SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews continue searching Wednesday for a overdue fisherman who went missing Monday in waters off of Guanica, Puerto Rico.
The missing fisherman is Vicente Silva Rodríguez, 71 year-old man, resident of Guanica, who reportedly had gone out snorkeling and fishing to “Manglillito” Beach in Guanica at approximately 10:30 a.m. Monday. Silva never returned home after he was expected to arrive back from fishing at 6:30 p.m. Monday
Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter Tuesday to search Guanica waters and beaches for the overdue fisherman. Coast Guard helicopter crews continue searching for Silva Wednesday alongside Puerto Rico Emergency Management and Police Joint Force for Rapid Action (F.U.R.A.) rescue crews.
Here are some safety tips to remember before and during a dive:
- Never dive or snorkel by yourself.
- Ensure you have a dive plan and a diving “buddy.”
- File a float plan with a family member or friend. If you decide to deviate from your original intended plan, notify your emergency contact immediately.
- Check your dive equipment carefully and ensure that equipment functions correctly.
- Mark the area in which you are diving with a dive flag and a light.
- Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, hypothermia and dehydration, as well as procedures for emergency treatment.
- Check local weather conditions before diving, snorkeling or swimming.
- Taking basic safety precautions while diving will increase your chance of surviving a potential diving accident.
- Boat operators should be alert and aware of dive flags.
- If you have not been scuba diving or snorkeling in the past year, please ensure you are physically capable of handling ocean conditions before diving.
- Divers should have proper diving signaling equipment in case of a distress.
