Divers search for missing tourist at Monastery Beach

Divers are still searching the waters at Monastery Beach, after a man went missing there, Monday.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said the man, around the age of 50, had traveled to the Monterey Bay from Scotland, with his 17-year-old son. After nearly 24 searches over the past two days, there is still no sign of him.

“The son didn’t actually see his father go in the water. We don’t have a witness that saw him go in, so it’s kind of like a needle in a haystack. We’re doing search patterns of the entire cove area and hoping we find him,” said Michael Darlington, Monterey County Sheriff Dive Team Supervisor.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said the man told his son he wanted to go for a swim, just before he went missing. According to the son, his dad was an avid swimmer. The Monterey County Sheriff Dive Team said Monastery Beach is actually very deceiving.

“This beach is notorious for injuries and fatalities. It’s right off the highway, so as tourists drive by they see this nice, sandy beach. They come out here and they don’t realize that it’s a very steep beach. It gets very deep, very quickly,” said Darlington.

Just offshore lies a massive canyon. Locals said many would never guess that it is there. “Look at it right now. It’s flat. It’s nice. Right now, it looks like it’s okay, but still. Even if you know how to swim you got to be careful,” said Monterey resident, Oscar Mendez-Monroy.

The son was taken in by child protective services, Monday night. Officials are working to get in contact with family, and help him return home, as divers decided if they will continue the search. “It just depends on weather conditions and what other information we get from any witnesses or family members,” said Darlington.

The Monterey County Sheriff Dive Team said they will reassess the search Thursday morning.