A search has been called off for a diver who went missing near the Winchelsea Islands, north of Nanaimo.
The man was on a recreational dive and went missing about 10 a.m. Friday.
Because of a language barrier, there was a delay of about 2 1/2 hours in reporting the incident, Nanaimo RCMP said.
Police determined that two men were on a 14-foot vessel and one of them was diving. When the diver did not surface as expected, his friend called someone on shore who eventually called 911.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre had a hovercraft and helicopter in the area, while a Canadian Coast Guard vessel and a volunteer rescue crew were also on scene.
Search-and-rescue personnel were searching the coastline.
The missing diver is in his 40s, is of South Asian descent and speaks little English.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
