Divers searching for a 13-year-old Buford boy in Lake Lanier face many challenges.
Griffin Prince was thrown from his family pontoon boat after it was hit by another boat on Monday night. His 9-year-old brother Jake was killed on impact.
"Everyone here's primary focus is bringing closure for the Prince family," said Major Stephen Adams of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Stephen Collins and Cat Norton of The Diver Shop on McEver said visibility fades quickly in Lake Lanier. Other conditions also make it a treacherous dive.
"It's just trees and as the fishermen come in and they fish for the big fish, the lines get tied up in there. Years and years and years of that make just basically a giant spider web down there," said Collins.
Safety has been a top priority for the dive teams from various agencies who have been searching for Griffin since Tuesday morning. Investigators Georgia's DNR is using side-searching sonar with 10 boats on the water.
Divers are also limited by the amount of time they can spend underwater. They have to watch for what's commonly known as "the bends," which is a buildup of nitrogen, especially critical at 130 feet deep.
Officials say divers have been limited to 3 to 5 minute trips underwater, making it necessary to switch out constantly.
Divers will search Lake Lanier again on Friday. If they are unable to locate Griffin, the search will likely be suspended until after the weekend due to big crowds at the lake.
The community at Windsor will hold a candlelight vigil Sunday night at its clubhouse in Buford as a show of support for the Prince family.
A memorial fund has been set up for Jake and Griffin Prince at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations are being accepted at any Wells Fargo location under the account number 7581668121.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:06 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:06:52 GMT
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Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:00:01 GMT
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In-depth reporting by the Druid Hills High School student newspaper on DeKalb's accreditation controversy landed the head of SACS as the school's commencement speaker on Friday.
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Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
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Stephen Collins demonstrates the challenges divers face in finding a missing teen in Lake Lanier.
