Executive Summary
- Gail Smith, 66, was identified as the diver found dead off Manasota Key Beach following a search operation.
- The victim and his partner were diving for shark teeth approximately a quarter-mile offshore when they became separated.
- Bystanders located the body hours after a drifting dive flag triggered a multi-agency response involving the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement.
Authorities in Sarasota County have released additional details regarding the death of a 66-year-old scuba diver who was found deceased off Manasota Key Beach on January 25. According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the victim has been identified as Gail Smith, who was located approximately six hours after he was last seen by his diving partner.
The incident began when Smith and his diving partner, identified as 63-year-old Daniel McAtee, embarked on a recreational dive to hunt for shark teeth about a quarter-mile offshore. Investigators noted that the pair planned a one-hour dive at a depth of roughly 21 feet. According to statements McAtee provided to authorities, the two submerged around 9:30 a.m. but had no specific plan to maintain visual contact or use a tether, relying instead on a rough compass heading.
McAtee told deputies that upon surfacing after his dive, he was unable to locate Smith. After an unsuccessful initial search of the surrounding water, he contacted 911 at approximately 12:12 p.m. Sarasota County lifeguards subsequently discovered Smith’s dive flag floating unattached a significant distance from the dive site, suggesting it had been carried away by strong currents or wind, the sheriff’s office reported.
A multi-agency search operation was immediately launched, involving the sheriff’s office marine unit and dive team, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and fire departments from Englewood, Sarasota County, and Venice. At approximately 3:28 p.m., bystanders on the beach reportedly observed a body floating near the 8400 block of Manasota Key Road and pulled the victim ashore, where units positively identified him as Smith.
Investigative Outlook
The case currently remains active as the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatality. While initial witness statements point to a recreational accident complicated by separation and water conditions, forensic results from the medical examiner will likely be required to determine if a medical event or equipment failure contributed to the drowning. The incident highlights the critical nature of safety protocols in recreational diving, particularly regarding buddy systems and visual contact in open water environments.
