The US Coast Guard has called off its search for a 64-year-old diver lost off Nantucket near the wreck of the Andrea Doria. Officials believe he is the seventh person to die in the area within a decade.
The man, who has not been identified, never resurfaced from a deep-water dive on Tuesday afternoon. A Coast Guard official said they searched by land, air, and sea for 30 hours, covering more than 400 square miles.
The Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria sank in 1956 after a collision with the Swedish ship the Stockholm, killing at least 51 people. The wreckage is in 240 feet of water, and Coast Guard officials say exploring there compounds the existing dangers of deep-water diving.
In a statement, Marcus Gherardi, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, lamented the death of the man.
“The primary goal of every man and woman who serves in the Coast Guard is to rescue those in need and save lives,” he said. “This is why we serve. It is extremely disheartening anytime we are unable to accomplish this goal.”
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Andy Rosen can be reached at andrew.rosen@globe.com.
