VESSEL 1 WAS A 59" FUN COUNTRY HOUSEBOAT WITH 10 PEOPLE ON BOARD.  OPERATOR AND NINE OTHER PASSENGERS RENTED A HOUSE BOAT FROM THE RESORT AND MARINA.  THE PARTY HAD SPENT THE NIGHT OF JUNE 24TH ON THE HOUSE BOAT, ON JUNE 25TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 HOURS, THE PARTY ENTERED THE COVE WHERE THEY TRIED TO ANCHOR THE HOUSE BOAT.  A SMALL CRAFT WARNING WAS IN EFFECT.  THE VESSEL WAS APPROACHED BY ANOTHER PARTY THAT WAS IN THE COVE AND ASKED IF THEY NEEDED HELP ANCHORING THE BOAT.  THE PARTY TURNED DOWN THE OFFER OF HELP AND DRIFTED AROUND THE COVE.  THE OPERATOR WALKED FROM THE REAR OF THE HOUSE BOAT TO THE FRONT AND OPENED THE SLIDING GLASS DOOR.  A HAT BLEW OFF INTO THE WATER; THEN THE OPERATOR STEPPED UP ON A COOLER AND DOVE INTO THE WATER AFTER IT.  REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE OPERATOR TREADED WATER FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, AND THEN BEGAN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY STAYING AFLOAT.  PASSENGER 5 AND 9, BOTH PART OF THE PARTY THREW ONE "LIFE JACKET" AND TWO THROWABLE PFD'S TO THE OPERATOR IN THE WATER, HOWEVER THE WIND AND THE CURRENT CARRIED THEM AWAY FROM THE OPERATOR.  SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE OPERATOR WENT BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND WAS NOT SEEN AGAIN.  THEY SOUNDED THE HORN ON THE HOUSE BOAT SEVERAL TIMES, THE OTHER PARTY THAT WAS IN THE COVE CAME OVER AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON, THEY WERE INFORMED AND CALLED 911.  THE SEARCH FOR THE OPERATOR WAS BEGUN AND SUSPENDED AT 1913 HOURS.  ON JUNE 26TH AT 0900 HOURS METRO DIVE TEAM ARRIVED ON SCENE AND CONDUCTED RECOVERY DIVE OPERATIONS.  THE OPERATOR WAS LOCATED AT 1038 HOURS BY THE DIVE TEAM.  THE BODY WAS RECOVERED AT 1100 HOURS, OPERATOR WAS FOUND IN APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET OF WATER AND WAS FOUND WITH ONE SOCK ON HIS RIGHT FOOT, A "LIVE STRONG" BAND ON HIS RIGHT WRIST, A GOLD NECKLACE AROUND HIS NECK, AND HE WAS WEARING A PAIR OF BLUE SWIMMING SHORTS.  ****TOXICOLOGY BLOOD WORK FROM AUTOPSY IS PENDING****
ECHO BAY                      