A DIVER is believed dead after failing to surface from water off the North Yorkshire coast.

Attempts by fellow divers to rescue the man, a 32-year-old from Huddersfield, failed.

He is thought to have suffered problems with his face mask.

His body has still not been found following the dive, two-and-half miles off Robin Hood's Bay.

The waters, which are 48 metres deep in the area, were immediately searched by two divers. A Sea King rescue helicopter joined lifeboats in the hunt for him.

Mike Bill, Humber Coastguard watch manager, said: "A buddy diver has been admitted to Scarborough Hospital suffering from the effects of shock and possible decompression sickness.

"Despite the good visibility and clear skies in the area, we were unfortunately unable to locate the missing diver."

He had been diving with another man onto a wreck on the sea-bed.

His diving partner had unsuccessfully attempted to inflate his lifejacket after suspecting he was having difficulties.

A full scale investigation has started to discover how the man, who has not yet been named, went missing.

A coastguard official said the incident was now being treated as a fatality and the search would not be resumed.

adam.nichols@ycp.co.uk