Emergency Dive Response Team
03/03/2025
EDRT Lake Oconee – Search Day 20/21 (Friday Feb 28/Saturday March 1) - UPDATE
We wrapped up Day 20 and 21 as we continued the search for Gary Jones.
Most of the day Friday was dedicated to working with partner dive teams scouting the area and identifying the dive areas. There is a fear that the below water tree line, hooks, lures, and fishing line will make the dives potentially more dangerous. The previous weeks sonar, search, and ROV activities have taken their toll on our equipment, personnel, and bodies. We have damaged or lost multiple pieces of equipment during the activities. The search efforts continue to be very detailed, showing the dedication of the Emergency Dive Response Team, DNR, PCSO, K9 Teams, GA Drone, local fisherman and volunteer search teams. Sonar technology has been used repeatedly to scan the lake floor. Every possible lead has been followed. The authorities are determined to find Gary, to bring closure to his family and the community. Friday’s weather slowed things down, however since it was a primarily a prep day for Saturday dives, we still accomplished a lot.
Since the beginning of the search mission, targets have been identified, and many have been ruled out or cleared; the most promising target areas will be searched with human divers to definitively clear.
Saturday started off early, and we were able to get 9 good dives in, clearing some of the search area, with no positive results. The winds picked up during the day, reaching 15-20 miles per hour, and with gusts of 25+ mph creating 1-2’ whitecaps. Our boats could not remain stationary, and this prevented additional dives from occurring the rest of the day.
We were joined by additional experienced divers - Buck Buchanan (Dive911 in Crystal River, FL); Ryan Sauter (a former diver with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office), and resources from Cherokee and DeKalb County rescue. As always, Captain Walker from the United Cajun Navy was with us.
Diving and K9 Teams will resume on Sunday and will continue as long as the weather permits.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s office (Lead Agency), DNR and Georgia State Patrol boats along with numerous trained K-9 Units, local fisherman and volunteers continue to be instrumental in supporting the overall Search operation.
As efforts increase, the cost of operations including transportation, gas, and food continue to rise. The EDRT, a 501c3 charitable organization, made up of volunteers operating entirely on donations is dedicating a large amount of funds and resources to continue the efforts and support our partners. Costs for running an operation are in the thousands and the non-profit team is not reimbursed for the costs of a recovery operation.
We request your support and a tax-deductible donation to support our ongoing operations and critical work. Please visit www.edrt.org and donate today at https://ngcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=6843.
If you are interested in helping in anyway – provide a meal, offer supplies, make a donation, or anything to assist the search efforts – please reach out.
03/01/2025
‘It’s gonna be zero visibility:’ Divers to search Lake Oconee for missing teacher Divers hope to rule out some parts of the lake and make the search area smaller.
Updated coverage on the search for Gary Jones.
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/gary-jones-missing-boater-lake-oconee-search-continues-sunday-feb-23/85-345a411a-2794-40fa-8439-f600de85260c?ref=exit-recirc
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