Search continues for missing diver

UPDATED:

Two days after scuba diver and underwater equipment repair specialist Chevonne Bartholomew disappeared in the waters surrounding Gasparee Island, several divers and vessels of the TT Coast Guard continue to scour the Gulf of Paria to locate him. However up until press time, all efforts had been unsuccessful.

Bartholomew, 37, who worked with TrinDive Underwater Services Ltd, along with his dive partner, identified only as “Bee,” made a contracted dive in the Gulf of Paria at 10 am. The dive partner later told investigators that he had difficulty seeing Bartholomew, who disappeared behind him. Newsday spoke to his wife, Pete-Ann Bartholomew, who said she was still hopeful the authorities would be able to find him alive.

“We haven’t gotten any updates from the coast guard since yesterday (Tuesday) but the peace of God is real and I feel calm and I am expecting good news on his whereabouts.” Bartholomew’s mother, Joanne Bartholomew, said on Monday, there were a lot of unanswered questions about her son’s disappearance and is calling for answers after she was barred from speaking to her son’s diving partner on the incident.

“I was contacted around 10.30 am by a representative of the company, who told me he (Chevon) didn’t resurface with his partner. I was confused, I wanted to know what she meant by that, but she kept using a lot of technical jargon which I couldn’t understand,” Joanne Bartholomew said.

Newsday contacted an official at TrinDive, who preferred not to comment. Public relations officer of the TT Coast Guard Lt Sherron Manswell said the authorities have widened the search area for Bartholomew and have deployed divers, vessels and helicopters in the search.

“We’re doing our best to try and locate him. At this time of year there are four powerful currents which could have dragged him in any direction, so it is difficult to locate his whereabouts at this time.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

From as early as 8 am today divers and vessels of the TT Coast Guard continued to search the waters of the Gulf of Paria for missing diver and underwater repair specialist, Chervonne Bartholomew after he disappeared in the waters near Gasparee Island on Monday.

So far, no sign of Bartholomew or his equipment have been found.

Newsday contacted Bartholomew's wife, Pete-Ann Bartholomew this morning who said she has yet to receive any updates on the whereabouts of her husband, but remains hopeful that he is still alive.