Diver Found off Bird Rock

A scuba diver off Bird Rock went missing Monday. It was unclear how the 55-year-old diver was separated from his dive companions and the charter boat. However, a sea and air search ended an hour later when occupants of a private vessel found him paddling in the swells, unharmed.

The diver, whose name was not released, was reported overdue to return to the charter boat he was diving off of, which was anchored one mile off Bird Rock on Feb. 28.

Lifeguards searched the waters around the commercial boat. The U.S. Coast Guard sent a boat and helicopter as well.

At approximately 2:40 p.m., fire-rescue authorities got word that the man was picked up by civilian boaters, said Maurine Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

City News Service contributed to this report.