Diver drowns near Mt Maunganui

Kawera Island. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A diver from Whangarei is dead after getting into trouble while spear fishing in Bay of Plenty today.

The man was Jacob Beck-Jaffurs, 22, police said.

Mr Beck-Jaffurs had been fishing off Kawera Island, near Tauranga, for several hours during the morning when he was found unconscious on the seabed just before 1pm.

Sergeant Craig Madden of Mount Maunganui police said emergency services were called by friends, who tried to revive him using CPR.

Further attempts to revive him by emergency services proved unsuccessful.

Mr Madden said Mr Beck-Jaffurs had been in Tauranga for six weeks for work-related training.

His death has been referred to the coroner.

- NZPA