Melinda Snyman, fearless sea rescue commander

Having grown up in St Lucia, Melinda Snyman now heads up the town's National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) base.

41 seconds ago

Gugu Myeni 3 minutes read

From a young girl launching her dad’s boat through the surf to later becoming one of the few female National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) station commanders, Melinda Snyman has always challenged the status quo.

Having grown up in St Lucia, she now heads up the town’s NSRI base.

“My father never held back just because I’m a girl. He would let me jet ski when I was younger, or he would tell people, ‘my daughter will launch the boat’,” said Melinda.

“He always encouraged me as a young girl to not stand back but always push forward.

“He grew up in St Lucia, did lots of fishing, lots of boating, and I think that is where my wild genes come from!” she quipped.

While Melinda has pursued various qualifications, including a law degree, her path always led her back to the ocean.

She studied part-time for her B.Com degree through Unisa, followed by a business diploma
at Stellenbosch for another two years. Despite these qualifications, she went in a completely different direction, interning at Coral Divers in Sodwana Bay.

“I learnt a lot more about boats and did my initial skipper training there,” she said.

“We worked on tractors and boats and did lots of teaching, open water courses, and I ended up doing my instructor’s course. I taught as an instructor for a while but always knew this was not my long-term plan.

“But that’s where I grew my love for boats and the sea,” said Melinda.

Turning the tide

After years of extensive training and courses, including working in her family’s businesses – operating petrol stations – Melinda’s journey led her to the NSRI St Lucia base.

“I joined the base in 2021. You go through six to 12 months as a trainee, following a task book which you have to complete before you officially become crew,” she said.

“I ran with it, and I was there every single weekend and every single opportunity I got to gain hours and to get my task book signed off. I did flat out, and enjoyed it so much.”

Melinda’s eagerness and determination to learn led her to pursue further training courses – eventually becoming deputy station commander and station commander a year later.

The position entails a lot of administrative responsibilities, including taking charge of boat maintenance, getting the vehicles serviced, and all the assets on station.

Saving lives, however, remains her priority.

“From the rescue perspective, you obviously make the call if the crew is going to respond to a rescue or not,” she said.

First sea rescue

She recalls her first rescue, where a boat had capsized at Cape Vidal with five youngsters on board.

“The boat was taking on water. There were five young guys in their wetsuits, and their boat was filled with water.

“I was still such a newbie, and I remember getting to them just in time before the vessel drifted into the surf zone where it would have capsized,” said Melinda.

“I remember how great it felt after doing a rescue like that; it’s almost like you’re hooked. It’s incredible.

“There are also drownings that have happened, where we have made it in time while the person is still above the water.

“Yes, you have losses and we have recovered bodies, but getting to somebody in time is priceless.”

Call for more volunteers

Melinda commended the unity among the NSRI crew and volunteers who risk their lives for the safety of others.

“At the end of the day, we are all volunteers and like-minded people.

“We don’t do it to get paid; it’s because we love the ocean and we love being on the water. The satisfaction of that is worth a lot more than getting paid.”

Melinda encourages more volunteers to join the St Lucia NSRI base, including young women.

“Our base has stagnated a bit over the last year-and-a-half, and it’s almost like we are battling to get new crew. We are a stable base and have got qualified people, but we are not getting new volunteers.

“So we want more people to get involved, young girls and guys, because you benefit from it too. You get a lot of training for free; you get your skipper’s tickets for free.

“You also get a lot of sea experience. We need interested people who think they can contribute in any way in terms of their time because it’s dedicating their time more than anything else.”

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