Two divers rescued after disappearing off Malaysian coast, search continues for Dutch teen

Search and rescue operation earlier in the week for four foreign divers off the coast of Johor's Mersing, Malaysia. Photo / AP

Two Europeans who disappeared during a dive last week have been rescued by fishermen, Malaysian authorities said on Saturday, with the search operation now focused on finding a 14-year-old Dutch teen who remained missing.

Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, of France and Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, of Britain were found early Saturday in waters near Indonesia's border and have been taken to a hospital, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. The two were in stable condition, police told local media.

Chester's Dutch son, Nathen Renze Chesters, remained missing, the agency said in a statement.

Diving instructor Kristine Grodem is rescued. Photo / AP

The three were diving with their Norwegian instructor, Kristine Grodem, on Wednesday in waters about 15m deep at an island off Mersing town in southern Johor state.

Grodem, 35, said the four of them surfaced safely on Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current.

Grodem was rescued on Thursday by a tugboat. She said the four of them surfaced safely on Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current.

The search has moved south to where the two divers were found, Mersing maritime chief Khairul Nizam Misran said. Two aircraft, nine boats and some 85 personnel as well as fishermen are involved in an expanded search, he said.

Grodem was providing training for the other three, who were seeking to obtain advanced diving licenses, maritime officials said.

The boat skipper was detained for further investigation, and diving activities off Mersing have been suspended.

The captain was arrested for testing positive for drugs, the Daily Mail reported.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency image of the search. Photo / AP

Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said officers arrested the skipper on Thursday after he gave a statement to Mersing district police.

Mamat said: "He tested positive for methamphetamine use when we conducted a urine test.

"The forensics team will arrive to conduct the investigation. We will also investigate if there is any issue of negligence.

There are several islands off the town that are popular dive spots for local residents and tourists.

Malaysia's borders reopened to foreigners on April 1 after being closed for more than two years during the Covid-19 pandemic.