In a precarious turn of events, three adult men were left adrift in the open waters of the Florida Keys on Wednesday, marking the first day of the spiny lobster mini-season. Their rescue came after a Navy helicopter spotted them nearly two nautical miles away from their entry point into the water, as reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The incident unfolded near a reef off Duck Key, located in the Middle Keys in Monroe County, when the trio became separated from their vessel due to adverse sea conditions.
Authorities were alerted to their disappearance shortly before noon, promptly launching a joint operation involving the FWC, the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Marathon, and the Navy's Search and Rescue team from Key West.
In a swift response, a Navy helicopter located the three divers floating in the water at 12:12 p.m., less than half an hour after the alert was raised.
FWC officers promptly brought the men on board their patrol boat, along with their diving gear, and soon reunited them with their own diving boat.
No injuries were reported among those rescued.
Body camera footage from the FWC officers captured the moment they spotted the men in the water and safely retrieved them.
Captain Adam Garrison, the Monroe County Area Supervisor for the FWC, emphasized the critical nature of the coordinated response: "Every minute counts during a water search. The seamless coordination between the FWC, the Coast Guard, and the Navy Search and Rescue team, along with the combined use of our maritime and aerial resources, allowed for a swift and safe resolution for these divers."
This rescue took place amid an especially eventful lobster mini-season, held on July 29 and 30, which drew tens of thousands of divers and boaters to South Florida.
In the days leading up to the event, the Coast Guard and the FWC had issued safety warnings, advising participants to slow down near dive flags, turn off engines when divers are in the water, and never dive alone.
Aside from the rescue of the three divers near Duck Key, the preliminary report for the 2026 lobster mini-season indicated no fatalities. Authorities highlighted the successful diver rescue and the care of an injured sea turtle, noting that no arrests were made.
In previous years, there have been fatal accidents. In 2022, four people lost their lives during the mini-season week, with two fatalities occurring on July 27, the start of recreational harvesting.
In 2025, an 82-year-old man was found unresponsive while snorkeling off Grassy Key, and a 61-year-old man lost consciousness the following day; both were declared dead at hospitals in the Keys.
Key Information about Florida Keys Diving Incidents
What caused the divers to drift away from their boat?
The divers became separated from their boat due to adverse sea conditions near a reef off Duck Key.
How were the divers rescued?
A Navy helicopter spotted the divers floating in the water, and FWC officers then brought them aboard a patrol boat and reunited them with their own diving vessel.
Were there any injuries reported during the rescue?
No injuries were reported among the rescued divers.
What safety measures were recommended before the mini-season?
The Coast Guard and FWC advised slowing down near dive flags, turning off engines when divers are in the water, and avoiding solo dives.