A Garmin sports watch lost by a swimmer in Tenby, Wales has completed an extraordinary 150-mile solo voyage across the Celtic Sea, washing up on a remote Irish beach three weeks later with its electronic functions still intact. This remarkable maritime journey culminated in an equally impressive digital reunion, as environmental artist Sean Corcoran discovered the watch on a secluded beach near Waterford, Ireland, and used social media to track down its owner in just 20 minutes. The watch, still attached to its flotation device, not only provides a fascinating case study of Celtic Sea currents but has also been used by safety organizations to highlight the importance of proper buoyancy equipment for open water swimmers.
The Incident: Loss and Discovery
The Moment of Loss in Welsh Waters
In early April 2025, Martina Morgan, originally from South Africa and now living in Pembrokeshire, was enjoying an open water swim with friends at North Beach in Tenby when disaster struck. The Garmin sports watch she was wearing, secured to a yellow buoyancy float, unexpectedly came loose from its attachment. As Morgan noticed her watch floating away, she faced a split-second decision familiar to many open water swimmers: risk swimming after a drifting object potentially being carried by dangerous currents, or prioritize personal safety and let it go.
"I was gutted," Martina told The Pembrokeshire Herald. "It was quite far out by the time I noticed. I waved goodbye to it and thought that was the last I'd ever see of it." The watch held both practical and sentimental value for Morgan—it had been a Christmas gift from her husband Ed and served as an essential tool for tracking her swimming routes and distances. Despite her disappointment, Morgan's fellow swimmers correctly advised against pursuing the watch as it drifted toward deeper waters.
North Beach in Tenby, while popular with swimmers, sits on the southern Welsh coast directly exposed to the Celtic Sea's powerful currents and tidal influences that can quickly carry floating objects offshore.
An Unexpected Find on an Irish Beach
Three weeks later and 150 miles away, environmental artist Sean Corcoran was exploring a remote area of shoreline known as Ladies Cove near Waterford in southeastern Ireland. This secluded bay, part of Ireland's Copper Coast, required Corcoran to scramble down a steep cliff to access the beach—an effort that would lead to an extraordinary discovery.
"When I found the float and saw there was a watch attached, it felt a bit like finding a message in a bottle," Corcoran said. What caught his attention was not initially the watch itself, but the bright yellow flotation device to which it remained securely attached throughout its trans-maritime journey.
Upon retrieving the watch, Corcoran was surprised to discover it was still functional despite three weeks at sea. "When I got it home I pressed a button on the watch and the recharge symbol came up so I knew it worked," he explained. "I was surprised it had only been in the water for three weeks; it looked like it had been exposed to the sun for several months."
The discovery presented Corcoran with a mystery—who had lost this watch, and where had it come from? The watch's remarkable preservation after such a journey also raised scientific questions about its path across the Celtic Sea and the conditions it had encountered along the way.
The Scientific Journey
Celtic Sea Currents and Their Patterns
The watch's 150-mile journey from Tenby to Waterford provides a fascinating real-world demonstration of the complex current systems operating in the Celtic Sea. This body of water, part of the Atlantic Ocean between Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany, is characterized by distinctive oceanographic patterns that made the watch's specific trajectory possible.
According to oceanographic research, prevailing southwesterly winds and south-to-north water transport on the shelf influence the movement of water in the region. These prevailing patterns help explain how an object released from the Welsh coast could find its way to Ireland's southeastern shores.
Studies of Celtic Sea circulation patterns indicate that surface currents—like those that would have carried the floating watch—are heavily influenced by wind and seasonal variations, capable of sustaining long-distance transport for floating objects.
Environmental Factors Influencing the Watch's Path
The flotation device attached to the watch played a crucial role in its journey. Without this buoyancy aid, the watch would almost certainly have sunk to the seabed shortly after being lost. Instead, the bright yellow float kept the watch at the surface, where it could be carried by wind-influenced surface currents.
Research into subtidal and rotary current movements suggests the watch may have taken a non-linear route—zigzagging, circulating in eddies, or drifting through looping paths before eventually making landfall in Ireland.
Analysis of Time and Distance Traveled
The watch traveled approximately 150 miles in 21 days, requiring an average speed of just over 7 miles per day, or about 0.3 miles per hour. This velocity falls within the capabilities of surface currents in the Celtic Sea. Oceanographers confirmed the timeline and route were entirely plausible given the prevailing April conditions.
The Human Connection
Social Media as a Recovery Tool
Once Corcoran discovered the watch, he turned to social media to locate its owner—a decision that would prove remarkably effective. He posted about his find in a local Facebook group called "I am Waterford," asking for help identifying the owner of the device.
The watch contained Ed Morgan's mobile number, which hundreds of users quickly identified as British. The post received over 250,000 views within 24 hours, and the Morgans were located just 20 minutes after the initial post went up.
The Role of Community in Object Recovery
Corcoran was able to connect with Ed Morgan, confirming that his wife Martina had lost the watch in Tenby. The story's quick resolution highlights how digital communities can rapidly solve real-world mysteries.
The post’s follow-up thanked the online community and announced the watch would be mailed back—"making the return journey in an envelope this time."
Interview Insights
"I am very grateful to the people and to Sean," Martina Morgan said. She confirmed the watch would go right back on her wrist for more swims—and would be secured "a little more securely next time."
Corcoran admitted he initially feared the watch might belong to someone who had gone missing at sea. He was relieved to learn everyone was safe.
Safety and Environmental Implications
RNLI Perspectives on Water Safety
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) praised the flotation device's role in keeping the watch afloat and visible, calling the story a "lighthearted but valuable" teaching tool about buoyancy aids.
The RNLI used the story to reinforce broader safety messaging: flotation devices save lives—and sometimes your gadgets too.
Security Recommendations
This incident underscores the importance of securely attaching valuable items when swimming. Experts now recommend:
- Using flotation devices with secure compartments
- Double-checking attachment points
- Employing redundant fastenings
- Registering electronics and storing contact info on them
Environmental Considerations
While this story had a happy ending, it reminds us that even well-used gear can become marine debris. Environmental artist Corcoran is often involved in beach cleanups, giving him a unique appreciation of the need for responsible equipment use.
Technical Resilience
The Watch’s Durability
Corcoran charged the watch and found it "working perfectly," including the stored data. That’s astonishing after three weeks in saltwater and sun.
Garmin and other manufacturers could view this as an unexpected real-world product test, demonstrating the value of robust waterproofing and corrosion-resistant materials.
Comparison to Other Marine Recoveries
Most electronics fail quickly when immersed in saltwater. This Garmin survived and functioned—a rare case of technological resilience.
Conclusion
The story of Martina’s Garmin watch is more than a curiosity. It’s a parable about resilience—of devices, of currents, and of communities working together across borders. It’s a tale of technology, tides, and the unexpected routes that connect us all.
From safety lessons for swimmers to oceanographic insights for scientists, and social media magic for everyone else—this small watch’s voyage has made a big impact.