A free diver who died in Kaneohe Bay yesterday afternoon has been identified as Melvin Lima, 59, of Mililani.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy today to determine the cause of death.

Friends diving with Lima reported that he had not returned to their boat at about 1:50 p.m.. The Honolulu Fire Department, Coast Guard, and the Navy searched for him for more than an hour until the fire department helicopter spotted his body at about 3:10 p.m., floating in waters about a quarter-mile off the Kaneohe side of Kapapa Island, Seelig said.

Lima was taken to Heeia Kea Boat Harbor, where paramedics pronounced him dead at 3:48 p.m., said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department.