Hectic day for divers, rescuers on South Coast

DIVERS had a day of drama on the South Coast yesterday. At Shelley Beach, 10 were reported missing when the skipper of their boat lost sight of their dive buoy after falling overboard after a wave apparently struck his vessel.

Boats diverted from their course to assist, as per standard protocol, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman Craig Lambinon said

Two helicopters, one from the police and the other an Oryx from SA Air Force Squadron 15, were alerted.

“As preparations for a search-and-rescue operation were getting into gear, the charter dive boat found the dive marker buoy and no further assistance was required,” said Lambinon.

About two hours earlier, just after 7am, another dive charter boat capsized while launching at Umkomaas for a scuba diving trip to Aliwal Shoal with eight French nationals on board and two crew, a dive master and a skipper.

The dive master and skipper got everyone to swim together towards the beach, where bystanders from local dive centres assisted all to get out of the water. Some helped by holding the boat facing into the surf and assisting divers, and those helping, from the water.

“The boat was brought on to the beach after all divers and those who were assisting were safely out of the water,” said Lambinon.