Gary Wolmarans, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said:
At 09h36, Wednesday, 20 November, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated by Shelly Beach tower control following reports from a dive carter vessel of a female diver missing at Protea Banks, offshore of Port Shepstone, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Coast.
A 59 year old Spanish lady, on a dive tour, was reported to have gone missing during a dive at Protea Banks, reportedly at around 09h00.
The 2 dive charter boats that were engaged in the recreational charter dive had initiated a search and they had raised the alarm.
NSRI Shelly Beach crew responded to our NSRI Shelly Beach station 20 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Dawn was launched and the NSRI Shelly Beach rescue vehicle was dispatched.
NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated, crew responded to the NSRI Port Edward station 32 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Steve was launched and the NSRI Port Edward rescue vehicle was dispatched.
Police Search and Rescue were activated and joined in shoreline search efforts.
MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and Transnet National Ports Authority – Durban Port Control were alerted and the TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) helicopter, Transnet One, was activated, with 2 TNPA pilots and a TNPA hoist operator, accompanied by an NSRI Durban rescue swimmer.
2 charter fishing vessels, Serenity and Pelagic Hunter, launched from Shelly Beach and they joined in the search.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with marine VHF communications and they broadcast an all ships alert for vessels in the area to be on the lookout.
At least three private fixed wing aircraft, coordinated by Margate ATC (Air Traffic Control), assisted in an aerial search.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI operations headquarters, NSRI Durban, NSRI Shelly Beach and NSRI Port Edward duty controllers, plotted coordinated sweeping line search patterns using advanced technology to direct the search operation for rescue resources that were deployed.
During an extensive sea and air search, in 4 to 5 meter swells and strong North Easterly winds, the rescue crew on the helicopter spotted the lady adrift in the water at 12h19 – they had noticed her from her frantic waving of her arms.
The lady had been adrift for over 3 hours. She was located 9 nautical miles from where she had gone missing and she was 5 nautical miles offshore of Trafalgar.
The 2 NSRI rescue craft were diverted from their search positions to respond towards the helicopter.
The helicopter hovered above the lady who appeared to be indicating towards the helicopter crew that she was not injured. The NSRI rescue swimmer was prepared to be launched from the helicopter into the water but with the 2 NSRI rescue craft nearby it was decided to wait on the first NSRI rescue craft arriving.
The helicopter remained above the lady until NSRI rescue craft arrived at the scene where the lady was rescued onto the rescue craft Spirit of Dawn.
Once safely onboards the NSRI rescue craft our NSRI crews found her to be relieved to be rescued, in good spirits, and not injured.
She was brought to NSRI Shelly Beach where she was reunited with her fellow divers in an emotional reunion.
It appears that the casualty diver had surfaced away from the dive boat and out of sight before she began drifting further away.
All resources retuned to base.
The swift response and cooperation between all services and private charters is commended in this successful search and rescue operation.
The advantage of having the TNPA Transnet One helicopter assist in this extensive rescue operation is commended.