Coast Guard Rescues Three Scuba Divers Off Palm Beach After They Lose Sight of Boat

Three scuba divers were safely rescued Sunday afternoon after losing sight of their dive boat off Palm Beach, thanks to the rapid response of the U.S. Coast Guard and the use of emergency signaling equipment.

According to confirmed information released by the Coast Guard, a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet launched at approximately 4:10 p.m. after receiving an alert from the divers’ electronic Satellite Emergency Notification device. The emergency transmitter automatically sent a distress signal to authorities once the divers realized they had become separated from their vessel.

Rescue crews located the three divers at around 5 p.m., floating in the water roughly one mile east of Palm Beach. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office also deployed marine units to assist in the search.

“It was a collective effort from everyone to save these divers,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Vallery Massey, a member of the Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet boat crew, in an official statement. “Thanks to their emergency equipment we were able to bring them back home to their families.”

The divers were transported ashore, where paramedics were waiting. Authorities confirmed all three were in stable condition and did not require further medical treatment.

Following the rescue, the Coast Guard reiterated standard scuba diving safety advice, strongly encouraging divers to carry emergency transmitters, conduct thorough pre-dive equipment checks, plan dives carefully, and always dive with a buddy, qualified instructor, or experienced guide. The agency also reminded divers that scuba diving is physically demanding and recommended medical clearance before diving, along with avoiding alcohol or drugs prior to entering the water.

The incident highlights how modern emergency signaling devices can play a critical role in successful rescues, particularly in situations where divers become separated from their boats or surface far from their planned exit point.