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Christine Williams (27), formerly of Mosgiel, and Toby Crawford (21), formerly of Wanaka, spent several hours helping to search for two United States divers who went missing in shark-infested waters on the Great Barrier Reef and were on board the boat which eventually plucked the pair to safety.
The divers, a man and a woman, drifted away from their diving party off Lizard Island about 10am on Thursday and were found seven hours later, about 20km out to sea.
The couple did not seem to realise what danger they were in, Mr Crawford said.
"They were found about two hours before nightfall. If we hadn't found them before dark, their chances of survival would have been very slim."
Sharks were seen in the area every day, he said. Eleven years ago, a husband and wife diving off far north Queensland went missing and were never seen again. It is presumed they drowned or were killed by sharks.
Ms Williams trained at the Otago Dive School in 2001 and was instructing there when she met Mr Crawford in 2006. They moved to Lizard Island as dive instructors 14 months ago.
They were called in to help as part of a massive rescue effort which involved five helicopters, one light plane and three boats. Australian media reported the rescue cost more than $50,000.
Ms Williams, Mr Crawford and work colleague Craig Newbold were searching aboard the Lizard Island resort's marlin fishing boat when they were told the divers had been spotted from a helicopter.
It took about an hour to motor to the location, and even then it was difficult to see the pair.
"It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. We couldn't see them until we were really close because there were fairly big swells."
The couple were taken back toward Lizard Island where they were checked over by two doctors before being returned to their charter boat, the Spoilsport.
Mr Crawford said it was great to be involved in a successful rescue.
"We were expecting the worst, so it was pretty cool the outcome was so good."
The boat's operator, Mike Ball of Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, criticised the divers for straying from the dive plan and ignoring safety procedures. They should have known better, he said.
