, 2003