Sea Rescue is the charity that saves lives on South African waters. Our base is stationed adjacent to the Rocky Bay Skiboat Club.
10/12/2025
NSRI urges caution as the holidays begin: Stay safe this festive season.
Cape Town – 10 December 2025: As the summer school holidays start, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a safe and joyful festive season. We hope that everyone enjoys time with loved ones, takes the opportunity to recharge, and steps into the New Year refreshed. https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/12/nsri-urges-caution-as-the-holidays-begin-stay-safe-this-festive-season/
09/12/2025
NSRI joins the Western Cape’s 2025/26 Summer Readiness Campaign
We are proud to stand alongside the Western Cape Government and Disaster Management Centre in preparing for the summer season.
NSRI has received a R408,000 grant to boost Swift Water Rescue training for our volunteer crews, ensuring faster, safer rescues during flooding and storm events.
Let’s all play our part: respect the water, follow safety signs, and save our emergency number:
09/12/2025
Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:
At 13h12, Sunday, 7 December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the George Municipal NSRI lifeguards at Leentjiesklip, Wilderness Beach, who were responding to 2 persons in distress in the surf zone - both casualties appeared to be caught in rip currents. https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/12/two-men-rescued-from-rip-currents-at-wilderness-beach/
09/12/2025
NSRI Rescue Report | A Week of Life-saving Missions: Every week, our volunteer rescue crews respond to emergencies across the country, from coastlines to inland waters. This is a look at some of the rescues, images, and moments that demonstrate their courage, skill, and dedication to saving lives from the past week.
09/12/2025
We honour Graham Howes, a true hero whose dedication to saving lives continues to inspire everyone around him. His work reminds us that one person’s commitment and courage can leave a lasting impact on countless others.
08/12/2025
Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, said:
At 09h42, Sunday, 7 December, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from Overstrand Law Enforcement officers reporting 2 children, females, age 10 and 11, one from De Doorns and one from Touws River, requiring medical care following a non-fatal drowning accident at Kleinmond Lagoon.
Roxy Taylor, NSRI Table Bay coxswain, said:
At 12h53, Saturday, 6 December, NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network, were activated following eyewitness reports of 2 paddle boarders on a SUP (stand-up paddle board) appearing to be in difficulty offshore of Bakoven and being swept further out to sea in strong winds.
The holidays are almost here, and the waters are busy. Make sure you watch your children when they are in or near water, follow our water safety guidelines, and look out for each other. A few simple precautions can make a huge difference and keep your holidays safe and enjoyable. Visit nsri.org.za for more safety advice.
04/12/2025
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) urges beachgoers to exercise caution during this full moon spring tide, which peaked today, 04 December 2025, as it will significantly impact tidal conditions over this weekend. This natural phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align during the full moon phase, amplifying the gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans. https://www.nsri.org.za/2025/12/nsri-advisory-spring-tides-and-coastal-safety-precautions/
15/09/2025
Donate R1000 to add your loved one's name to this special rescue craft.
07/09/2025
A beautiful training day for Station 39 crew and trainee crew. Lots of learning and fun had by all. Welcome to our new trainee Tyler, and congratulations to Michael and Nico who were presented with their VHF SRC tickets, as well as Michael who finally received and was presented with his Class 4 skippers ticket. Well done guys 👏. This was followed by an enjoyable funday Sunday social braai with crew and their families.🥳
07/09/2025
The Faffies x NSRI Pink Buoy Swim Brief was created in partnership with Faffies. Featuring Pink is for Buoys printed on the back, this limited-edition brief supports our mission to create awareness and raise funds for our Pink Rescue Buoy initiative. These buoys are placed along South Africa’s bea...
04/05/2025
This morning our crew had the privilege of successfully and safely releasing a Giant Petrel bird back into his natural environment 8 NM off Rocky Bay, Kzn on our 7.3m Rescue vessel Megan ii. Fondly named as Benji, he washed up at a Park Rynie beach 2 weeks ago, taken in and rehabilitated by the capable and caring Scott Vet team, and declared good to go for his release today. On board Megan ii we had our Class 3 Coxswain and Statcom, Kevin Fourie, Class 4 Coxswain Michael Nell, Crew member Nico Booyens who is also a Marine Biologist, and trainee crew members Nalan and Simphiwe. Safe travels Benji 🪽🫶
27/04/2025
An epic day of training for the crew and trainees of Station 39. Sun, fun, crew participation and beautiful conditions made our day exceptional 💖 Well done team 💯🙌
31/03/2025
This past weekend our crew had the privilege of attending an extensive crew development course to learn both in theory and in practice to hone their skills in saving lives at sea. Well done to all our volunteer crew 🤗👏 A special thank you to our caterers The Bell Restaurant who provided our crew with delicious food, and of course a huge thank you to our head office training team Julian Singh and Rian Basson. Well done, and thank you all for taking time away from your families to participate in this amazing journey of yours as the NSRI is dedicated to saving lives, changing lives and creating futures 🙏💕
A search is ongoing at Scottburgh Point Main Beach, KZN South Coast, where a man is reported missing.
11/01/2025
Station 39 crew and trainee crew had a great day training for their first day back of training season after the busy festive season, and being on duty 24/7. Beautiful conditions out there and thoroughly enjoyed by all crew learning, practicing and perfecting their sea rescue skills under the leadership of our training team and Statcom. Always at the service of our community 🙌🙏
08/12/2024
The fantastic dedicated volunteer crew of Station 39 Rocky Bay had the opportunity to get together yesterday to celebrate another successful year of saving lives on our local waters, exchanging stories, fun and laughter with some team building!
A huge thank you to The Bell Restaurant who sponsored the amazing and delicious salads for our crew braai, and to Perfect Water for their sponsorship of ice and 4 doz water bottles to keep our crew hydrated while on duty during this hot summer festive season. Thank You 🙏💗
To all our local community and holiday makers, enjoy your holidays but please be safe in and around the sea and swimming pools. In the event of an emergency wherever you are in SA, call 112.
Paddleski/fishing kayak owners please ensure you download the Free SafeTrx App on your mobiles. This app takes the 'Search' out of a search and rescue operation! Wishing all our local community, holiday visitors and volunteer crew a safe and festive Season 💞🥳
13/10/2024
Awesome day's training today for two up and coming Class 3, and three up and coming Class 4 Coxswains. Here are our crew going through their drills...
More videos in comments
10/09/2024
A huge Congratulations to our newly qualified Class IV Coxswain, Michael Nell 🥳👏 Michael, we are all so proud of you! ❤️
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when NSRI posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a charity that has over 1 000 unpaid volunteers who respond 24/7/365 to save lives on South African waters. We also teach children in disadvantaged communities about basic water safety through our schools programme.
In 1966 at Stillbaai on the East coast, just below Mossel Bay, 17 fishermen drowned after three fishing boats sank in a terrible storm. There were four boats out that day and only one came back. Oom Gerhard Dreyer, now deep in his ‘80s, was the skipper of that boat and remembers how he, and his crew, threw everything that they could, including the fish that they had caught, off the ‘skuit’ … making it as light as they could. He then turned the bow into the storm and headed out to sea. In the small hours of the morning, as the storm was abating, Oom Gerhard turned back to shore, and amongst the wreckage of the other boats he found a lone survivor from the other three ‘skuits.’ It was fisherman John Aries, who was clinging to a life ring, and was so shocked that he could not talk.
Following this tragic incident, Miss Pattie Price (whose own life had been saved by a RNLI lifeboat in the English Channel) began a committed letter-writing campaign to motivate for the formation of a sea rescue organisation in South Africa. Captain Bob Deacon and Ray Lant were the first volunteers to respond to this call and in 1967 the South African In shore Rescue Service (SAISRS) was born – its first rescue craft – a 4.7m inflatable boat called Snoopy* was donated by the Society of Master Mariners. Soon the SAISRS became the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and today carries on the proud tradition of volunteering started in 1967. All rescue crew of the NSRI are still unpaid volunteers.
In 2006 Sea Rescue’s drowning prevention initiative teaching water safety lessons was launched.
In 2017 our first NSRI lifeguards qualified as Station 18 Melkbosstrand.
* Legend has it that the name Snoopy was the nickname Bob Deacon gave to his 2 year old toddler who was curious and always “snooping” around.
**Photo caption: The first Sea Rescue boat donated to the NSRI by the Society of Master Mariners in 1967. The late Captain Bob Deacon is on the helm and the late Ray Lant is the crewman.
