Australia: Dive firm confident of crew's response to missing tourists

A north Queensland diving company says it is confident proper safety procedures were followed when two British tourists went missing at the weekend.

A 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman spent five hours in waters, about 50 nautical miles north-east of Townsville before being found by police on Saturday.

Dive boat organisers reported them missing after a head count.

The manager of Pro Dive, Paul Crocombe, says the crew would have conducted their own search.

"I haven't had the chance to speak to the crew yet, the vessel's not due back in until Monday night," he said.

"So it depends on the conditions on the day as to what search methods were used, whether it be snorkel divers in the water having a look in the area, whether it be taking the tender - we have a small dive tender out and checking.

"There are a number of different methods they could've used to do the search."

Source: www.abc.net.au