ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – Coast Guard boat and air crews are continuing to search the Atlantic Ocean about 24 miles east of Ponce De Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., for a diver who was not seen resurfacing; the separate search that began after a kayak was found overturned nearby was suspended Monday night.
Crew aboard the fishing vessel Yellowfin used a VHF-FM marine radio at 11:09 a.m., to report to Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Jacksonville in Atlantic Beach that it had been about one hour since a 28-year-old man dived from the boat with 30 minutes of oxygen, and he had not resurfaced.
A Coast Guard aircrew aboard a C-130 Hercules plane from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., was conducting training nearby and diverted to begin searching for the diver. While en route to the search area, the aircrew spotted an approximately 10-foot long kayak with a white hull overturned about 10 miles from their intended destination.
Coast Guard air and boat crews conducted separate searches and haven't found any signs of the missing mariners at either location.
Sector Jacksonville has not received any reports of overdue kayakers, and there is no owner information on the overturned kayak. It is unknown if anyone was in the kayak when it overturned or where it came from, so the search for a possible missing kayaker was suspended at 6:53 p.m.
The C-130 aircrew and the crew of the Miami Beach-based Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak are continuing to search for the missing diver. The Atlantic Beach-based Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback will join the search about 10:00 p.m., and will continue to search through the night.