Five Europeans who went missing Thursday while scuba diving off eastern Indonesia were found alive on a remote island Saturday, police said.Kathleen Mitchinson, centre, embraces her husband, Ernest Lewandowsky, as she and other divers arrive on Flores island in Indonesia. (Oby Lewanmeru/Associated Press)

The divers — three from Britain, one from France and one from Sweden — were rescued following a search of the area where they were last seen plunging into the water from their wooden boat, according to a local police chief.

He said the five had drifted more than 12 hours before arriving at Rinca island, about 30 kilometres from the dive site.

The divers said on Friday, they scared away a Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, by pelting it with rocks.

They were found by rescuers just before noon on Saturday and transported by motorboat to Labuhan Bajo, a city on the western tip of nearby Flores island, said the chief of the local port authority.

The five were rushed to a local hospital.

The diving trip took place off Tatawa island, near the Komodo National Park, which is home to the Komodo dragons.

Divers face strong currents in the area, famous for its rich marine diversity, but also for its unpredictable seas.

Recommended only for experienced divers, it is in a place where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet, creating currents that converge and separate.

Whirlpools and eddies can pull divers downward.

The British divers were identified as Charlotte Allin, her boyfriend James Manning. and Kathleen Mitchinson, their diving instructor. They were joined by Elena Neralairen of Sweden and Laurent Pinel of France.

With files from the Associated Press