UK Coastguard commends swift action of dive crew after they lost sight of four divers (with footage)

UK Coastguard has commended the swift action of a diving vessel crew after they lost sight of four divers off the coast of Lulworth Cove, Dorset. 

 Just before 5pm on 15 July, UK Coastguard received a VHF Radio call from a diving vessel reporting that it had lost sight of four divers which quickly set a plan of action into motion.

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lee-on-Solent was sent to the scene and managed to quickly locate all four divers safe and well.

Neil Blewett, Aeronautical Operations Controller for the UK Coastguard said:  ‘We commend the actions of the crew of the Cotswold Diver who called us immediately after losing sight of the divers.  The diving vessel had all the right equipment on board including a VHF Radio and flares in case anything went wrong.  All four divers were very experienced, were wearing the right equipment and had during the duration of the dive inflated marker buoys for safety.  Unfortunately the choppy seas that day, meant it was more difficult to see those buoys and thankfully, the UK Coastguard helicopter was able to locate the missing divers quickly, and direct the diving vessel to pick them up.  It was very clear that the dive vessel had a plan of action in place if anything should go wrong and they did exactly the right thing to contact the Coastguard quickly so we could task our helicopter to assist.”

Remember if you’re planning on diving in the sea, make sure you are adequately qualified and experienced for the dive that you plan to undertake, keeping a close eye on weather and sea conditions, and making your own fitness a top priority for safe diving.

Familiarise yourself with new or different gear before planning deep dives and to always dive within your limits. In an emergency contact the Coastguard immediately.



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