WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The search for a missing free diver from West Palm Beach was halted on Sunday, according to the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
In a tweet, the USCG stated that search teams had covered over 673 square miles and spent 6.5 asset hours looking for Ryan Proulx.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the Proulx family,” said Lt. Commander Matt Spado, the Coast Guard liaison officer. “The decision to suspend the active search efforts, pending further developments, is not one we take lightly.”
The USCG reported that Proulx was last seen free diving on Friday near the Bimini Barge Wreck, which is located 1.5 miles west of the Bimini Inlet. According to their initial Twitter post, Proulx was wearing a green top with red fins.
CBS12 News interviewed Steve Diffenbacher, who revealed that Proulx, a resident of West Palm Beach, was diving near a wreck half a mile offshore around 5 p.m. and did not resurface. Diffenbacher mentioned that the USCG conducted an aerial search for Proulx, but adverse weather conditions made the search challenging.
