Wrongly used buoy sparks early-hours search for scuba diver

Friday 25 August 2023

Rescuers were called out in the early hours after a non-moving buoy – which was wrongly being used to mark lobster pots – sparked fears about the welfare of a scuba diver.

Surface marker buoys (SMBs) are normally used to indicate the position of snorkelers and scuba divers to passing boats and users of other water craft.

When a member of the public spotted one that wasn't moving, with no sign of a diver in sight, around 03:45 on Thursday morning, they decided to raise the alarm.

Jersey Coastguard sent rescuers down to the area to investigate – but, upon arrival, found that the buoy was actually being used to mark crab and lobster pots on the seabed.

They have since urged islanders to "please help reduce false alerts like this by only using SMBs to mark divers or swimmers in the water and for no other purpose."