Four Divers Surface Safely, Then Vanish From Their Boat Off Thailand

Four foreign divers sparked a major search and rescue operation off Thailand after surfacing from a dive and apparently becoming separated from their support boat.

The incident happened on Friday, August 14, near Samae San in Sattahip, Chon Buri.

The four men were taking part in a technical diving training exercise after departing aboard the dive boat Jer Por Dee Tour. They were expected to return at around 3 p.m.

When the divers failed to return as expected, the crew began searching for them and authorities were alerted. A wider search operation was launched as concern grew over their whereabouts.

The divers were eventually located later that evening, but the circumstances were not what rescuers initially feared.

According to subsequent reports, the four men had already surfaced from their dive. They were unable to locate their boat, however, and became separated from the vessel.

The divers were subsequently carried by the current away from the original dive area. They eventually reached the vicinity of Suay Nam Sai Beach, where they remained in the water until they were located.

At approximately 8:45 p.m., naval special warfare personnel found the four men near the beach and brought them safely ashore.

Thai media identified the divers as Gary Phillips, 64, from Britain; Jd John Mecrew, 63, from the United States; Bartosz Royals, 37, from Poland; and Tim Pitcher, 50, from the United States.

All four were reported safe following the rescue and were reunited with their families.

The incident is a striking reminder of a risk that can occur after a dive has apparently gone according to plan. Reaching the surface does not necessarily mean the emergency is over. Divers returning to a boat can still face separation caused by currents, surface conditions, visibility or difficulties maintaining contact with the support vessel.

The exact circumstances surrounding how the four divers became separated from their boat have not yet been established. Reports have also mentioned an approximate planned diving depth, but that detail has not been independently confirmed and should not be presented as fact.

There is currently no verified indication that the divers suffered a gas emergency, decompression illness or equipment failure.

What began as a report of four missing divers ultimately ended with a successful rescue. All four men were found alive after spending several hours separated from their boat off the coast of Thailand.