The body of a Pennsylvania man who went missing while diving with a friend off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts was recovered Thursday morning, according to police.
Officials received a call for a missing 47-year-old diver around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to officials.
The diver had last been seen with his friend about 150 yards off-shore near the area of Cathedral Rock off Cathedral Avenue — a popular spot for scuba divers.
It appears the man's body was found not far from where his boat could be seen floating alone in the water on Wednesday night.
"When it's light out, and the ocean is calm they have a lot better results," said Rockport Police Lt. Mark Schmink.
The man's name has not been released pending family notification.
Local emergency crews, a dive team and the U.S. Coast Guard responded with two boats and a helicopter. Local search efforts disbanded on Wednesday night but resumed at 7 a.m. Thursday. The Coast Guard continued its search overnight.
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"Last night around 5 o'clock, I heard a helicopter going over and over. So I figured something must be going on," said Rockport resident Wayne Schmalz.
Donald Blanchette, a manager for the nearby Emerson Inn, said he sees divers going into the water all the time.
"It's too bad that something like this would happen," said Blanchette. "The sea is a mysterious thing. Anything can happen down there."
Both the diver and his friend were visiting from Pennsylvania and were staying at a campground nearby, according to officials.
