Four people who went missing while diving in Indonesia have been found alive after spending 24 hours at sea. The group included two Irish tourists, an Austrian woman, and one Indonesian dive guide. They disappeared after being swept away by strong currents off the island of Flores.
The incident occurred on October 4 near Pulau Pangabatang in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This area, part of the Maumere Sea Gardens, is known for its coral reefs and walls but also for strong currents. The divers were split into two teams, each with a local guide.
The first team, consisting of a 60-year-old Dutch tourist and his guide, surfaced as expected. The second team, which included the Austrian and Irish tourists along with their guide, failed to return after being caught in the currents. The alarm was raised just after 2pm local time by the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.
A search operation was launched involving Basarnas, the Indonesian Navy, East Nusa Tenggara water police, and local fishermen. All four missing individuals were eventually found alive. For travellers, this highlights the importance of heeding local warnings about strong currents in popular diving spots.
