In the late hours of a September evening in 2015, the tranquil waters off the coast of North Kohala in Hawaii held a sense of quiet anticipation for two friends embarking on a night dive. One of these individuals was 55-year-old Loren 'Jaime' Salis, a resident of Hawi. The dive began near the end of Old Coast Guard Road, a familiar area for local enthusiasts of the sport.
As the night progressed, what started as a routine underwater excursion took a distressing turn when Salis failed to resurface, disappearing into the dark ocean. His friend, along with a concerned relative, alerted the authorities in the early morning hours of September 17, 2015, sparking an urgent and extensive search for the missing diver.
The response to Loren Salis's disappearance was swift and comprehensive. The United States Coast Guard and the Hawai'i County Fire Department launched a coordinated search and rescue operation. Crews on the water and in the air scoured the vast expanse of the Pacific, covering approximately 3,000 square miles in their determined effort to find him. The search involved an array of resources, including a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, and the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi, alongside fire department helicopters and dive teams. Despite their thorough efforts, the only potential clues recovered from the water were a submerged dive light and a fishing spear; however, it could not be confirmed if these items belonged to Salis. The lack of any definitive signs of the missing man was disheartening for all involved.
After three days of intensive searching with no new leads or evidence, the difficult decision was made to suspend the active search. Officials expressed the immense difficulty in halting a search without a resolution, offering their thoughts to the family of Loren Salis. He was described as an Asian male, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing around 165 pounds, with black hair. The incident occurred before the anticipated arrival of any tsunami-related waves or currents from an earthquake that had happened earlier, and officials did not believe the two events were connected. The case of Loren Salis remains a painful mystery for his loved ones and the community, a somber reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea. His disappearance prompted a significant emergency response but ultimately left behind unanswered questions and a lingering sense of loss.Last Seen: Sep 17, 2015
