Scuba Diver Robbed Disney Restaurant Of Over $10,000 Before Escaping Underwater

Authorities say a man managed to pull off a bizarre robbery by tying up employees at a Disney Springs restaurant before escaping in scuba gear with thousands of dollars in stolen cash.

The restaurant targeted was Paddlefish, one of the most well-known dining spots at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida. The incident happened in the early hours of Monday, September 15, according to a police report obtained by Fox 35.

Investigators believe the heist was carefully planned, with the thief dressed head-to-toe in black, complete with goggles, making his appearance seem almost like something out of a movie.

Reports reveal that the intruder burst into the manager’s office and demanded that the employees inside get “down” on their knees and “close their eyes.”

The man stayed inside for only about two minutes before fleeing, and as soon as he left, the shaken staff called 911 to alert law enforcement, according to the official report.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office later stated that the suspect, who was dressed in what looked like a wetsuit and goggles, did not appear to be armed during the robbery.

An image of the suspected assailant was shared following the filed report Orange County Sheriff's Office

Police also shared a still image from security footage showing the robber holding some kind of object toward the camera, though investigators have not yet confirmed what it was.

Local 12 reported that the suspect entered the restaurant, which is docked on Lake Buena Vista, just after midnight. From there, he is believed to have escaped the same way he came in — slipping back into the water.

Authorities have listed two serious charges on the official report: robbery and grand theft.

While the exact amount of stolen cash has not been confirmed, Fox 35 reports that investigators estimate the thief got away with anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000.

Fortunately, none of the Paddlefish employees were injured during the ordeal, and staff managed to reopen the restaurant just 12 hours later to serve Disney Springs visitors, according to Local 12.

Paddlefish, known for its seafood-focused menu, operates aboard a permanently docked, modernized steamboat at Walt Disney World Resort, making it one of the most distinctive dining locations on the property.

Paddlefish is situated on a modern steamboat at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida WFTV

The restaurant officially reopened as Paddlefish in February 2017 after a multimillion-dollar renovation that replaced the iconic Fulton's Crab House. The upgrade included a brand-new interior design and modern features throughout.

Even though Paddlefish sits on Disney property, it is privately run. That said, it still benefits from Disney’s extensive security resources, which are considered some of the toughest in the hospitality industry.

Interestingly, just a month earlier, Disney Springs had announced plans to beef up security even more following concerns about vulnerabilities in its system.

Under the new security measures, every guest entering Disney Springs is now required to go through screenings. This includes walking through metal detectors and having all bags checked by security staff.

Previously, there was a loophole where visitors arriving by bus were able to bypass these checks entirely. That policy officially ended in July, closing off what many saw as a significant security gap.

As of now, the investigation into the unusual scuba gear robbery at Paddlefish remains open, with police still searching for leads on the suspect.