2 Japanese dive tutors drown

DUMAGUETE CITY — Two Japanese diving instructors drowned while taking a group of students on a training dive off Siquijor island, police said

Yusimasa Shutani, 48, who was directing the dive, and Mikomi Kuno, 28, a female diving instructor, were found dead in the waters off Siquijor on Sunday, police said.

The duo from Osaka had gone missing while taking seven Japanese students on a training dive on Saturday, police said.

Ramon Moreno, a professional diver who helped find the bodies, said he spotted the bodies of the two 80 meters below the surface.

Moreno quoted some of the diving students as saying that when they were descending into the depths, Kuno appeared to be having some difficulties but they continued going deeper. They could not find Kuno and Shutani later.

The bodies of the two were taken to a funeral parlor in this city. — Mike Frialde