Divers escape injury after charter boat capsizes

EIGHT French nationals and two crew members of the Agulhas 3 are safe and uninjured after their boat capsized while launching for a scuba diving trip at Umkomaas, Durban, yesterday.

National Sea Rescue Institute ( NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said it had been due to the quick action of the dive master and skipper that all 10 passengers on board the charter vessel were able to swim to safety.

“The dive master and skipper are commended for getting everyone to swim together towards the beach where bystanders from local dive centres assisted all to get out of the water,” said Lambinon.

Blue Ocean Dive Resort in Umkomaas helped the rest of the divers and assistants by holding the boat facing into the surf, while divers helped passengers and crew from the water.

The dive charter company expressed its gratitude to all those who assisted in making sure everyone was safely out of the water.

The stricken craft was recovered after all the divers and those who were assisting were safely out of the water, and the craft was removed from the beach.

Lambinon said that by the time NSRI Rocky Bay had been alerted, all the people involved in the incident had already been helped by the time the rescue crew arrived on the scene.

He confirmed there were no injuries.

Initial reports indicated there were 12 people on board but Lambinon confirmed that only 10 people were involved, including the crew members.