Diver surfaces unconscious, later dies

A scuba diver who surfaced unconscious during a dive 14 miles southeast of Moriches Saturday morning was later pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, according to the Coast Guard.

The victim, whose identity hasn't been released, was 60 years old and was part of a group on a dive 125 feet below the ocean surface.

The group was aboard the Lockness Dive Boat based in Freeport.

A spokeswoman for Good Samaritan Hospital said she could not release any information without the man's name.

The Coast Guard command center received a call about an unconscious diver about 10:40 a.m., said public affairs officer David Schuhlein.

"They're not sure if he floated up or what," he said.

The man surfaced about 40 minutes into the dive. Three emergency medical technicians were on the dive boat and CPR was started. Others on the boat called the Coast Guard.

The Lockness was headed for shore when it was met by a Coast Guard boat, Schuhlein said.

An ambulance met the Coast Guard boat at the agency's station on Fire Island.

"CPR was administered the entire time," Schuhlein said. "He was in very critical condition -- weak to no pulse."

Schuhlein didn't know the exact number of divers, but described the excursion as a group dive.

According to a website for Lockness Dive Boat, the vessel was scheduled to visit the Oregon Shipwreck, 130 feet deep. The Lockness is a 48-foot boat that can carry 22 divers.

Lockness operator John Norman, reached by telephone Saturday afternoon, said he couldn't talk because the Coast Guard was aboard his boat.

Subsequent attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.