Police critical of divers

The Lowe rescue helicopter was called out to Pourerere Beach on Friday evening after two divers were feared to be missing.

Two Hawke's Bay men who decided to go for a night dive last Friday were blissfully unaware they had prompted a search and rescue mission.

Locals raised the alarm after their trailer was seen sitting empty on the boat ramp.
The two men, one a diving instructor, did not tell anyone of their plans to go night diving.

Emergency services were called to Pourerere Beach in Central Hawke's Bay just after 6.30pm.

The men were spotted by the rescue helicopter a short time later heading towards the boat ramp in their small boat, unharmed and unaware of the $5,500 emergency callout.

Senior Constable Blair Pryce of Hawke's Bay Police Search and Rescue said search teams were also in the process of being assembled in the event a shoreline search was required.

"The whole incident could have been avoided if the two divers had told someone of their plans to go night diving," Mr Pryce said.

"The alarm was raised by friends who saw the empty boat trailer sitting on the shore and thought the worst.

If they had told someone what they were doing it would have saved a lot of trouble and expense," Mr Pryce said.

The two men were being spoken to by police about the incident.