McCABE, Joseph

McCABE, Joseph (1929-1960), diver who drowned at Lover's Cove on June 3, 1960. He was trying to recover a 16th century anchor in 200 feet of water at the time.

In the News~

June 4, 1960 [Valley TImes]: “Divers have found the body of an Anaheim skin diver, drowned in the ocean off Santa Catalina Island. Joseph B. McCabe, 31, drowned yesterday while trying to raise a 16th century anchor in 200 feet of water.”

June 9, 1960 [The Catalina Islander]: “Death claims diver and fisherman. Two men, a skin-diver and a fisherman, lost their lives in the Avalon area last weekend. Joseph B. McCabe, 31, of Anaheim was drowned Friday afternoon in 200 feet of water in Lover's Cove when he was trying to raise a 16th century anchor. His body was found three hours after he failed to come up from a dive. McCabe and five other divers were operating from a sports fishing boat, the Islander. Only one of his two tanks of air had been used and divers think that McCabe panicked when one tank emptied and he fought to turn on the other. He was an experienced certified diving instructor. Harold Warner, Jr. recovered the body in 200 feet of water.”