Sea Rescue is the charity that saves lives on South African waters. Our base is stationed adjacent to the Rocky Bay Skiboat Club.
25/09/2025
Recently, our volunteers took on one of the most demanding courses on the NSRI calendar, the Swift Water Training weekend at the Breede River.
Led by Training Officer Dean Wegerle and supported by our training team, crews faced strong currents, unpredictable conditions and even a nighttime rescue exercise. The goal was simple but vital: to build the knowledge, skill and respect needed to work safely in powerful river environments.
Volunteers described the weekend as physically tough but deeply rewarding. They returned home stronger, more confident and united by the camaraderie that defines Sea Rescue. 💙
23/09/2025
.🌊 55 years of service 🌊
In 1966, a young teenager stood on the shoreline, watching the SA Seafarer disaster unfold. That moment changed his life. It sparked a calling that would see Howard Godfrey dedicate more than half a century to saving lives at sea.
From crew member to station commander, mentor, and now Honorary Life Governor, Howard’s journey is proof that volunteering is more than duty; it becomes family.
Today, we celebrate 55 years of service, courage, and heart from this remarkable man. Thank you, Howard.
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.
22/09/2025
Congratulations to this month's R25,000 winners in our Monthly Cash Draw. You too could be a winner by donating as little as R25 per month.
👀 Did you spot our field-side message during Saturday’s game?
All eyes were on Cheslin’s incredible try, but if you looked closer, we were there too. NSRI is always by South Africans’ side, keeping watch over our waters, even when no one else is.
🏉
19/09/2025
"🌊✨ Last month, the NSRI family gathered for the 58th Annual Awards Evening and AGM. It was a night filled with gratitude as we celebrated the courage and dedication of our volunteers.
Among the highlights were incredible milestones. Howard Godfrey was honoured for 55 years of service, while Brad Geyser and Rob Stirrat each marked 50 years of service. Their journeys remind us that Sea Rescue is more than training and rescues. It is a love for the sea, a commitment to the community, and a promise always to answer the call. 💙"
New leadership is here! The NSRI welcomes 11 new Station Commanders who are bringing fresh energy and determination to sea rescue. Through specially designed leadership training, they are learning how to lead with heart and purpose, ensuring every station is equipped to serve its community effectively. This new wave of leadership is building on the NSRI's legacy of bravery and skill, and we can't wait to see what they accomplish!
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! ❤️
25/07/2024
It was with great pleasure to host a wonderful, vibrant group of local NSRI Life Boat Club members to a very informative presentation about drowning prevention, stories of past rescues, and what has happened in NSRI's last 10 years of growth and the exciting future of the NSRI, by NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson, and KZN PR Guest Speaker, Helen Wienand, at The Bell, Rocky Bay last Thursday. A special word of thanks is extended to The Bell Restaurant management and staff for their excellent venue and service. Thank you to all who attended 🙏🛟
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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.
