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Posted by on June 06, 2008 at 22:35:30:
JAKARTA, Indonesia: Rescuers have found all five European divers who went missing while scuba diving in treacherous waters off eastern Indonesia, police said Saturday. The divers — three from Britain and one each from France and Sweden — were found Saturday morning on the southern coast of an island in the area they went missing in Thursday, chief of local police Lt. Col. Buce Helo said. "They were found on Rinca island and are now being transported to Labuhan Bajo on board a motorboat," Helo said. The five had been last seen plunging from their wooden boat Thursday to dive off Tatawa island, near Komodo National Park. A sea search was launched after the five — Kathleen Mitchinson, Charlotte Allin and James Manning of Britain; Elena Neralairen of Sweden; and Lauren Pinel of France — were reported missing by other foreigners who were waiting to dive. Police and soldiers plied the waters on port authority boats and small vessels borrowed from area residents. The area, near Bali island and the Komodo National Park — known for being home to the world's largest lizards, called Komodo dragons — is famous for its rich marine diversity but also for its treacherous and unpredictable seas. Recommended only for experienced divers, it is in a place where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet, creating currents that converge and separate. Whirlpools and eddies can pull divers downwards.
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