Off Florida's west coast, rescue crews from 4 separate agencies have scoured 268 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico in search of missing scuba diver Ashley Mauldin. Using a 47-foot rescue boat, two Jayhawk helicopters, C-130 search planes and more, the rescue crews have searched for her since Monday afternoon. According to Mauldin's cousin, "She was picking things up off the ocean floor. The next thing they knew the boat rocked and Ashley was gone." It's unclear if Mauldin was diving alone or if she had a buddy with her, although reports indicate that her husband and step-daughter were snorkeling nearby. Nevertheless, she never returned to the boat.
Yesterday, strong storms -- even water spouts -- hampered search efforts, and this morning Doug Tobin, the Pasco County sheriff's spokesman sadly indicated that, "Because of how long she has been missing, her oxygen tank would be long depleted. It is now a recovery effort for us."
