Body of diver who vanished off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea found

Man identified as Antonio Almeida, 60, of Deerfield Beach

LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. ā€“ The body of a diver who disappeared near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has been found.

Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion said the body of Antonio Almeida, 60, of Deerfield Beach, was found Sunday afternoon by the BSO's marine unit.

The search had begun a day earlier after Almeida failed to surface about a half-a-mile from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search.

Almeida was among 34 scuba divers and snorkelers who went out to a shallow reef aboard the commercial dive vessel Lady Go Diver, according to Arilton Pavan, who runs Dixie Divers, the boat's owner.

Pavan said Almeida was an experienced diver who has made two or three previous trips with his company.

The body was taken to a medical examiner's office for an autopsy, but the death is not believed to be suspicious.