MONROE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Three missing divers in the Florida Keys were rescued Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Just before noon on Wednesday, officers were notified of the missing divers, three adult men, who were diving in a reef off Duck Key in the Middle Florida Keys. The trio were separated from their vessel thanks to rough conditions. The FWC, U. S. Navy Search, U.S. Coast Guard Station Marathon, and Rescue Key West began an immediate search.
See also; Martin County Commissioners move to change beach shark fishing laws
Less than a half hour later, around 12:12 p.m., a Navy Search and Rescue helicopter spotted the divers floating almost 2 nautical miles from where their dive began. According to the FWC, marine officers quickly brought the three men and their gear to safety aboard the FWC patrol vessel. Soon after, they were reunited with their dive boat.
Bodycam footage from the FWC shows officers spotting the three men floating in the water, before being pulled to safety by the rescue teams.
“Every minute matters during a search on the water,” said Capt. Adam Garrison, Monroe County Area Supervisor. “The seamless coordination between FWC, Coast Guard, and Navy Search and Rescue, along with the combined use of our marine and aviation assets, allowed a quick and safe resolution for these divers.”