FBI Checking San Diego Dive Shops

SAN DIEGO -- Federal agents, acting on non-specific threats, are cross-checking the names of students at scuba diving schools in San Diego and nationwide against the names of suspected terrorists, it was reported Tuesday.

San Diego FBI spokesperson John Innarelli said that agents began canvassing the diving schools late last month, gathering the names of people who took scuba-diving lessons during the past three years, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

"Based on information that's been developed that has not yet been corroborated, there is a body of information out there that certain terrorist elements might be seeking to develop an offensive scuba-diving capability," Innarelli said.

Innarelli said that agents throughout the nation have gathered the names of millions of people who took scuba-diving lessons.

The spokesperson declined to discuss details regarding the local investigation except to say that San Diego agents have not turned up anyone with suspected terrorist affiliations.

FBI officials refused to reveal the possible terrorist scenarios that might involve divers, the newspaper reported, but in previous threats there was a concern that terrorists might attach explosives to ships or bridges.