MYSTIC, Connecticut (22 June 2005) -- The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday morning for a Preston woman who disappeared while scuba diving with her boyfriend Monday near Ram Island. Local police and fire departments continued the search without success Tuesday afternoon around Gates Island near the mouth of the Mystic River, known for its swift currents and abundant marine life. The search was expanded in the afternoon as far east as Watch Hill. It ended around 4:30 p.m. and will continue today with reduced resources, said Lt. Darren Stewart of the Stonington Police Department. He said the search changed early Tuesday morning from a rescue mission to a recovery mission. Sandra Palmer Dagata, 43, was diving with her boyfriend near Gates Island, a rocky formation in Long Island Sound, shortly before noon Monday. She surfaced briefly to call for help before submerging, said Chief Kenneth Richards of the Old Mystic Fire Department. Her boyfriend radioed the Coast Guard from their boat. Local, state and federal emergency workers conducted an extensive search through the night that included more than 40 scuba divers, rescue dogs, helicopters and sonar equipment. "We saturated the area with all our resources," said Petty Officer Lisa Hennings of the U.S. Coast Guard. "There was nothing more that we could do." Police did not release the name of Dagata's boyfriend. Her family also declined to release his name, citing his privacy. At least 15 of Dagata's family members were at the command center at Enders Island Tuesday afternoon during the search. They said Dagata had been scuba diving for more than five years and was certified as an advanced open water diver, as was her boyfriend. "They were both very passionate about it, and both were very safe," said her brother, Shawn Palmer, who is the advertising director for The Day. "They do not take chances." Family members said Dagata and her boyfriend have been living together in Preston for about seven years. Thomas and Sandra Dagata divorced in 1996 after 13 years of marriage and shared custody of their two daughters, ages 13 and 15. The children live with their father in Waterford and attend school there. At the time of their divorce both parents were working at Millstone Nuclear Power Station. Family members said Dagata now works for a company that monitors radiation levels at nuclear power plants. | | Sandra Palmer Dagata She is one of nine siblings born and raised in Rocky Hill and has spent most of her life in southeastern Connecticut. Three of her siblings are also scuba divers, Palmer said. As they stood on the island surveying the rescue efforts, several of Dagata's family members said she was the life of the party, a woman who refused to be tethered down and who focused solely on her three loves: her children, scuba diving and skiing. Another brother, Glenn Palmer, said he last spoke to her two weeks ago at a family gathering. He said she talked about doing a couple of tune-up dives. He said Monday was one of the first times she was in the water this year. Family members said her job requires short periods of intensive work followed by periods of time off that allow her to indulge her hobbies. "That's how we were taught to live our lives," Shawn Palmer said. "If there's something you want to do, do it," his brother Glenn added. "Sandy took that and ran with it," Shawn said. SOURCE - The Day |
