New camera network boosts beach safety in Plett, Victoria Bay and Nature’s Valley

Thanks to the generosity of donors and the dedication of local NSRI teams and partners, a cutting-edge Beach Safety Camera network and shark alarm system have now been installed in Plettenberg Bay, Victoria Bay, and Nature’s Valley. These systems enhance response times, improve coordination, and make Plett one of the safest beaches in the world.

The idea for the system came out of a tragedy. “We were unfortunate to have a couple of shark bite incidents, and I think that brought the whole community together,” said Jaco Kruger, Station Commander at Station 14 in Plett. A shark action group was formed, and NSRI partnered with local lifeguards, CapeNature, the Bitou Municipality and Cape Town’s Shark Spotters to find a proactive solution.

At the centre of this new system are the NSRI’s Beach Safety Cameras, which allow volunteers and rescue personnel to remotely monitor beaches in real time, spotting hazards, tracking swimmers, and reducing response delays.

"There's something about creating jobs in the human element that you can't take away," Jaco says, "But the technology itself takes some of the error out of it, and I think to us that is the major thing."

In Plett, four cameras now cover Lookout Beach, Central Beach, Robberg 5 and the Wreck, along with Nature’s Valley – a particularly remote area where delayed response times have long been a concern. “The camera at Nature’s Valley is arguably the most important one from a time delay point for us,” Jaco explains. “It gives us the opportunity to see early if someone runs into trouble and cuts a lot of the search time and area out.”

The system's inventor and NSRI volunteer, Jason Kampel, says the network has transformed how the NSRI operates. “It’s shifted the way lifeguarding and rescue takes place from a reactive scenario to a proactive situation,” he says. “Plett has all the tools and the resources that could be needed to safely and proactively monitor such a vast and remote stretch of coastline.”

One recent example illustrates just how powerful the new system can be. Geoff Williams, shore controller at NSRI Station 14 in Plettenberg Bay, helped install the new beach safety cameras – including one mounted on the Plettenberg Hotel, overlooking Lookout Beach and the Keurbooms river mouth. During a recent training session, Geoff was using the camera to track two JetRIBs entering the river mouth at sunset when he spotted two teenagers in a canoe struggling against a strong outgoing current. “The ability of the camera to zoom in and to give such definition well into darkness was impressive,” he said. From the control room, Geoff was able to direct one of the JetRIBs to the teenagers’ location, and they were safely returned to their family camp.

The integrated shark alarm system, also designed by Jason, divides the beach into zones. Alarms and colour-coded lights warn bathers of potential shark activity, and lifeguards can make voice announcements to explain the situation. “It’s quite intelligent. It allows the lifeguards to communicate clearly with bathers without any confusion.”

Further along the coast, Victoria Bay has also joined the growing camera network. “Victoria Bay is becoming a high risk,” said Station 23 Commander Jonathan Britton. “The cameras just help us to respond. Every minute we can respond quicker is a minute closer to success.”

For Ross Labuschagne, who advocated for the Vic Bay camera after a tragic drowning in 2023, the new technology is deeply personal. “It’ll make a huge difference in terms of our response and getting the team here much, much quicker.”

From Plett to Victoria Bay, one thing is clear: technology, teamwork, and community commitment are saving lives.