Two Hawke's Bay men who decided to go for a night dive last Friday were blissfully unaware they had prompted a search and rescue mission.
Locals raised the alarm after their trailer was seen sitting empty on the boat ramp.
The two men, one a diving instructor, did not tell anyone of their plans to go night diving.
Emergency services were called to Pourerere Beach in Central Hawke's Bay just after 6.30pm.
The men were spotted by the rescue helicopter a short time later heading towards the boat ramp in their small boat, unharmed and unaware of the $5,500 emergency callout.
Senior Constable Blair Pryce of Hawke's Bay Police Search and Rescue said search teams were also in the process of being assembled in the event a shoreline search was required.