Rescue teams were today searching for a a British tourist who went missing on a freediving trip in the Philippines.

Mark Davis Morris, 44, reportedly left his rented apartment with his snorkel and flippers to enter the sea alone off the coast of Negros Oriental on Tuesday afternoon.

However, he is believed to have been swept away by the strong currents.

Mark's worried wife Emily Tan, 42, a Singapore resident, filed a report with the police on Wednesday morning, April 23, after he failed to return home in the evening.

She said her husband had told a friend he would go free diving alone, adding he had taken his scuba gear and left her in their apartment while she was sleeping.

Search and rescue teams have set up a command centre at the Lalao Beach Resort where Mark vanished.

Lieutenant Marionne Abigail Enopia, commander of the Coast Guard Negros Oriental station, said: 'Our Coast Guard (CG) personnel in Dauin and Zamboanguita, together with the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (DRRMO), conducted a search early Wednesday after receiving reports of the missing person.'

Rescue teams riding rubber boats were today scouring the waters of Dauin town and neighbouring seaside villages, but have found no sign of the missing Brit.

Three dives have also been conducted by both local and foreign divers.

Authorities said they were further investigating if Mark had gone diving, as beachgoers claimed they did not see him plunge into the water.