Divers find dead body in HMS Cerberus near Black Rock

UPDATE 11.57am: POLICE to investigate if body found by divers in a naval wreck is a man missing since February.

Body discovered: Water police search around the HMS Cerberus at Half Moon Bay for a missing snorkeller in February. Picture: Chris Eastman, Leader Newspapers

UPDATE 11.57am: POLICE are believed to be investigating whether a body found by divers inside the wreck of HMS Cerberus may be a man missing since February.

The divers came across the body at Black Rock yesterday afternoon and alerted police.

Search and rescue divers retrieved the body from the wreck at about 8pm.

Police spokesman Sergeant Creina O'Grady said the deceased male appeared to have been dead for some time.

“The body will taken to the coroners office to establish the male’s identity,” Sgt O’Grady said.

Police said the body was believed to be a diver, but DNA tests would need to be completed to help identify the man.

Police are believed to be examining whether its is the body of Mont Albert man Robert Zakarija, 39, who went missing in February while snorkelling in Half Moon Bay near the wreck, the Bayside Leader reports

Last month, Mr Zakarija’s wife, Viv, told the Bayside Leader she believed her husband was the victim of a tragic accident.

Mr Zakarija disappeared on February 9 while on an evening snorkel.

Mrs Zakarija said her husband was a strong diver who may have succumbed to a medical problem or been hit by a boat.

“He was such a caring, wonderful and thoughtful man who lived life to the full,” Mrs Zakarija said.

She said her husband had grown up in Black Rock and knew the beach and bay “like the back of his hand”.