CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Florida (17 May 2008) — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a diver who went missing earlier today while scuba diving from the 'Spare Time' dive boat owned by Legacy Dive Charters. Authorities declined to identify the diver who disappeared about six miles southwest of the Gasparilla Islands. Coast Guard officials told CDNN the search area has 10-mile visibility, 5- to 10-knot winds and 2- to 3-foot seas Witnesses said the missing diver resurfaced with eight other divers at about 11:30am but disappeared while the Spare Time captain John Sturm was picking up another diver. Unable to find the missing diver, Sturm called for help and the Coast Guard scrambled a HH60 Jayhawk helicopter, which arrived at the search area about 12:30pm. Coast Guard officials said the search is centered around Little Gasparilla Island. The Coast Guard Stations of Fort Myers Beach and Station Cortez, along with a Jayhawk rescue helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater, marine units from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Boca Grande Fire and Rescue and Captiva Island Fire and Rescue have all joined the search. The Spare Time is an 8-meter dive boat based in Eldred's Marina in Placida, Florida. | | The missing diver was scuba diving from the 8m Spare Time dive boat owned and operated by Legacy Charters in southwest Florida. According to the Legacy Dive Charters web site, "There's plenty of room aboard Spair Time for 6 divers, their gear and tanks..." The company declined to comment on the scuba diving accident. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
