Court for nuisance diver

Colin Smithies. Photo / Supplied

A diver who reported safe and well to a Hawkes Bay police station after an extensive two-day search for him near Porirua will appear in court on Monday.

Colin Smithies was charged with wasting police time after he was reported missing by his partner when he failed to return home from diving for paua on January 17.

More than 20 search and rescue volunteers, the Wellington police launch and the police national dive squad were involved in the search.