February 19—Tonight a body has been discovered in the waters off an Alki park. The body was found in approximately 80 feet of water, 200 yards offshore from where a missing diver was last seen earlier in the day.

Around 6 p.m., the body was discovered by volunteer divers. A volunteer diver in her 50’s had a mask problem and suffered a medical condition after ascending quickly during the recovery process. Firefighter Paramedics from Medic 32 transported the female diver to Virginia Mason Hospital. The facility as Virginia Mason has a Hyperbaric chamber.

The search for the diver began earlier in the day. At 11:02 a.m. dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a diver emergency 100 yards from shore. A man in his 20’s was diving with an instructor and two other divers in about 100 foot depth of water. As the group was heading back to shore the diver quickly ascended. When others reached the surface they did not see him. The instructor waved to shore to have people call 911.

Earlier in the day, Seattle Fire Department Technical Rescue Unit Divers, the Marine Response Unit Fireboat Leschi, Seattle Police Department Harbor Patrol Unit and SPD Diver searched for nearly 90 minutes for the missing diver today off Seacrest Park in West Seattle. The units were assisted by a Coast Guard helicopter and a Coast Guard Rescue Boat.

The dive instructor says the missing diver is experienced with more than 50 dives.