An experienced diving instructor died Saturday morning after he surfaced unresponsive about 11 miles east of Barnegat Light.
Gary Smith, 61, was a founding member and chief officer of the Lacey Township Dive Team and had been teaching underwater search and recovery for decades, longtime friend Deb Whitcraft said Saturday.
Smiths group had been diving off the Dina Dee II, a 42-foot charter boat out of Barnegat Light, when the Coast Guard received a call at 8:58 a.m. from a crew member requesting assistance, Coast Guard Petty Officer Crystal Kneen said. Smith was given CPR for 20 minutes but was still not responding when he was taken to Southern Ocean County Hospital in Stafford Township, where he was pronounced dead.
Whitcraft, president of the Museum of New Jersey Maritime History in Beach Haven, said she met Smith in 1971, and he was an instructor then. She said she did not know the details of what happened but struggled to understand how Smith died.
He was an exceptional diver and an exceptional person, Whitcraft said. Its a loss not only to the diving community but to anyone whos ever known him. Were all stunned. Were just stunned.
Whitcraft said she was with Smiths wife, Phyllis, at a museum gala Friday night, when Gary Smith called. He had just completed a search and recovery mission, although Whitcraft did not know the details.
Both Smiths have been active with the museum, Whitcraft said. Smith had worked on the preservation of many of the artifacts.
The couple was working on a Sept. 11 fundraiser, which this year is honoring those lost in the diving community.
Unfortunately, now we have to add his name to that list, Whitcraft said.
In addition to founding the Lacey Dive Team, Smith was a member of the Lanoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Company in Lacey Township and was part of the Lacey Township Search & Rescue Team.
He just gave so much of himself, you just cant say enough about this man, Whitcraft said. We loved him.
She theorized that maybe he suffered some sort of physical problems when he lost consciousness.
I find it hard to think it could have been an accident related to his ability as a diver, Whitcraft said. He was among the absolute most proficient divers anyone had ever known in the diving community.
That love was passed on to his son, Gary Jr., who Whitcraft said people call Rabbit.
A nursing supervisor at Southern Ocean County said hospital officials told her she could not provide an identification, hometown or cause of death for the diver because it is an active accident investigation.
According to its website, the Dina Dee II is a 42-foot Coast Guard-inspected vessel located at the Light House Marina on Sixth Street in Barnegat Light. A person answering phones there declined to comment, saying it was an ongoing investigation.
Contact Lynda Cohen: 609-272-7257
