Missing diver/Ponce Inlet, Florida

[Catito]

That is terrible news that he died. To think that possibly he safely reached the surface and drifted away on the surface (presumably on unpredicted current) for days and finally died without being found is even worse. I wonder if we will get the story. It is possible he died underwater and later floated to the surface, of course.

Terrible. So sad. One article that I read said he was hunting lobsters. I agree with Dandy Dan, we will likely never know what happened.

 

[johndiver999]

If he was hunting lobsters, he should have had a light. Weather conditions, for the most part, were calm. If he had a light and there was searchers at night, it is hard to believe he would not be found on the surface if he could signal searchers. I always try to carry a light.

If he had all his lead on, then we can safely assume he did not drift for days on the surface waiting for help.

 

[CT-Rich]

I bought a Nautilus LifeLine for just such situations. Thoughts and prayers for the family.

 

[Biotech Diver]

I bought a Nautilus LifeLine for just such situations. Thoughts and prayers for the family.

I have the Garmin In-Reach and plan to buy the Nautilus as well. I try to be as redundant as is practical when diving. I also never dive without a two lights. I’m the last year I’ve also been carrying a lift bag in the event I have a BC failure.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I don't carry a Nautilus marine rescue GPS unit (currently) as I dive pretty close to the populated shoreline of SE Florida. However, I do always have a storm whistle, a small strobe to attach to the top of my SMB, two SMBs, and at least 1 dive light. All of these easily fit into my pocket shorts. My dive light is typically on a d-ring on my waist strap.

The Nautilus units have come down in price and I wouldn't rule out picking one up eventually.

 

[CT-Rich]

I have the Garmin In-Reach and plan to buy the Nautilus as well. I try to be as redundant as is practical when diving. I also never dive without a two lights. I’m the last year I’ve also been carrying a lift bag in the event I have a BC failure.

I have an SMB, but consider ditchable lead the most reliable form of secondary buoyancy in the event of a BCD failure. In the event of getting swept out to see or separated from the dive boat, nothing is going to beat a GPS locator beacon. Most (all) of my diving is done in heavily trafficked coastal waters, so I didn’t go for a satellite link. I figure a 16 mile surface radius will be sufficient.

 

[Dan]

Best signaling devices from the searcher’s point of view - update

 

[johndiver999]

It would be interesting to know what gear he was found with and exactly the configuration of it. Did he ditch lead or tank? Did he have a catch bag, a light? Was there air in the tank? What does the computer show? A Go Pro present?

There is a lot of information which could potentially be gathered. If analyzed in the proper manner, a lot of scenarios could be ruled out.

 

[DandyDon]

The various news stories seemed focused only on the search with no details on what happened or how. Now we are getting a little more.

He was indeed lobstering but never surfaced. Excerpting from Coast Guard confirms body found in ocean was Daytona Beach attorney

"He went out lobstering off-shore about 30 miles. It's apparently a pretty popular spot. (He) went down with all the equipment stuff. He was in full scuba gear with the wet suit and spear gun and everything and never resurfaced,” Evans' uncle David Smith said.

And there were other divers altho still no word anyone left aboard. Excerpting from Attorney Jim Evans missing after scuba diving recovered off Port Canaveral

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Ayla Hudson, said Evans was out at sea diving with others on Friday. When Evans didn't return from his dive, his companions called the Coast Guard.

And shark attack has been ruled out...

The body, which did not appear to have any signs of trauma

 

[Catito]

more info


https://coffeeordie.com/florida-attorney-body-found/