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Matthew Curley Missing Person Case

Last seen in Honolulu, Hawaii on Aug 29, 2011

Victim Details

Jun 30, 2020

Aug 12, 2020

Matthew

Curley

43

28

72 inches

170 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Aug 29, 2011

Honolulu

Hawaii

Honolulu County

96816

No

86459

Honolulu Police Department

Honolulu

Hawaii

Honolulu County

96813

Reid Tagomori

Metropolitan Police Officer

801 South Beretania Street, Hawaii

8085293111

Local

Law Enforcement

http://www.honolulupd.org

Honolulu Police Department

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 8, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP71409) and 11 other sources
In the late summer of 2011, a young doctor from New York City named Matthew Curley traveled to the picturesque shores of Oahu, Hawaii, for what should have been a memorable adventure. On August 29th, the 28-year-old embarked on a scuba diving excursion with a commercial tour group. The destination was a popular dive site known as 'Baby Barge,' a sunken wreck located about a half-mile off the coast of the Waialae-Kahala area, where marine life like reef sharks and green sea turtles were often spotted. Matthew, a certified and trained diver, was last seen entering the water with the rest of the group to explore the underwater world at depths of 60 to 80 feet.

The excitement of the dive turned to concern when the tour group resurfaced and a headcount revealed that Matthew was not among them. He had failed to return with the other divers, and the alarm was quickly raised. An extensive and urgent search was launched, involving multiple agencies. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Honolulu Fire Department scoured the ocean by air and underwater, hoping to find any sign of the missing doctor. Search teams also walked the coastline, considering the possibility that strong swells could have pushed him toward the shore. A glimmer of hope, which also served as a somber clue, emerged when a scuba fin was discovered in the water and later identified as being the same type and size as the one Matthew had been using.

Despite the determined efforts of rescuers, the search for Matthew Curley was met with heartbreak and futility. After days of intensive searching yielded no further trace of him, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend their active search efforts, though Honolulu firefighters continued their attempts for a while longer. The investigation into his disappearance noted that he was wearing a black diving suit at the time he went missing. The case remains a sorrowful mystery, a story of a promising young man who traveled to a beautiful destination for recreation and vanished into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, leaving behind unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss for his family and friends.
Last Seen: Aug 29, 2011

Links to Additional Sources (11)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs
  • Missing People In America - Facebook
  • Scuba Diver from NYC Lost at Sea in Hawaii - NBC New York
  • Scuba Diver From NYC Missing Since Monday Off East Oahu
  • Search for missing New York scuba diver resumes
  • Coast Guard suspends search for missing diver
  • New York's Matthew Curley goes missing while scuba diving in ...
  • Missing Diver off of Kahala, Oahu, Hawaii | Page 14 - ScubaBoard
  • Search for missing diver off Waialae-Kahala is called off
  • NY diver missing - New York Post
  • Missing - Matthew Curley went missing August 29, 2011 ... - Facebook

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Honolulu, Hawaii - unidentified case UP15422
    John Doe — Honolulu, Hawaii
    UP15422 • Found Jun 8, 2016
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 30–49 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%2 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
    Weight 100%165 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

    Latest News

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    Forum Posts (3)

    I was reading about the disappearance of Matthew Curley, the young diver who vanished near Waialae... ...Read More
    06/06/2024
    Has anyone else been following the Matthew Curley case? I was just thinking about how many people... ...Read More
    07/17/2023
    It's been over a decade since Matthew Curley vanished while scuba diving in Hawaii, and I’ve been... ...Read More
    07/05/2023

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