NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard rescued three divers separated from their boat, 13 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday morning.
Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a notification that three men aboard a 26-foot pleasure craft were overdue from their fishing and diving trip at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Coast Guard Sector Mobile issued an urgent marine-information broadcast after receiving initial notification.
A 45-foot response boat-medium crew from Coast Guard Station Pensacola and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew from Aviation Training Center Mobile were dispatched to search for the men shortly after receiving the initial notification.
The Coast Guard Cutter Stingray, an 87-foot patrol boat home-ported in Mobile, was dispatched to aid in the search.
The HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew located the men who were flashing lights at rescuers at 12:09 a.m.
The crew of the Ocean Sentry dropped a flare to mark the men’s position at 12:20 a.m.
The Station Pensacola rescue crew arrived on scene and pulled the three men from the water approximately 12:30 a.m.
The three men, who reportedly were uninjured, stated they were diving earlier in the day, became disoriented and lost sight of their anchored boat.
The men were transported to Station Pensacola where they were met by local emergency medical services.