Southport, NC - Diver missing?

[Supermanwoot]

I was having a picnic at southport, nc which is a small "island" located a short ferry ride from Wilmington, NC. While we were there we noticed some panicked people at a nearby pier and then police showed up and were walking down the beach. When an officer walked by I asked him what was going on and he said a scuba diver never came back up so they asked if we've seen anything floating in the water, etc. We were there about an hour and by then there were at least 3 coast guard ships and 2 helicopters hovering low and searching the water.

I don't know any more details but a police officer told me there was a diver down who never resurfaced. They sent several divers into the water to look for him around the pier and it seemed like visibility was terrible in the waterway.

If anyone knows anything about this incident please let us know.

Ok found the story on the news: http://www.wect.com/story/15390013/crews-search-for-missing-diver-in-cape-fear-river-near-southport

 

[Supermanwoot]

VIDEO: Crews continue to search for missing diver near Southport | WWAY NewsChannel 3

Here is the latest news report. They now know his name and say that they haven't found him but that he was known to be an experienced diver. This news makes me wonder more what really happened, especially whether he had a buddy with him ornot.

 

[jwc3]

The news article posted by Supermanwoot (above) has been updated -- the diver's body has been found. I was also in Southport this weekend for a wedding and saw the search teams in action. Some of the groom's family said they saw the body floating by their rental house on the river, but at the time they thought he was snorkeling on the surface. Not sure if he was conscious, unconscious, or deceased at that time.

I have never dived in the Cape Fear River, but it seems like a difficult location for diving given the current of the river, the eb and flow of the tide, heavy ship traffic (it is the Intracoastal Waterway and the shipping route from Wilmington, NC, to the Atlantic), and poor visibility. Has anyone else dived there before?

 

[Supermanwoot]

were you at the wedding at the community building? I was there as well because thats where my girlfriend's sister is getting married next labor day weekend hopefully.

Pretty cool that you were there. It was a perfect day for a wedding except for the sad news.

also an update they said the diver was an experienced diver in the area which means he must be used to the low visibility and whatnot. No word on what exactly happened to him as far as I know, however.