Four foreign divers reported missing in the Samae San sea area of Chon Buri have been found safe after drifting in the water to a beach near Sattahip. Naval special warfare divers located the group at about 8.45pm on 14 August 2026, ending a search involving sea and air teams that had continued for several hours. The four men had entered the water earlier in the day for a diving session but did not resurface at the expected time, prompting relatives and officials to fear for their safety. Search teams mobilised from Sattahip The operation was directed by Sattahip district chief Nattawut Anuyotha and Pol Col Khomsan Khamtunkaew, superintendent of Sattahip Police Station, alongside personnel from relevant agencies. Officials from the Naval Special Warfare Command, later spotted people floating in the sea near Suai Nam Sai beach. They brought all four divers to the coordination point, where worried relatives were waiting. Relatives embraced the men after learning they were safe, with visible relief following the lengthy search. The divers were named as British national Gary Phillips, 64; Americans John Mecrew, 63, and Tim Pitcher, 50; and Polish national Bartosz Royals, 37. Divers had surfaced without finding their boat Initial questioning found that the group had surfaced after their dive but could not locate their boat. They decided to remain afloat and were carried by the current towards the beach area, where rescuers eventually found them. All four are certified, highly experienced divers. Some are diving instructors, and they had travelled to develop further technical diving skills. Technical diving can involve deeper, longer or more complex dives than standard recreational trips, making clear arrangements for surface pickup and emergency procedures particularly important. In this case, the divers were able to stay together in the water until they drifted close enough to shore to be seen. Samae San, off Sattahip in Chon Buri, is a well-known diving area within reach of Pattaya and Bangkok. The safe recovery of the four men has now brought the multi-agency search to a close. Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath Join the discussion? 16 August 2026
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