On August 2, 2023, 44-year-old Thomas Aaron Faulkenberry, a dive instructor from Stock Island, Florida, went missing while diving near the Vandenberg wreck, approximately seven miles off the coast of Key West. Faulkenberry was part of a dive trip that departed from the Perry Hotel Marina in Key West on the vessel Dream Cat. He entered the water for a dive and was last seen at about 9:20 a.m. The crew of the Dream Cat reported him overdue to the U.S. Coast Guard at approximately 10:13 a.m.
Faulkenberry, an experienced diver and a former U.S. Coast Guard service member of nearly 20 years, was working as a dive instructor for Lost Reef Adventures. He was reportedly on a dive to place a decompression tank on a line at the popular dive site, the U.S.N.S. General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a large artificial reef. The wreck is known to be subject to strong currents. At the time of his disappearance, Faulkenberry was wearing black shorts and dive equipment, including prescription glasses. He is described as a white male, 6'3" tall, weighing between 220 and 230 pounds, with long, curly blond hair and a long black and gray beard. He has tattoos on both arms.
An extensive search and rescue operation was launched following the report of his disappearance. The multi-agency effort was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and included resources from the U.S. Naval Air Station Key West, the U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations Dive School, the Florida Army National Guard, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Over the course of nearly six days, rescue crews covered an area of approximately 4,300 square miles, roughly the size of Connecticut, in an effort to locate him.
Despite the comprehensive search, Faulkenberry was not found. The U.S. Coast Guard officially suspended the search on August 7, 2023, pending any new information. Captain Jason Ingram, commander of Sector Key West, described the incident as a "tragic accident" and acknowledged Faulkenberry's passion for the sea, which was well-known within the local diving community. Faulkenberry is survived by his wife and four sons. His brother, Weston Faulkenberry, shared updates during the search and expressed that his brother loved the ocean and had wished to become part of a reef upon his death. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is the investigating agency for this missing person case.
Last Seen: Aug 2, 2023
