COLOMBO, Jan 15 -- A Chinese couple have drowned while snorkeling near the Safari Island Resort in Alifu Alifu Atoll, the Maldives, local media reported here on Wednesday.

An official of Alifu Dhaalu Atoll Hospital cited the doctor who confirmed their deaths as saying that the two tourists were dead when they were brought to the hospital on Tuesday evening, and that they had died of drowning.

The official said that ages of the man and the woman are 67 and 57 respectively, local media outlet Sun reported.

The police said that it was reported to them that two tourists had died while snorkeling.

According to police, the couple went snorkeling alone and resort staff found them about 700 feet away from the resort.

There have been several casualties of tourists drowning in the Maldives during the last few months, most of them are Chinese.