A volunteer team of scuba divers who regularly clean litter from the seabed say they have recovered what appears to be a Russian underwater tracking device off the coast of Pembrokeshire.
Members of Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) found the object on 15 November during a routine dive in the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone near Wooltack Point. At first, they assumed it was part of a navigational marker, but its shape and fittings quickly raised doubts. The group began to suspect it resembled a sonobuoy — a floating acoustic sensor used to detect submarines.
An independent defence analyst later examined photos of the device and said he was “confident” it was an imploded Russian RGB-1A sonobuoy.
NARC chairman Dave Kennard said volunteer diver Tim Smith-Gosling spotted the object wedged in a gulley. After retrieving it, the team researched the find and consulted contacts at the Port Authority Waterway. Comparisons with similar items discovered in Cornwall and the Republic of Ireland in 2021 reinforced their belief that it was military equipment.
The device, described as “battered,” is roughly 120 cm long and weighs around 15 kg. Divers attached a lifting bag to raise it from the seabed before guiding it to the surface. Following advice from a former Royal Navy contact, Kennard reported the discovery to HM Coastguard. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed the report was logged on 19 November and noted there was no danger to the public and no rescue action was required.
Although NARC had never encountered anything like this before, the BBC understands that such items are not unusual around the UK due to decades of naval activity in surrounding waters. A Royal Navy spokesperson declined to comment directly on the find, citing operational security, but said the service continually monitors and protects UK waters in coordination with allies.
A defence analyst and submarine specialist, who asked not to be named, said the buoy type is typically deployed by Russia’s Tu-142M long-range maritime patrol aircraft. He noted that similar models have washed ashore in the UK, Ireland, and Lithuania in recent years. The limited marine growth on the newly recovered device, he said, suggests it entered the water relatively recently.
Strategic defence consultant Dr. Andy Scollick also identified the object as a Russian hydroacoustic buoy, likely an RGB-1. He pointed to features seen on previous examples, including three vertically arranged hydrophones and damage consistent with deep-water implosion. He said the buoy was missing its outer sleeve, which would normally be painted orange and marked with a serial number. Comparable devices have been reported in Russia’s Novosibirsky region in 2023 and in Lithuania in 2024.
What is a sonobuoy?
A sonobuoy — short for “sonar buoy” — is an acoustic device used to detect underwater activity, especially submarines. Since radio and GPS signals do not travel well through seawater, these sensors play a crucial role in naval surveillance and are widely used in training and operational missions.
Developed during World War Two to track German U-boats, sonobuoys became essential tools in Cold War anti-submarine efforts and remain standard equipment today. They have also been deployed in major search operations, including the 2023 Titan submersible search and the 2014 search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Authorities advise the public not to touch or attempt to move suspected sonobuoys, as they may contain hazardous materials. Anyone who encounters one should call 999 and request the coastguard.
The discovery comes as UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the Russian vessel Yantar had been operating near the edge of UK waters. Russia describes Yantar as an oceanic research ship, but Western governments have long monitored its activities amid concerns it may survey undersea cables that carry over 90% of the UK’s data, including key financial communications.
In a recent development, reports claimed RAF patrol aircraft were targeted with lasers from the ship — an act Healey called “deeply dangerous.” He said the UK was prepared to respond if the vessel moved further south. The Russian Embassy said Russia was “not interested in British underwater communications.”
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