Two Dutchmen have been killed in a diving accident off the coast of Italy near Genoa, the foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday.

A third Dutch national was injured in the incident but is not in danger, the spokesman told news agency ANP.

The Dutchmen were part of a group diving to view the wreckage of the oil tanker Amoco Haven. It is unclear from the media reports if they became ill before or after the dive.

Both men were members of Limburg diving club De Duurkerkes and were experienced divers.

The men took part in technical diving which is more risky than ordinary diving and means they experimented with different gas mixtures rather than compressed air for breathing, a spokesman for the club said.

The deaths are being investigated by the Italian justice authorities.