Man died diving in shallow water, say police

Police have impounded the gear of a man who died while diving in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf yesterday.

The 50-year-old man's name has yet to be released and his death had been referred to the coroner.

However, police said he was diving at Little Barrier Island in shallow water only four or five metres deep and the bends did not appear to be a factor.

The man was diving with friends but he was the only one wearing snorkelling gear. The others were free diving.

After the man failed to surface he was found lying on the bottom and his friends free dived to retrieve his body.

He was given resuscitation on a boat back to the island.

The Westpac rescue helicopter was also called and paramedics continued to try and revive him but were unsuccessful.

- NZPA