Diver's body found in Marlborough Sounds

The body of the diver who went missing yesterday in the Marlborough Sounds was found this morning in Kumutoto Bay.

A skipper of the dive boat from which 29-year-old Christchurch man Andrew Archibald and two friends were diving for scallops returned to the bay this morning with the police dive team from Wellington, who recovered Mr Archibald's body.

The body was to be taken to Picton and then to Wairau Hospital for a post mortem.

Mr Archibald's dive equipment was to be taken for forensic testing.

Mr Archibald was diving for scallops with two friends in Kumutoto Bay yesterday morning when he failed to surface when expected.

At about 9am the skipper of the dive boat noticed there were only two sets of bubbles rising to the surface. The other two divers searched frantically Mr Archibald until they ran out of air before the skipper raised the alarm

Marlborough duty harbourmaster Dave Baker said there were concerns as to why the missing diver was not found yesterday so searchers went back this morning where the dive started from.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter, the Marlborough Coastguard, the Picton harbour patrol and Wellington's police dive squad searched the area yesterday but failed to find the missing diver.

Mr Archibald's family from Cheviot were on their way to Picton last night.

Mr Archibald has a partner and three young children.

In September a 48-year-old Stratford man died while diving in the Ship Cove area in Queen Charlotte Sound.

- nzpa