TOUCHING tributes have been paid to the man who failed to resurface after a diving expedition off Swanage.

Andy Moll, who was in his 50s and from Taunton, did not resurface after a dive to a wreck off the Purbeck coast on Sunday afternoon.

A major multi-agency search spanning 10 miles was launched after Mr Moll did not resurface but it was called off at around 11pm on Sunday night after he was not found.

Now, heartfelt tributes have been paid to him from his Bristol-based diving club.

Mr Moll was a keen diver who had more than 30 years diving experience, and was a longstanding member of the Severnside branch of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC).

He was taking part in the expedition with other members of the club, and had dived off the diving vessel Emma J.

He was a former honorary secretary of the club, and his branch and officers and staff have paid tribute to the man who they describe as an “active and well respected” member of the organisation.

In a statement released to the BSAC website, Severnside branch chairman, Leon Smith, said: “We are immensely grateful for the dedication and professionalism of the Coastguard Staff and RNLI Swanage and RNLI Poole volunteers who assisted those club members on the dive and undertook an extensive air and sea search of the area.

“Andy has been a long-standing, active, and well-respected member of the diving community for over thirty years. He has been a dedicated supporter of BSAC and a buddy, instructor, and a good personal friend to a great many members of Severnside SAC.

“Everyone who knows Andy is truly devastated by recent events and our thoughts and concerns are with his family and all those involved.

“We trust that the diving community will respect the privacy of his family and friends as they deal with this great tragedy.

"The family have asked that fellow divers show their respects by avoiding speculation as to the circumstances of this incident whilst official enquiries are ongoing."

As well as his branch activities Andy Moll was previously very active on a national scale having been an active Instructor Trainer on the BSAC Instructor Training Scheme and served on the BSAC Board of Directors as first a Council member and then as Honorary Secretary.

Mary Tetley, BSAC Chief Executive said:"Andy Moll was a very experienced diver, and a good friend of mine for many years. He worked with me on the BSAC Council and also previously served for a time as the Honorary Secretary of BSAC.

"He was full of passion and enthusiasm and the BSAC, and had a true love of scuba diving, and all that went with it.

"Andy was also a real family man and our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to them, in particular his wife Elaine and four daughters.

"Andy will be truly missed by his BSAC club where he had so many friends, and the wider BSAC family."

Mr Moll is still considered missing and his disappearance is still being investigated by police on behalf of HM Coastguard.