Five Missing European Divers Found in Indonesia
June 7, 2008
The divers -- three Britons, a Frenchman and a Swede -- are in good health after their rescue on Saturday, June 7, said police. They had been transported to the nearby island of Flores, where they were receiving medical attention.
The five, part of a larger dive group, got separated on Thursday when strong currents swept them off course. They drifted for about 40 hours in the tropical waters.
Indonesian police began scouring the waters late Thursday, but had to call on local fisherman for assistance due to a lack of fuel for aircraft. A commercial airplane, which was scheduled to fly over the area on Saturday morning, had also promised to circle for an hour in search of the missing divers.
The divers had been exploring reefs near the Komodo National Park, which is home to the famed giant lizards with the same name. Located about 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of the popular tourist destination Bali, the reefs offer colorful dive sites up to 40 meters deep.
Strong currents are common in the area, posing a hazard even to experienced divers. The leader of the lost diving group was a British woman who owns a dive shop with her husband on Flores.