A 39-year-old man named Virgil Price went missing while free diving near a World War II-era shipwreck in Florida. The Coast Guard and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office began a search for him after he failed to resurface in the area around the Halsey shipwreck, located about 13 miles southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet. Price was a member of Florida Freedivers, a freediving and spearfishing educator, and lived in West Palm Beach. He was last seen wearing a green wetsuit with an orange stripe on the hood, yellow weights on his weight belt, and black carbon fiber fins. Diving is described as an inherently dangerous activity, and last year, a 44-year-old diver went missing off the coast of Key West, Florida.
The Halsey shipwreck was built in 1920 and is located about 130 miles north of Miami. It was owned by American Petroleum Transport Corp and was en route from Corpus Christi, Texas to New York with a cargo of fuel oil, gasoline, and naphtha when it was struck by a torpedo during World War II. The ship split in half and caught fire, causing the 32 crew members to board lifeboats and be towed to shore by a fishing boat. The ship now sits in three pieces on a sand bottom 65 feet underwater, with the bow and stern upright and the midsection upside down. The area around the shipwreck is a popular diving spot, but it comes with risks due to the deep water and potential hazards present in the wreckage.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office joined in the search for the missing diver, along with the Coast Guard. Price’s disappearance has left his friends and fellow divers in shock and mourning, as he was considered family by many. Freediving and spearfishing are popular activities in the area, but they come with inherent risks that can be dangerous, especially in deep water or around shipwrecks. The search for Virgil Price highlights the importance of safety precautions and training for divers to minimize the risks associated with these activities.
Florida Freedivers, where Price was a team member, posted on Facebook about his disappearance and expressed their grief over the situation. The community of freedivers and spearfishers in the area is mourning the loss of a beloved member and friend. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that divers face when exploring underwater environments, and the need for proper equipment, training, and precautionary measures to prevent accidents and tragedies. The search for Virgil Price continues as officials work to locate him and bring closure to his family and loved ones who are waiting for news of his whereabouts.
The Halsey shipwreck holds historical significance as a World War II-era vessel that was struck by a torpedo and split in half. The wreckage remains on the sea floor as a reminder of the past and a popular spot for divers to explore. However, the dangers associated with diving in deep water and around sunken vessels are ever-present, as demonstrated by the disappearance of Virgil Price. The search and rescue efforts for Price are ongoing, with hopes of finding him safe and bringing him back to his loved ones. The diving community mourns the loss of one of its own and reflects on the risks and rewards of exploring the underwater world.
