Two divers who went missing in waters off Tasmania's east coast have been found safe by a volunteer rescuer.
The 24-year-old woman and 25-year-old man from Hobart were diving near Alligator Rock on Saturday morning but failed to return by 11am as planned.
That sparked a large rescue mission across the area involving the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, police and recreational boats.
Tasmania Police Inspector Colin Riley said the pair drifted for four hours and were only able to stay underwater for five minutes due to what he described as a technical reason.
He commended the way the divers handled the ordeal before being found by a civilian vessel about 3.6 kilometres offshore.
"It's fair to say they did what they had to do to survive, they didn't panic," Insp Riley told reporters in Hobart on Saturday.
"They stayed together and they kept their spirits up and they just focused on remaining above water."
