Coast Guard Search for Missing Diver Continues, Bahamas

Coast Guard search-and-rescue crews are searching for a man who went missing during a commercial shark diving venture in the vicinity of West End, Bahamas, Sunday night.

Missing is John E. Petty, 63, hometown unknown.

Coast Guard 7th District command center watchstanders were contacted by the captain aboard the commercial dive vessel Shear Water late Sunday night stating that Petty went shark diving with eight others and he never resurfaced.

The Coast Guard immediately launched multiple air and sea assets that have been searching since. Currently on scene supporting Bahamian authorities and searching are the crews aboard:

– Coast Guard Cutter Dolphin, homeported in Miami, Florida,
– Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft,
– Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued.

Petty was last seen 20 nautical miles northwest of West End, Bahamas by one of the divers in the group.

Press Release, July 15, 2014