Diver Rescued From La Jolla Cove After Rapid Ascent

A student scuba diver was hospitalized Thursday morning after making a rapid ascent in , according to lifeguards. She was conscious and breathing as medics transported her to UCSD Medical Center and is expected to survive, said San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma.

An instructor and a student were diving in the cove when the instructor began signaling for help just before 10:30 a.m. A lifeguard radioed for a personal watercraft to respond before hitting the water with a rescue board, Lerma said. The lifeguard was the first to arrive at the scene near the A buoy and saw the female diver in medical distress due to a rapid ascent.

The personal watercraft soon arrived and the diver was put on a sled and taken to the cove, where medics were waiting. Lerna said lifeguards made a quick handoff to medics and the diver was transported to UCSD.