News
Five divers stranded in Florida waters when anchor line snaps; rescued when party boat happens to pass by
Whilst heading back to Key Largo through rough seas on Tuesday of last week, Capt. Joe Hall on the Sailors Choice party boat saw something he couldn’t believe.
A lone diver, frantically waving his arms, bobbed alone among 6-foot seas near Pickles Reef off Tavernier.
“It was really rough. Waves were crashing over the bow of our boat,” said Capt. Joe. “I barely caught a glimpse of him.”
Mate Jamie Stephenson put the ladder down and helped the diver onto the 65-foot fishing boat. “Then [the diver] asked, ‘Is everybody else here?’ I asked him what he meant.”
An intense rescue effort was then started that found four other divers, scattered from near Molasses Reef to Pickles Reef, approximately three miles away.
The group of five divers from Georgia was diving at Molasses Reef when the anchor line from their unmanned boat snapped.
“One of the divers was underwater when he saw the anchor line go slack,” said Officer Bobby Dube, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman. “They went to the surface and saw the boat drifting away.”
“They didn’t leave anybody topside,” said Officer Dube. “This shows why it’s always a good idea to leave a safety man on deck.”
The owner of the boat tried to swim after it, but 25 mph winds pushed the vessel away.
The Sailors Choice started running a search pattern after hearing Lunsford’s story. Many of the 18 fishing customers aboard went forward to scan the seas.
“Everybody on board helped out,” Capt. Joe said. “You could see they knew they were part of something important.”
Four FWC patrol boats headed offshore after getting the 5 p.m. call. One of the FWC boats later rescued a diver, who apparently tried to follow Lunsford, near Pickles Reef.
The Sailors Choice, accompanied by a Sea Tow Key Largo boat, spotted the remaining three divers, who had inflated their BCDs and stayed near Molasses Reef.
“By the time we saw them, they were drifting farther offshore,” said Capt. Joe. “We got on the loudspeaker and told them they were going to be OK. Sea Tow went in and scooped them up.”
A TowBoat US Key Largo vessel found the Wellcraft adrift on the shoreward side of Pickles Reef. The U.S. Coast Guard also took part in the search.
The divers were in the water for approximately 2 hours. After the first diver was found at around 5 pm, the rest were out of the water before 6.
“It’s a really nice feeling” to help in the rescue,” Capt. Joe said. “It was the end of the day so no other boats were going to be out there. Those guys probably would have spent the night at sea.”
Source: www.keysnet.com
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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