Search continues for missing Navy diver in Strait of Messina

Search operations continue for Antonio Ridolfi, a 49-year-old Navy marshal from Ancona, who went missing during a dive in the Strait of Messina. Ridolfi disappeared between the night of September 15 and the morning of September 16 near Torre Faro while on vacation.

On September 17, the Coast Guard located red emergency balloons, suggesting the diver may have attempted to signal for help following a medical emergency or equipment issue. His diving equipment was recovered off the coast of Papardo, attached to a 20-meter rope. Surveillance footage confirmed he was diving with a wetsuit, tanks, and an underwater scooter.

Rescue efforts involve divers from Palermo, Naples, and Reggio Calabria, supported by five motorboats, a Finance patrol boat, helicopters, and aircraft. Strong sea currents in the area are complicating the search for the missing diver.