COLOMBO - A Chinese female tourist has drowned by snorkeling in the Maldives, local media reported here Thursday.

The tourist drowned while snorkeling in Ayada Maldives Resort located in Gaafu Alifu Magudhdhuvaa.

The body of the deceased was discovered near the resort's water villas by an employee.

An official of Ayada Maldives told local media outlet Sun Online that she died while snorkeling and that she was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

He said that the woman was holidaying in the resort with her husband and child.

The police said that the body of the deceased has been taken to Gaafu Dhaalu Health Centre, and that the case is under investigation.

An official of Ayada Resort said that the deceased is from China.

Sun Online's archive shows that nine tourists have died in the Maldives in 2013, most of them Chinese.