He said his confidence was based on the experience of the three missing divers, apart from them being properly equipped with diving gear and supplies for training before they were reported missing.
According to the account given by one of the four, Kristine Grodem, a Norwegian woman who was rescued earlier this morning, the other three divers had already surfaced after the diving course they were undertaking before they drifted apart.
“Therefore, we believe the chance for us to find them alive (and well) is very good based on their experience and with the diving equipment and supplies on them,” he told reporters at the search and rescue operation forward base at the Mersing district council public jetty.
According to him, the three divers have a record of over 50 dives and were undergoing a training course in advanced diving in open waters.
Grodem, 35, who is the diving instructor for the others, was found safe by a tugboat at 8.15am having drifted 30 nautical miles from the scene.
Cyril said according to Grodem, all four divers made the first dive for 45 minutes before coming to the surface.
“On the second dive, they surfaced after 20 minutes, but Grodem noticed a strong current and frantically called out to the (boat) skipper but she could not be heard as they had drifted about 500m from the boat,” he added.
Grodem then tried to swim to Pulau Lima to get help but was foiled by strong currents, which also separated her from the others.
“The coach had been drifting on the surface of the sea with diving equipment intact since noon yesterday before she was rescued,” Cyril said.
However, he was also concerned about other factors that could hinder rescue efforts, including current weather conditions as well as dehydration and hypothermia that could affect the divers.
The missing trio are British national Adrian Peter, 46, his 14-year-old son Nathen Renze who is a Dutch national, and Frenchwoman Alexia Alexandra, 18.
A total of 90 personnel from various agencies were involved in the search using 18 boats and two helicopters.