A father and son’s search for golf balls ends in tragedy in Naples, Florida
A weekend dive near Naples, on Florida’s west coast, turned fatal when a man vanished beneath the water while searching for golf balls discarded near a series of ponds that separate several Sixth Green courses from Arrowhead. The incident was reported by local media on Wednesday, shedding light on a dangerous activity that has drawn attention from neighbors and emergency responders alike.
Authorities identified the diver as Nicholas Wardein, a 44-year-old man who was accompanied by his 13-year-old son when they entered the pond with a full assortment of diving gear. The equipment reportedly included a wetsuit, a diving belt, a mask, a knife, a breathing apparatus, and a net intended to collect the floating golf balls. The son testified that both were prepared for a routine search, a pastime they had likely practiced together before this grim outcome.
Witnesses described a tense moment minutes after they began, as the father started to struggle to stay afloat. The son noted that his father grew short of breath, eventually losing the ability to stay above the water. In the confusion, the father’s scuba tank and weight belt — designed to help him dive and maneuver — became a burden in the choppy pond, complicating his effort to surface. The boy said he wore the diving gear and attempted to help by gathering golf balls in a net bound around his waist, but the weight of the equipment and the surrounding water proved overwhelming for a strained swimmer.
Seeing his father in distress, the boy bravely jumped into the water with the intention of aiding him. He attempted to reach his father and call for help, but the rapidly deteriorating situation forced him to withdraw from the water and seek assistance from others nearby. It was a scene many parents fear, a young rescuer trying to save a parent in danger while the clock ticks loudly in the background.
Within about 15 minutes, a team of divers from the local fire department arrived and began a search of the pond. They recovered Wardein’s body from a location close to where the family had entered the water. Emergency responders coordinated with Lee County EMS as they organized a careful recovery effort, but the diver could not be revived. The tragedy prompted immediate attention from the community, with questions about safety practices for pond dives tied to recreational golf-ball retrieval near residential areas. The incident underscores the importance of proper water safety, equipment checks, and the potential risks of diving in shallow, man-made bodies of water that may conceal hidden hazards beneath the surface. The incident is being reviewed by local authorities as part of a routine investigation to understand what happened and how similar drownings might be prevented in the future.
Neighbors and local observers described the ponds as a familiar place for families and golf enthusiasts who routinely retrieve stray balls from the water. The incident, while rare, serves as a sobering reminder that even routine recreational activities can become deadly if proper precautions are not followed. Community leaders are urging divers and hobbyists to research safety guidelines, wear proper flotation devices, and avoid heavy gear in confined or cluttered underwater environments. The outcome left the community in mourning and prompted discussions about additional safety measures around the ponds and fairways, including potential signage, shallow-water guidelines, and more accessible rescue resources for residents and visitors alike. The case has been attributed to a combination of adventurous impulse, family bonding, and the unpredictable nature of underwater environments where currents, visibility, and weight distribution can dramatically alter outcomes. In remembering the event, local officials emphasize that while exploring nature and participating in family pastimes is valued, safety must never be taken lightly. This tale from Naples, Florida, is a stark reminder that even routine cherished activities warrant careful planning and respect for the water’s inherent risks. (Source attribution: local news reports and emergency response transcripts)”