A "WONDERFUL family man" has died after going missing with a companion on a diving expedition off the coast of Scotland.

Stuart Haldane was among a party exploring a reef near Oban, yesterday, when he went astray.

The father-of-two surfaced before a doctor raced to the scene on a fast rescue boat. But he was pronounced dead.

The alarm was raised at 11am yesterday when the charter dive vessel reported Dr Haldane and Dorothy Morris missing.

A massive rescue operation, involving two helicopters and several boats, was immediately launched to find Ms Morris. That was called off today.

The search for Ms Morris, aged 49, from Redcar, Cleveland, resumed at 6am today but was called off three hours later.

"Although we've carried out a very concentrated search in an area covering around 25 square miles, we have unfortunately been unable to find the missing woman," said Callum Murray, of Oban Coastguard.

"Police divers will be diving in the area where the woman was last seen later today. Other than this, the search has been terminated."

Family friend Karie Burbeck today described the loss of Dr Haldane, of Yewtree Farm, Rashford.

"His wife, Sally, wishes to say that he was loving husband and a wonderful father and will be missed terribly - that's all she can say at this time," said Mrs Burbeck.

The 43-year-old and his family had moved from London when he was appointed consultant histopathologist at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch.

He was an experienced diver, she said, who was spending this week in Scotland as part of an advanced course. He was due back at the weekend.

"He absolutely loved diving and also enjoyed history and cooking. I know he was experienced and very safety conscious.

"He was a great family man. He had a fantastic sense of humour. He will leave an enormous gap in our lives."