Australia investigating options to assist search for missing diver in Antarctica

A diver working for the French Polar Institute has gone missing in Antarctica.

In a statement on its Facebook page the institute said the man had been doing an ice dive at Dumont d’Urville, a French research station at Adélie Land when he disappeared.

“The safety protocol for diving operations was in place, and search operations were launched immediately,” it said.

Adélie Land is a claimed territory of France that borders the Australian Antarctic Territory on both sides.

An investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances of this disappearance.

“The French Polar Institute and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands extend their deepest condolences to the family of the missing diver, his loved ones, and all the teams mobilised on site,” it said.

In a statement the French Antarctic program, the Institut Polaire Francaise said the incident occurred during a “routine” operation “to check a scientific instrument”.

The Australian Antarctic Division said the French Antarctic program, the Institut Polaire Francaise, had “asked for assistance from other Antarctic programs following the disappearance of a diver in Adelie Land yesterday”.

“The Australian Antarctic Division is investigating all the options available to support the search effort,” it said.