Thurso RNLI responds after divers activate distress beacon in Thurso Bay

18 August 2025

Thurso RNLI’s lifeboat, The Taylors, was launched at 2pm on Sunday after HM Coastguard reported that a Personal Location Beacon (PLB) had been activated in Thurso Bay.

The beacon, which is designed to be used when the wearer goes overboard or is in distress at sea, had been triggered by two divers who had become separated from their vessel.

The lifeboat carried out a search of the reported location before coxswain Gordon Munro, from the upper steering position, spotted the pair in the water.

The divers were checked and confirmed to be safe.

They had entered the water from their diving boat but, on surfacing, had drifted around a mile and a half away.

Unable to see their vessel, and with the crew on board also unable to locate them, they activated their PLB.

Their diving boat later arrived on scene and collected them, while The Taylors returned to Scrabster where it was refuelled and ready for service again by 2.50pm.

The RNLI confirmed the divers were well equipped and had followed correct procedure in using the beacon.

A spokesperson said: “On speaking to the divers it was agreed that their diving boat, which had arrived on scene, would pick them up.

“The divers were well equipped and followed the correct procedure when they realised that they had drifted from their boat.

“They both wore a PLB which is a small, portable device used to send emergency distress signals. It transmits a signal via satellite to alert search and rescue teams to your location, including your GPS coordinates.

“PLBs are typically manually activated and are registered to an individual.

“They are recommended for folk who venture into remote areas where traditional communication methods like cell phones are unreliable. This includes Kayakers and paddle boarders, divers and boaters, offshore racers, hikers, climbers and wild campers.”