Poole Coastguard

Poole Auxiliary Coastguard patrol the world's second largest natural harbour, as well as the very popular holiday beaches of Poole and Bournemouth, and are regularly the UK's busiest Auxiliary Coastguard station.

Visitors are always welcome at our office on Poole Town Quay.

Poole Coastguard is an Auxiliary Coastguard station with 12 auxiliaries, all volunteers. They come from a variety of backgrounds, and at all times at least 2 auxiliaries are on standby to respond to any coastal emergency. For major incidents, searches, mud rescues, etc., the full team can be called out.

Poole Coastguard's "guard" includes Poole Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world, and the beach resorts of Bournemouth and Poole. You can view moving panoramas of Poole Harbour and the beach at Sandbanks via Poole Tourist Board's Panoramas Site.

Poole Harbour sees a wide variety of commercial and recreational activity; Cross Channel Ferries, Harbour Ferries and Passenger Boats, Commercial Shipping, Fishing and Angling Boats, Commercial and Recreational Dive Boats, all sizes of recreational Yachts and Motor Boats, Water Skiers, Canoes and Rowing Boats, Windsurfers, Jet Skis, Swimmers, etc.

To patrol this vast area we have a 4x4 truck for shore patrols, and a 5.4 metre RIB for waterborne patrols.

For all its size, areas of Poole Harbour are quite shallow, and at low water large mud flats are exposed or left lying deceptively just below the water line. Poole Coastguard has specialised mud rescue equipment to cope with the few unfortunate souls who are occasionally trapped.

Behind the beaches of Poole and Bournemouth are constantly eroding cliffs. Although not high by some standards (about 100 feet max), they can be dangerous because of the erosion, and we carry cliff rescue gear in the back of the 4x4.

Poole is home to Dorset's major Accident & Emergency Hospital, and also a decompression chamber. This results in casualties and divers being airlifted into Poole from all over Dorset. Two Coastguard helicopters are based approximately 30 miles away - one to the east at Lee on Solent, and one to the west at Portland. Each time a helicopter lands at Poole, Poole Coastguard have to attend to clear the landing site (a municipal park) and to provide communications.

Poole Coastguard's official classification is an Enhanced Search Team (whatever that might mean!) with mud rescue and cliff rescue capabilities. The diversity of waterborne avtivities, coupled with the sheer number of people using the waters, has meant that Poole Coastguard are regularly the UK's busiest Auxiliary Coastguard station.

Visitors are always welcome at our office on Poole Town Quay, but please phone us on 01202 670776 if you are travelling any distance. Click here to see a map of where we are located.

This is not an official Coastguard site and is maintained by Poole Coastguard Auxiliaries for your information and enjoyment.