A massive search operation unfolded on Wednesday after two divers went missing about seven nautical miles off Ramsgate in KZN.

Gary Wolmarans, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Shelly Beach station commander, says they were activated at around 13:20 after the crewman of a boat alerted them to two missing divers, father and son Mike and Alan Fraser.

Alan Fraser, locally known as ‘Moo’, and his father are well known in the South Coast community and made headlines in recent years after spotting rare coelacanths on three occasions and helping save an entangled whale.

On Wednesday, the crewman searched for the missing divers for about two hours, before racing to shore to get help. Several helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, private boats and rescue vessels joined the search.

At around 14:35, a private boat, Shot for Shot, located and rescued Fraser senior from the water. An NSRI statement says he was about nine nautical miles south of where he had gone missing.

It seems that father and son got separated when Fraser junior attempted to swim to shore.

Just under an hour later, another boat involved in the search, Vagabond, approached the NSRI Port Edward rescue craft about seven nautical miles offshore of Palm Springs. They had located the son and he was brought to shore at Port Edward and reunited with his dad.

Talking to the South Coast Herald from the beach, Fraser junior said he was relieved.

“It was a long and hot swim. But my dad and I…