operations... A growing chorus of criticism is blaming the

government for not cooperating enough with private divers... at the very beginning of

the search. Our Hwang Ji-hye has the details.

The divers who successfully pumped air into the sunken Sewol-ho ferry... and entered the

second deck to search for survivors were neither Navy nor Coast Guard divers -- they were divers

working for private companies. Currently, hundreds of private divers are

helping out in the rescue operations. And the Coast Guard admits that these divers

are better.

"We have to say that divers from private companies are more able to search the ship under water

and also in rescue operations.

The other advantage they have is the quality of their equipment.

Private divers are using remote-controlled submersibles and other high-tech gear that

allows them to communicate and breathe at the same time.

This equipment, experts say, is far more developed than used by the Navy.

Families awaiting news on their missing loved ones are demanding to know why private divers

have not actively been taking part in each and every stage of the search and rescue operation.

They point to what they say is a lack of cooperation between the Navy and the Coast Guard, and

the private divers from the very beginning of the search.

Hwang Ji-hye, Arirang News.