Navy divers have had to tow a naval mine by hand after it broke away from its anchor in Puget Sound near Seattle.

A mile-wide safety zone was established after the ordnance was spotted by Department of Natural Resources crew.

"Upon initial inspection, the unidentified moored mine was found to have decades of marine growth," the Navy said.

TV footage showed two divers jumping into the water and swimming towards the device and using a rope to pull it from the area.

Jack Bailey, president of the Port of Brownsville Commission, said the object appeared to be floating within in a Navy testing zone.


He said that there was recently a low tide, with a good amount of current that can bring in floating objects, and there have been times in the past where ordnances have been brought up.