William Kim, 37, was caught in the surf and swept away, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
On May 28 at approximately 3:30 p.m. Kim and two other subject went diving for abalone in the ocean in the area of Mitchell Creek, Smallcomb said.
A short time later, one of the other divers caught his limit of abalone and then went towards shore. Smallcomb said the diver observed Kim and the other diver caught up in the breaking surf.
He said one of the divers with Kim told the other to go to shore and call for 911 as the water was too rough for them to return to shore.
A boat was able to rescue one of the divers, but Kim was not recovered, Smallcomb said. A short time later a portion of Kim's dive tube washed upon the shore on Pine Beach.
Smallcomb said a search effort was conducted with the assistance of Mendocino County Search and Rescue, United States Coast Guard and other emergency personnel without success.
He said search efforts have continued without success. Mendocino County Search and Rescue along with other emergency personnel will continue to monitor the waters in a continuing effort to recover Kim from the water.
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