Search Resumes for Missing Snorkeler at Anini Beach on Kauai

Anini Beach

November 4, 2024

The search for a 59-year-old Arizona man who went missing while snorkeling off Anini Beach resumed early Monday, November 4th, 2024 as multiple agencies and volunteers intensified their efforts to locate him, reports the County of Kauai. The search began on Sunday after a group of snorkelers realized that one member of their party had not returned to shore.

According to the Kauai Fire Department, the group last saw the swimmer near the back channel of Anini Beach at approximately 11:45 a.m. Concerned after he failed to return, they alerted authorities at around 12:15 p.m., initiating a coordinated search involving the Hanalei fire station, the Rescue 3 team aboard the Air 1 helicopter, and ocean safety officers from the North Roving Patrol Unit.

On Sunday afternoon, additional personnel from the Kauai Police Department and Kauai Fire Department arrived to support the search, deploying drones to scan the water from above. The U.S. Coast Guard also contributed both a boat and helicopter to the operation, combing the shoreline and surrounding waters. The coordinated search continued until sunset on Sunday, with all agencies systematically sweeping the area.

At dawn on Monday, the search resumed with renewed efforts from all teams. Volunteers from Kauai Search and Rescue also joined, bringing extra resources and community support. As of Monday morning, however, there has been no sign of the missing man.

Anini Beach, known for its calm, shallow waters due to a protective reef, is popular among snorkelers and swimmers, yet the area’s back channel can present strong currents, posing potential risks for those unfamiliar with local conditions. Rescue teams have focused their search near this back channel, where the man was last seen.

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