John, 67, and Lyn King, 66, from Arctic Road, Cowes, died on Friday evening off the Isle of Wight.
Mr King had been a network driver for Southern Vectis for two-and-a-half years, and left the company earlier this year, the bus operator said.
Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager, paid tribute to him.
“John had worked for the company as a network driver for two and half years prior to leaving.
(Image: County Press) “We are saddened to learn of this tragic event and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
The police have notified next of kin, and a post-mortem examination is scheduled for today (Tuesday).
The car, a silver Ford Mondeo, was reported to have left the road shortly after 7.20pm that night.
It was driven along Alum Bay New Road, towards The Needles, before coming off the cliff top and resting in the water below.
Multiple emergency services, including police, firefighters, Ventnor and Needles Coastguard Rescue Teams, and lifeboat crews rushed to the scene.
The Needles Landmark Attraction was closed by police while emergency teams attended to the incident.
Emergency services were stood down in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police confirmed on Sunday that two people had died, and formal identification was yet to take place.
(Image: County Press) Officers have been making inquiries at an address in Arctic Road, believed to be the couple’s home, to try to establish what happened.
According to MailOnline, an eyewitness said the couple got into the Mondeo, with their two dogs, sometime between 4pm and 4.45pm on Friday.
Neighbours said Mrs King had medical problems, and her husband was her carer.
The case has been referred to the Isle of Wight coroner.