A diver in his 50s died of an apparent drowning yesterday while diving at Hanauma Bay by Witch's Brew, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city's Emergency Services Department.

The man became separated from his party and lifeguards later found him on the ocean floor near Witch's Brew, a small peninsula and cove on the right side of the popular snorkeling and diving marine sanctuary.

Lifeguards brought the man to shore and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until city paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:34 p.m., Cheplic said.