An under-equipped Kapiti diver has been reprimanded by police after sparking a second rescue call-out in under a month yesterday.
Police and coastguard representatives launched a search which included a helicopter and plane when Tim Rees, 49, failed to return to his boat after diving for crayfish early in the afternoon.
He was eventually found near Browns Island off Paraparaumu Beach, hundreds of metres away from where a boat waiting to pick him up.
He surfaced in choppy conditions and could not be seen without a dive sausage.
Sergeant Aaron Alderton of Wellington Police Communications said Mr Rees had sparked previous searches.
"Last time he caused us to do a full alert to try and rescue him a whole lot of problems were identified. He dives on his own, he has poor equipment, he doesn't follow the safety regulations and so on."
Problems had also been identified with his boat on the previous occasion but he had not had them fixed, Mr Alderton said.
Searches often cost thousands of dollars and police were today expected to consider whether Mr Rees could be charged for his actions.
Mr Rees told The Dominion Post he felt stupid and would take a couple of dive sausages in the future.
"I feel an idiot, I am really embarrassed, especially when you have to face your buddies on the beach," he said.
Mr Rees said he was swept away from his boat in an extremely strong current -- a situation similar to one he found himself in off the Kapiti coast less than a month ago.
