Whale watching license temporarily suspended [1]
Monday, August 19, 2019 - 21:28. Updated on Monday, August 19, 2019 - 21:30.
Tonga's Ministry of Tourism has temporarily suspended the whale watching operator's licence of the Whale Swim, Fish and Dive Tours, operated by Jeff Laurie in Nuku'alofa, after a diver was lost at sea.
“Their license remains temporarily suspended while we wait on the outcome of the police investigation, before anything is finalised,” said a Ministry of Tourism spokesperson today.
Marina Theresia Trost (43) from Munich, Germany went missing while diving off ‘Eua on Sunday, August 11.
She was reported to have been part of a group that were scuba diving inside the 'Eua cave called the "Cathedral", situated on the northern tip of the island.
A police spokesperson said today that the investigation continued in this matter.
“No charges have been made."
The local operator who took the group out was identified as Whale Swim, Fish and Dive Tours.