Coast Guard suspends search for diver missing off Long Point in Provincetown

PROVINCETOWN – The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday for an 80-year-old man who failed to resurface from a dive near Long Point Wednesday morning.

Response boat crews from Coast Guard Station Provincetown, helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead worked closely on this response with multiple state and local responders including:

– The Barnstable County Incident Management Team
– The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office
– The Center for Coastal Studies
– The Massachusetts Environmental Police
– The Massachusetts State Dive Team
– The National Park Service
– The Provincetown Harbormaster
– Tow Boat US
– Dive team members from Chatham, Brewster, Bourne, Dennis, Harwich, Orleans, Sandwich, Truro, and Yarmouth.
– Several good Samaritan commercial and recreational vessel

“This is a sad day for the Coast Guard and our state and local partners who worked so hard on this case,” said Cmdr. Marcus Gherardi, the chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. “I want to thank all of our maritime partners, who showcased exceptional teamwork and provided a benchmark response in the air, and on and under the water. Although I’m extremely saddened by the end result of this case, I’m proud to be part of such a great team of dedicated professionals who are committed to saving lives. Anytime we are unable to save a life, it hits us hard.”

A crewman aboard a 16-foot Boston Whaler dive boat contacted Coast Guard watchstanders for help at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday reporting the man began his dive at 11 a.m., and shortly after, was no longer attached to his dive flag.

At last contact, the diver reported he had 30-35 minutes remaining on his oxygen tank. He was diving in about 35 feet and had more than 50 years of diving experience.
Media release furnished by U.S. Coast Guard; photo by Tim Caldwell/CWN

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