Captain Paul Watson · @CaptPaulWatson
1st Feb 2017 from TwitLonger
SHARKWATER DIRECTOR ROB STEWART IS MISSING AT SEA
Shark conservationists and film-maker Rob Stewart is missing at sea off the Florida Keys
Rob and another diver were diving the “Queen of Nassau” wreck near Alligator Reef. Both men surfaced and one diver got onto boat and then passed out. Both men were using rebreathers. As the boat crew pulled the one diver from the water, they turned to retrieve Rob but he was no longer in sight - he had surfaced, so the boat crew thought that he passed out as well, and floated off. The USCG has a MH-60 helicopter out searching, along with a 33-foot fast boat and there is a USCG cutter nearby. The helicopter and the fast boat are both fitted with night/thermal search equipment and can cover an extreme amount of area in a short time.
Rob has been missing since 5:15 pm eastern time, more than eight hours.
Sea Shepherd launched our patrol boat JOHN PAUL DEJORIA today in Miami. The Sea Shepherd is about 6 hours away from Alligator Reef. Unfortunately the ship is not prepared to join the search nor would the ship be able to contribute to the a search that the Coast Guard is now covering with two vessels and a helicopter equipped night vision and thermal detection technology.
Rob Stewart is a former Sea Shepherd crewmember and Sea Shepherd worked with Rob in 2002 to produce the award-winning documentary SHARKWATER.
Hopefully Rob will be found alive by sunrise. At this point, we can only hope for the best.