The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a diver who was found on the ocean floor approximately 6 to 7 miles north-northeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce received a Mayday call on VHF Channel 16 at around 11:30 a.m. on Friday reporting the missing diver. In response, the Coast Guard contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which quickly deployed 4 vessels to help with the search. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit had independently picked up the distress call and was already heading to the scene to assist with rescue efforts.
Friends of the missing diver who were boating in the area departed the Fort Pierce Inlet at approximately 1 p.m. to help with the search. Both the Coast Guard and FWC provided aerial support to aid responders in locating the diver. The responding units made contact with the vessel near Avalon State Park, positioned almost directly to the east. The coordinated effort between multiple agencies and civilian volunteers worked to cover the search area as quickly as possible.
At approximately 4:10 p.m., civilian divers entered the water and found the missing diver at the ocean bottom in approximately 55 feet of water. The diver was brought to the surface and pronounced deceased. The body was then transported to Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division has taken over the investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the diver's death. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to understand what led to the fatal incident. The case highlights the dangers associated with diving operations and the importance of coordinated emergency response when divers go missing.