The body of a 40-year-old man reported missing after he went free-diving off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes was recovered Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The man's body was found 47 feet deep in the water and about 1 mile from the coast of Palos Verdes around 12:30 p.m., according to L.A. County Lifeguard Capt. Kenichi Haskett. The diver has not yet been identified.
The search began off the coast near 1308 Palos Verdes Drive West about 8:25 p.m. Friday when the owner of a boat the diver was using alerted authorities, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and the Los Angeles County Lifeguards.
Authorities said the boat owner let his friend use the boat on Thursday. The diver's family reported the man missing on Friday after no one had heard from him.
The empty 18-foot motorboat was found 1 mile off the coast near Bluff Cove, officials said. His body was located about 100 feet from the boat.
The man was described as an avid diver and fisherman from the South Bay area, Haskett said.
The U.S. Coast Guard along with the Los Angeles County Fire Department lifeguards and the Redondo Beach Fire Department's Harbor Patrol launched a search near the area but suspended efforts Friday night due to limited visibility.
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Divers and a helicopter assisted with search efforts Saturday morning.
An investigation surrounding the circumstances of the diver's disappearance was ongoing.
