"These boaters survived a potentially fatal accident because they were prepared," said Capt. Chris Scraba, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami.

"They immediately donned life jackets, which allowed them to stay afloat until they were rescued, and they activated their PLB, which provided the Coast Guard precise location information," Scraba said.

More than 75 percent of boating fatalities are due to drowning. Of the drowning cases, more than 90 percent of the victims were not wearing life jackets, the Coast Guard said.