Shetland Coastguard coordinated the search for four technical divers who were lost on a decompression station in the highly tidal and unpredictable Pentland Firth, off Orkney.

The alarm was raised by Scapa-based dive charter MV Karin after two divers from a group of six ascended from the WW1 wreck of the Pheasant on surface marker buoys, were swept away and out of view of the buoyed decompression station being used by the other four divers in the group.

MV Karin picked up the two divers on SMBs, but in doing so, was forced out of sight of the decompression station buoys.

Shetland Coastguard scrambled a rescue helicopter and lifeboats from Thurso, Stromness, Longhope and Wick were launched to take part in the search for the four divers on the station.

Two divers were located and picked up by the Stromness lifeboat when the buoyed station almost two miles south, south-west, of their expected position. MV Karin stood by to pick up the remaining two divers as soon as they reached the surface.

All six divers were recovered without injury.

The Pentland Firth is a notoriously treacherous stretch of water south of the Orkney islands.


Relevant links
Maritime and Coastguard Agency

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