MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Rescuers in the Philippines were searching Monday for an American diving instructor and a Hong Kong tourist who failed to surface after exploring a World War II shipwreck northwest of Manila.
American dive master Steven Brittian, 47, and Hong Kong resident Tin Shun Chuen, 30, were last seen Sunday as they were about to ascend from the shipwreck, said Romeo Renojo, chief of maritime security at the Subic Bay Freeport.
A third diver, 49-year-old Chow Fung Lung of Hong Kong, told officials he saw Tin stop and turn around as they were leaving the wreck. He said Brittian signaled Chow to come back and then proceeded to go to Tin.
Chow said it was dark and he lost sight of the two, so he followed a line to the surface.
Chow and the Filipino boat skipper waited for 30 minutes and when the pair failed to surface they reported them missing, Renojo said.
He said Brittian is a longtime resident of Olongapo City whose U.S. hometown was not immediately known.
Tin is an experienced diver who was undergoing further training for technical diving, Renojo said.
