Manasota Beach diver found dead after extensive search by authorities

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. - A search for a missing diver near Manasota Beach ended in tragedy as authorities found the 66-year-old man dead after a large, multi-agency search.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said the man entered the water around 9:30 a.m. and never returned to shore. A friend reported him missing just after noon, triggering a large search by land, sea, and air.

Englewood Fire, the U.S. Coast Guard, and multiple law enforcement and fire agencies from Sarasota and Manatee counties responded. Helicopters from the Coast Guard and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office searched from above.

Beachgoers noticed the heavy law enforcement presence.

"We do surf ski paddling. So we were just coming by," said Nick Robinson, a beachgoer.

"We started like eight miles down, and we were meeting these people for, you know, a late New Year's party, and I noticed like seven, eight cops on the beach," Robinson said.

Jeremy Williams, another beachgoer, said, "So we actually saw cars on the road that, like, had a whole bunch of, like, five or 10 police cars on the road."

After hours of searching, the diver's body was found Sunday afternoon and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"You never want something like that to happen," Robinson said.

"It's crazy. It's very saddening," Williams said.

Robinson added that Manasota Beach is a popular spot for divers.

"There's, like, certain spots that are, I've noticed paddling that are designated, like, dive spots. So I think there's a megalodon teeth and stuff like that," he said. "I think it's pretty flat bottom and pretty calm water. So I think primarily the diving is for sharks teeth."

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office stated this is an active investigation, and no further details have been released.