Advanced technology helped locate the wreckage and the body of the trainee pilot who plunged to his death in a helicopter crash off Cape Point two days ago.
A side-scan sonar helped rescuers find Cornelius Marthinus Erasmus, 41, and the Robinson R22 privately owned helicopter, which nose-dived into the sea about 800m from the shore.
Erasmus, a partner in a law firm, was on his second solo flight.
The Council for GeoScience provided the sonar equipment used in the hunt.
National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said: "The sonar made it possible to find the wreckage and the body in a short space of time.
The wreckage and pieces of debris are to be sent to the Civil Aviation Authority, which is investigating the incident.
Erasmus was flying with two other trainee pilots who were some distance away.
The three helicopters belonged to the Starlite helicopter company, based near the city airport.
It is understood the three helicopters took off from the V&A Waterfront. The other two trainee pilots returned safely but Erasmus did not return.
Police and divers failed to locate the wreckage in two days of searching at the spot where witnesses had seen the craft go down.
The sophisticated sonar equipment arrived on Tuesday.
Rescuers believe that Erasmus was trapped inside the helicopter as it crashed into the water.
Erasmus, who lived in Plattekloof with his wife and two children aged two and four, had decided to take a piloting course at Starlite several months ago.
Despite repeated approaches, senior staff at the company refused to speak to the Cape Argus about Erasmus on Wednesday.
His wife and children were in Bloemfontein on holiday when the incident happened.
How the Wreck was found : IOL