SAN JOSE, ***** Rica – A catamaran carrying dozens of foreign tourists on a pleasure cruise ******** off ***** Rica on Thursday, ******* three people, ********* officials said.

The boat, which was on a day trip to the popular Tortuga (Turtle) Island, **** completely about 9 miles (15 kilometres) off the country’s central Pacific Coast.

************ Corps director Hector Chavez said initial reports of an ********* and **** were mistaken. ********* reported that strong waves filled the boat with water and caused it to ****, he said. He also lowered the ***** toll to three, saying that one of the **** had been counted twice.

The country’s Public Security Ministry said in a Twitter posting that one of the ******* was a U.S. citizen and another was from *******.

Private boats in the area took in passengers until rescuers arrived.

The tour operator reported that the Pura Vida Princess, a 100-foot catamaran, left Marina Los Suenos in the morning with 98 passengers and a crew of 10.

Rescuers had recovered 94 people from the ********* and taken them to two ********* centres on land. Authorities were awaiting the arrival of one last rescue boat to make a complete accounting of those on board.

According to the Pura Vida Princess website, the Tortuga Island day trip costs $125 and includes meals, a DJ, snorkeling and open bar.