Drifting divers, disabled catamaran, County deputies to the rescue - Florida

[DandyDon]

Pinellas deputies rescue divers in distress

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Pinellas County deputies rescued two divers who got separated from their boat about 30 miles west of Madeira Beach.

PCSO Dive Team members were participating in the Lionfish Safari roundup when they rescued the men. Deputies said when they heard someone yelling for help the seas were rough and there were no other dive vessels nearby. Deputies searched the area and found Robert Littke, 48, floating on the surface of the water waving his arms in distress. Deputies pulled him into their boat.

Littke told deputies he had equipment trouble and did not know where his boat was. Deputies found a 22-foot Pro Sports catamaran, almost a mile from their location. They took the man back to the boat and talked to the captain. Captain Kiangkham Viravong, 46, said that he had two divers in the water and they were attached to a marker buoy he was following.

Viravong had no idea that the divers were not attached to the buoy anymore. PCSO deputies found the second diver James Sailors, 31, in the water almost a mile from the catamaran.

According to PCSO, Viravong’s catamaran became disabled during the search for the missing divers but deputies were able to get the boat re-started so Viravong and his divers could safely return to shore.

Dive Team members still had time to participate in the Lionfish Safari roundup using the dive as a training opportunity for those working towards their Advanced and Master Diver certifications. They harvested 70 invasive lionfish, according to PCSO.

 

[KevinNM]

I can see how the guy in the boat could do that, but you'd kind of think the divers would notice that the line to their buoy was either missing or broken.

 

[catone]

I can see how the guy in the boat could do that, but you'd kind of think the divers would notice that the line to their buoy was either missing or broken.

Even the guy on the boat, following a buoy with no bubbles? There were 2 divers, should've been lots of bubbles, assuming they were diving OC.

 

[Steve_C]

Note that the waters were rough and it is not clear how high up the captain of the cat was. If he was near sea level hard to see bubbles.