Firefighters helped rescue seven men Wednesday after their pontoon boat sprung a leak and overturned off Kualoa Regional Park.
The men were diving about 200 yards from the shore-side of Chinaman's Hat when one of the metal pontoons began leaking about 11 a.m., said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig. He said the men tried to keep the boat from overturning as one side of the vessel took on water, but a wave flipped the boat and dumped their gear into the water.
The men decided to swim about a mile away to Kapapa Island, which appeared closest to them, but became separated. The first two men decided the sandbar appeared closer and went there, then borrowed a cell phone to call for help about 2:45 p.m., Seelig said. A fire helicopter picked them up.
Three men made it to Kapapa Island and were picked up by a good Samaritan's vessel before being transfered to a fire rescue boat.
Waterfront Operations from the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe plucked the last two men from the water after they decided to try to swim for Chinaman's Hat and were struggling with the current. No one was hurt.
Seelig urged mariners to be properly equipped with carry life jackets and signaling equipment. He said the men should have stayed together as a group with the boat, which was partially submerged, giving rescuers a larger target to spot.
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McClatchy-Tribune News Service
