Ontario's Missing Adults

SHEARER, Omar Kahlil

Build – athletic

Dive suit
Buoyancy control device

On November 3, 1994, Omar Shearer, Kent Munro and David Madott flew from their homes in Ontario, Canada to spend the weekend visiting with Jeff Wandich at his home on Marco Island, Florida.  After sharing a meal, the four headed off to the Sealandia Scuba Center in Naples, Florida to rent some equipment that they would need for the following day.

At about 8:00 a.m. the following day, the men took Jeff’s boat, the Sea Esta, out of dry dock and headed off for a day of fishing and scuba diving the wreck of the Baja California.  Due to a slow-running engine, the men had to return to the marina to have the boat examined.  Whether the problem was caused by debris or something else, a computer chip seemed to resolve the issue and no repair was needed.   As a precaution, Jeff took two thermometers in case the engine began having problems again.

On the way to the Baja California, the men stopped at the wreck of Ben’s Barge to catch bait fish for later.  They fished for about a half hour and then set off for the Baja California wreck site.

After anchoring at the Baja California, the men began fishing.  They fished for approximately one hour before deciding to dive the wreck.  The four put on their equipment and divided themselves into two buddy groups – Jeff was paired with David and Omar with Kent.

According to Jeff, the sole survivor, he and David descended to about 100 feet and spent about 13 to 15 minutes touring the Baja California.  After coming to the surface, they found that the Sea Esta was partially submerged with only about three feet of the bow showing above the surface of the water.  The four decided to stay around the mostly submerged boat, holding onto the rope.  Since each man was wearing a wet suit and Buoyancy Compensating Device (BCD), they remained floating at the surface.   Presumably it was during this time that Omar and Kent told the others about difficulties they experienced during the dive and how they returned to find the boat taking on water.

Despite staying in a vertical position for hours, the boat sunk completely at 7:00 p.m.   The men then began swimming towards a telecommunications tower about 4 miles away.  The 75-foot tower, operated by the U.S. Navy was illuminated by a beacon.

During the swim, Jeff experienced a moment of panic and turned away from the group.  After regaining his self-confidence, Jeff could no longer see the others as both the waves and wind had picked up.  He managed to swim to the tower and climbed onto it at 11:00 p.m.  Jeff stayed on the tower for 36 hours before he was rescued.

When family members realized that the men had not returned from their day trip, the Coast Guard was notified and sent out a helicopter and water vessels to conduct searches for the missing men.  Additionally, many private boat owners participated in the search.  The resulting search was one of the most extensive searches ever undertaken.  Despite a seven day search, the missing men were not located.

The Sea Esta was salvaged on November 10, 1994, and divers retrieved 2 tanks, flare kit, several fishing rods and personal effects.   Subsequent searches, commissioned by the families also retrieved regulators and tanks.

After the official search was called off, the Coast Guard conducted an investigation to understand how such a large search did not find any trace of the missing men.  Soon after, the investigation was turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).  Although they investigated for several months, the FBI halted their investigations in February 1995 stating that they could not take the case any further.

Three tanks, 3 regulators, 3 wet suits, 3 BCDs, David Madott, Kent Munro and Omar Shearer remain missing this day.  Their families continue to search for answers to their sons’ fates.

Anyone who provides information that leads to the live recovery of David, Kent or Omar is entitled to a reward of $100,000 US per man.  The reward for information leading to the recovery of the men’s remains leads to $15,000 US per man.

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Additional Details and Contacts

Vanished in the Gulf by Joe Warmington (Battle Books:  1995)
Vanished.org
The Marco Island 3: Vanished in the Gulf – Parts 1 & 2