Dial-A-Buoy, the toll-free phone system that provided boaters with weather and wave reports for over 27 years will officially shut down this week.
Launched in 1997 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dial-A-Buoy was a resource for boaters who were unable to access computers or the internet and needed weather reports. According to NOAA, the service was costly to maintain and the expense couldn’t be justified due to a drop in usership.
Dial-A-Buoy’s automated voice, “Beth,” provided 24/7 weather updates to boaters and surfers. For some, Beth was a reassuring voice on the open ocean.
Now, when callers dial (888) 701-8992 or (301) 713-9620, Beth tells them that the service will be discontinued after March 16, 2024. When prompted, callers would enter a five-character station identifier so that Beth could provide the latest data from that buoy.
When the service was first launched, Dial-A-Buoy was receiving an average of 700 calls per day, though this number dropped over time. Some callers have claimed that the reports from the service saved their, or other’s lives. Now, Dial-A-Buoy will continue via its website, which NOAA spokeswoman Maureen O’Leary says, “is a more reliable, efficient and cost-effective way to access those observations.”
Before Beth goes silent, give her a call. “Everyone should try Dial-A-Buoy at least once in their life,” said @CaptainJones03 on Twitter.
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