28-year-old lobster diver goes missing while freediving in Long Beach

The search continues for a 28-year-old lobster diver who went missing Wednesday night while freediving in Long Beach with two other men, authorities said Thursday.

According to the Long Beach Fire Department, he disappeared into the water near the Pier J fishing pier with the other divers. The other two men returned to a boat they had all been on, discovered he had disappeared, and reported him missing at 9:55 p.m., firefighters said. Nineteen divers from seven different local law enforcement agencies had joined the search by 7 a.m. the next morning.

While the diver was wearing a mask, he did not have a tank because he was diving in an area of ​​the ocean that is about 30 to 40 feet deep, said Brian Fisk, a spokesman for the Long Beach Fire Department.

Freediving requires divers to hold their breath for extended periods of time as they enter deep seawater. They not only face challenges because they have to hold their breath, but also with the resistance of the water pressure, which increases with increasing water depth. Such challenges can lead to medical complications and, in some cases, lead to unconsciousness or even death, according to a study by aquatics researchers at the University School of Physical Education in Krakow, Poland.

Fisk said the muddy conditions made it difficult to see anything underwater in the area where the diver went missing.

Agencies involved in the search effort include the Los Angeles County Fire Department, LA Fire Department, Port of Long Beach Police, Long Beach Police Department Dive Team, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Lifeguards and Port of LA Divers .