Editor’s note: Correction to the day of the rescue and the Coast Guard flight crew that discovered the missing diver and deployed the station boat crew. The rescue occurred on Tuesday, not Monday, and the Jayhawk crew deployed the 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, not the Hercules flight crew.
PORTSMOUTH, Virginia – The Coast Guard and Good Samaritans rescued a missing diver Tuesday 24 miles east of Bald Head Island, North Carolina.
54-year-old Steve Oatman was rescued.
Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a notification of an overdue dive instructor at 12:26 p.m.
Oatman’s wife reported him missing to the lookouts, stating that he was wearing a wetsuit and scuba gear and had a personal locator beacon (PLB). He was diving alone and was only scheduled to dive for an hour, but 30 minutes after his time to surface expired, his wife called the sector.
Flight crews from Coast Guard Air Force Base Elizabeth City were directed to depart. The crew of a 45-foot medium response boat from Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach and a paramedic from Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue also participated in the search. The MH-60 Jayhawk crew arrived on scene around 2 p.m., spotted the diver waving his arms, and directed the station crew to proceed to the diver’s location. The Good Samaritan Diver crew recovered Oatman from the water with no reported injuries approximately 3 miles northwest of the originally reported location.
The diver was wearing a bright green safety vest that helped the helicopter crew identify him in the water.
“This diver’s preparation and experience played a major role in his rescue,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Sparks. “Having the proper safety equipment, developing a rescue plan and remaining calm under pressure can help any diver or mariner in danger. As with the four divers rescued this time last year to the day, being prepared for whatever comes your way can lead to the Coast Guard reuniting you with your family and friends.”
Oatman had a flotation plan and proper safety equipment with him during his dive to aid in his rescue.
The Coast Guard recommends that citizens always have everything they need with them when they go out on the water and tell someone where they are going and when they expect to return.
-USCG-
