In light of the recent loss of my friend Johnny off Cape Canaveral, and the tragic loss of Kenneth Gessenger off Ponce Inlet this past weekend, we all need a Search and Rescue/Recovery (SAR) Plan. The Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Department, nor FWC provides SAR divers for diving emergencies. Therefore, we are on our own with respect to underwater search and recovery. In my opinion, the Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Department, and FWC do a great job of ocean surface SAR. :toast:

The conditions we experience on the East Coast of Florida from Sebastian to Ponce Inlets are 10 to 15 foot visibility, depths typically ranging from 80 to 120 feet, combined with 1 to 2 knot current (often greater). These are difficult conditions to locate a diver that is not actively blowing bubbles or dragging a marker physically connected to them. Dragging a marker in these conditions while actively hunting fish and lobster seems like an increased risk due to extra task loading, being drug by the current, and entanglement. Those of you that do drag a marker, convince me otherwise.

Faced with the problem, here’s what we did:

1. The captain contacted the Coast Guard on Channel 16 and relayed all particulars: Situation, Coordinates, Depth, Name of Vessel, etc.
2. At the same time, two divers were swapping from empty to full tank and suiting up while the captain navigated the boat back to the marker jug
3. As soon as they were ready, each of the two divers jumped in and followed the ledge in the direction the diver’s bubbles were last seen
4. Some of the diver’s gear was found on the top of the ledge
5. A search of the area including looking under ledges was conducted until gas/deco obligations prevailed
6. Good Samaritan divers continued searching the area for hours :toast:

Here’s what I think I’ve sorted out that might help others in the future:

1. Anytime diver(s) splash in the water, a minimum of one additional diver must have a fresh tank set up and ready to go. This means the boat should always return to the dock with at least one full tank, so just put it in your plan for the day.
2. The setup should include a light and a knife
3. If you find gear evidence like we did, don’t move the gear. Its location will aid you for subsequent dives if required
4. Search the immediate area for entrapment
5. Note the direction of the current on the bottom and focus the search down current.
6. One knot is roughly 100 feet per minute! If your diver is in the water column, they are moving away quickly.
7. People remaining on the boat continue surface search
8. Utilize Good Samaritan volunteers to continue SAR
9. Drop another marker either where diver was last seen or have a diver move the marker to location of diver’s lost gear
10. Estimate the current speed and direction. Using 1 knot is 100’/minute rule, estimate how far the diver could have drifted. Drop another marker and search that area.

These are my thoughts. I am hoping some of you with better training or experience can validate, contradict, or add to this.

First, let me express my condolences.

I'm a public safety diver with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. I'd like to address a couple of things in your post.

we all need a Search and Rescue/Recovery (SAR) Plan.

To pick what may seem like a small nit here, there is no such thing as Search and Rescue/Recovery. Rescue and Recovery are very different and have different rules and driving forces. Rule #1 in both, however, is to not create more victims. The only thing I hate more than searching for a victim is searching for multiple victims. In a rescue situation, some safety considerations are bent, and others may be broken so long as Rule #1 is kept foremost in mind by the rescuing party. A recovery operation should not be attempted by untrained personnel. During a recovery operation, the safety of the divers and their support personnel is the prime objective. Even above a successful recovery. See Rule #1.



The Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Department, nor FWC provides SAR divers for diving emergencies. Therefore, we are on our own with respect to underwater search and recovery.

This is both true and false. Once offshore, the Coast Guard is the principle responding agency. It's one of their primary missions, and they are capable and often are on scene before the search becomes a recovery. Closer into shore, we respond as well with marine and air units to assist with the surface search.

Because it is not our primary mission to conduct maritime search and rescue, in reality, we are slower to mobilize and get on scene, and rarely (if ever) participate in the rescue attempts. We will, however, deploy in recovery attempts if the case agent decides there is any reasonable chance of recovery without violating Rule #1. The other teams I have worked with pretty much follow the same procedures.


Faced with the problem, here’s what we did:

1. The captain contacted the Coast Guard on Channel 16 and relayed all particulars: Situation, Coordinates, Depth, Name of Vessel, etc.
2. At the same time, two divers were swapping from empty to full tank and suiting up while the captain navigated the boat back to the marker jug
3. As soon as they were ready, each of the two divers jumped in and followed the ledge in the direction the diver’s bubbles were last seen
4. Some of the diver’s gear was found on the top of the ledge
5. A search of the area including looking under ledges was conducted until gas/deco obligations prevailed
6. Good Samaritan divers continued searching the area for hours :toast:

It sounds like you did everything right. It's an unfortunate, but cold hard truth that not everyone will come home. The only thing I could say is that after hope of rescue, the good samaritan divers should have stopped. That's an armchair call, though. If I were on-scene, I wouldn't stop looking until I had to.


Here’s what I think I’ve sorted out that might help others in the future:

1. Anytime diver(s) splash in the water, a minimum of one additional diver must have a fresh tank set up and ready to go. This means the boat should always return to the dock with at least one full tank, so just put it in your plan for the day.
2. The setup should include a light and a knife

No offense is intended here, but that is a recipe for disaster. I have no problems with solo diving recreationally, but a recovery dive is far outside the realm of recreational diving. There are many factors (both mental and physical) that will be present that are not considerations on a recreational dive. Any search should be performed by a tight buddy team, and only until hope of rescue is gone.


3. If you find gear evidence like we did, don’t move the gear. Its location will aid you for subsequent dives if required

Best practice here is to shoot a bag or some kind of SMB that is anchored to a permanent feature close to the evidence, and make a note of direction and approximate distance to the evidence. Do not touch anything. The area should be considered a crime scene.


4. Search the immediate area for entrapment
5. Note the direction of the current on the bottom and focus the search down current.
6. One knot is roughly 100 feet per minute! If your diver is in the water column, they are moving away quickly.
7. People remaining on the boat continue surface search
8. Utilize Good Samaritan volunteers to continue SAR
9. Drop another marker either where diver was last seen or have a diver move the marker to location of diver’s lost gear
10. Estimate the current speed and direction. Using 1 knot is 100’/minute rule, estimate how far the diver could have drifted. Drop another marker and search that area.

These are my thoughts. I am hoping some of you with better training or experience can validate, contradict, or add to this.

One note on the difference between looking for a freediver/swimmer and a scuba diver. Because a scuba diver has presumably achieved neutral buoyancy, your points above (6 and 10) are valid and good practice. A freediver/swimmer (or a scuba diver that has ditched his/her gear) is a bit different. Post agonal gasping, the average male will become approximately 16lbs negative. Over 90% of all swimming drowning victims are located with a cone that is 2' for every 1' of depth from the point of expiration (most frequently, the point last seen). An initial search within this diameter should be conducted (even up current). In the case where a scuba diver ditches their gear, that becomes the point last seen, and a like search should be performed at that spot (the scuba diver is now a swimmer).

I addressed point 8 above.

One thing I forgot.

After any rescue or recovery (successful or not) it is very important to debrief. Make sure to talk to someone (counselor/pastor/etc) afterwords. These type of things will stay with you for a long time, and it's very important to learn to cope with them in a non-destructive way.

Thank you for taking the time to critique what I wrote. Your insightful feedback is seriously appreciated. No offense taken!

I can honestly say I have not beat myself up over how we responded, but this post was poking at maybe having a better plan that might help someone else out. We were realistic in knowing our first dive was the only one that stood any chance of being a rescue. Recovery is for the benefit of the survivors and definitely should not run the risk of creating additional victims.

And yes you are right, “these type of things will stay with you for a long time”