Search for Ryan Proulx called off after he vanished free diving in Bahamas

The US Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing Connecticut man after he vanished while free-diving to a shipwreck in the Bahamas.

American and Bahamian officials called off their search for former East Hartford police officer Ryan Proulx Sunday, two days after he failed to surface from an excursion 1.5 miles offshore, the US Coast Guard said.

Officials spent 6.5 hours scouring more than 673 square miles of open water.

“The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is one we never take lightly, “said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Spado in a statement.

Proulx was last seen at 4 p.m. Friday free diving around the Bimini Barge Wreck, roughly 130 miles from where Louisana high school graduate Cameron Robbins disappeared after jumping from a sunset cruise.

The Bimini Barge Wreck is characterized by a local charter company as a popular deep-water spot with “an abundance of marine life, although there can be a very strong current at times.”

“You could see large grouper, barracuda, jack and sharks swimming through the hull,” Worldwide Boat claims. “Since passageways are narrow, it’s recommended that only seasoned divers swim among these big fish.”

Though official search parties have been suspended, Proulx’s loved ones are working to establish a volunteer crew to continue looking for the former cop.

According to friends, Proulx was an avid fisherman and diver who ran his own charter company called Blue Runner out of Rhode Island for part of the year.

“You brought us all together and showed us how it was done, you loved the water more than anyone I’ve met and I’m proud to call it your final resting place,” David Hargus said on Facebook.

“Love you bro, you are already missed.”

Proulx followed in his father’s footsteps and served as an officer for the East Hartford Police Department from 2017 to 2021.

During his time on the force, he was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving alongside two other officers for having made the most DUI arrests in one year.

Proulx continued serving Connecticut police departments part-time by training K-9 dogs, friend Steve Diffenbacher told Channel 3.

The suspended search for Proulx comes as officials across multiple countries and agencies race to find the Titanic-bound OceanGate Expeditions submarine.

The five-person crew — including a British billionaire Hamish Harding — was reported missing Sunday night after it failed to return to its support ship on time.

Coast Guard crews said Tuesday that they have just 41 hours to locate the sub and rescue the five people aboard before the vessel runs out of oxygen.