Long Island Kayakers Shane Garcia and Aaron Montemarano Missing After Sending Selfie from Shinnecock Bay

Authorities on Long Island have launched an extensive search for two missing kayakers, Shane Garcia and Aaron Montemarano, who vanished after sharing a selfie while kayaking in Shinnecock Bay on Saturday.

The two men — Garcia, 27, and Montemarano, 25 — reportedly set out on a lime-green, two-person ocean kayak near the eastern tip of Long Island. According to Newsday, both men failed to return home later that evening, prompting growing concern among family and friends.

Police said Garcia had sent a photo of himself and Montemarano to his girlfriend earlier in the day, showing the pair smiling on the kayak near the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays. When he never returned home that night, his girlfriend called 911 to report him missing.

Southampton police said Shane Garcia and Aaron Montemarano disappeared while kayaking near Shinnecock Bay.

Investigators later located Garcia’s car parked at the end of Shinnecock Road in Hampton Bays. Authorities have since launched a multi-agency search operation involving Southampton Police, marine units, and local emergency responders.

“We were kind of given a broad location. We’re trying to narrow that down,” said Southampton Police Sgt. Michael Walsh in a statement to the media. “It’s an active investigation. We’re trying to locate both of them at this point.”

Garcia is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 185 pounds, and was last seen wearing a gray jacket and shirt, black pants, and tan Nike sneakers, according to Patch. Authorities have not yet released a detailed description of Montemarano but confirmed he was last seen in Garcia’s company.

As of Sunday evening, neither the men, the kayak, nor any floating debris had been located. It remains unclear whether the pair were wearing life jackets or other safety gear at the time of their disappearance.

Police have not confirmed if dive teams have been deployed or whether foul play is suspected. The search remains ongoing as officials continue to comb Shinnecock Bay and surrounding coastal areas for any sign of the missing kayakers.