Toronto director and environmental activist Rob Stewart, best known for his acclaimed documentaries Sharkwater and Revolution, has gone missing off the coast of Florida.
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting a search after Stewart vanished yesterday (January 31) during a dive near Islamorada in the Florida Keys.
According to CBC, a helicopter, boat and team of divers began investigating the area last night, and additional teams were assembling at sunrise this morning to continue the search for Stewart. The Toronto Star notes that members of U.S. Navy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Monroe County Sheriff's Office have also joined the search.
The director, highly experienced in underwater shooting, was on a dive with three others, all of whom have been reported safe.
The U.S. Coast Guard's senior chief, Jeremy Weaver, told CBC that Stewart had "resurfaced at the end of the dive, and as the boat was turning around to pick him up, he went back under — and was not seen again."
Weaver said it is unclear what caused Stewart to go back underwater. He also reported that weather conditions were good at the time of last night's dive.
Recent Instagram posts indicate that Stewart and his crew were in the midst of shooting a Sharkwater sequel.
A tweet from Stewart's account this morning (February 1) thanked well-wishers for their thoughts and prayers, and promised to "share news as we have it."
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting a search after Stewart vanished yesterday (January 31) during a dive near Islamorada in the Florida Keys.
According to CBC, a helicopter, boat and team of divers began investigating the area last night, and additional teams were assembling at sunrise this morning to continue the search for Stewart. The Toronto Star notes that members of U.S. Navy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Monroe County Sheriff's Office have also joined the search.
The director, highly experienced in underwater shooting, was on a dive with three others, all of whom have been reported safe.
The U.S. Coast Guard's senior chief, Jeremy Weaver, told CBC that Stewart had "resurfaced at the end of the dive, and as the boat was turning around to pick him up, he went back under — and was not seen again."
Weaver said it is unclear what caused Stewart to go back underwater. He also reported that weather conditions were good at the time of last night's dive.
Recent Instagram posts indicate that Stewart and his crew were in the midst of shooting a Sharkwater sequel.
A tweet from Stewart's account this morning (February 1) thanked well-wishers for their thoughts and prayers, and promised to "share news as we have it."
Thank you for all your thoughts & prayers for Rob & family. The search & rescue continues today. We will share news as we have it.
— Rob Stewart (@teamsharkwater) February 1, 2017
