News

By Rich Pollack

    A 15-year-old free-diver from Hobe Sound was discovered in about 50 to 60 feet of water off the coast of Boca Raton almost two hours after he failed to surface while spear fishing late last month.
    Skyler Hunt of Hobe Sound, who had been free-diving from a private boat with friends and relatives, was later pronounced dead at Delray Medical Center.
    “He was an experienced free-diver,” said Tim Fernan of the Palm Beach County Reef Research Team, who along with another team member discovered the missing teen.   
    Fernan and nine other divers from the research team were heading north to conduct research dives off Boynton Beach when they saw police boats speeding by with their blue lights flashing.
    Above they saw a Coast Guard helicopter conducting a search and on the marine radio they heard conversations about a free-diver missing off the coast of Boca Raton, near Spanish River Boulevard.
    “As soon as I heard that, I said  ’You guys might want to suit up,’ ” Fernan said
    At the Coast Guard’s request, the team joined the search and after three dives Fernan and one of his other divers found Hunt motionless in the ocean.  
    “I brought him to the surface,” Fernan said.
    Skyler was later rushed by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office boat and then U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to the hospital.
    About 30 minutes after Skyler was reported missing, his father, Triston Hunt, had put out an alert on Facebook saying that his son was missing and might have succumbed to “shallow water blackout” — a condition that occurs when too little oxygen gets to the brain during extended dives. Free-divers use no breathing aids while underwater.
    Fernan said visibility was about 20 to 30 feet when he first saw the shaft and line from Skyler’s spear gun and later the spear gun itself.
    The Palm Beach County Reef Research Team is a group of volunteers who observe, collect, document and record scientific data for use in enhancing marine habitats.