Florida Lobster Diving Dispute Leads to Attempted Murder Charge

A lobster spot is not worth a man’s air supply. That should not have to be said, but here we are.

A Florida man is facing an attempted murder charge after an alleged July 29 confrontation during Lobster Mini-Season. According to the account, 51-year-old Michael Simpson approached a boat where 18-year-old Hunter Cofer was already lobster diving, argued over who was at the spot first, then allegedly swam to Cofer’s floating Brownie Third Lung air-supply unit and shut it off while Cofer was still on the bottom.

Cofer was reportedly left gasping for air underwater and was pulled to the surface by his partner on the boat. Photos and video from the confrontation are being used as evidence, including footage that allegedly shows Simpson swimming away from the air unit.

Lobster Mini-Season gets crowded, competitive, and stupid fast. None of that changes the rules of basic decency. Messing with a diver’s air is not a fishing dispute. It is life-and-death behavior underwater where seconds matter and panic kills.

There is room on the water for hard work, early mornings, full coolers, and honest competition. There is no room for sabotaging another diver, bullying a boat off a spot, or turning harvest season into a crime scene. If you cannot handle pressure without endangering somebody’s life, stay on the dock.