Search resumes for lost diver

A 29-year-old woman, who did not surface after a dive at Mototi Island, is the subject of a search and rescue operation.

The search for a diver who went missing while diving off Motiti Island resumed early this morning with police divers heading back into the water.

The 29-year-old woman was one of four divers from Waikato who had been looking for scallops just off the island, about 30km east of Mt Maunganui.

Police were called when she did not resurface around 7.40am yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross of Tauranga police said the search could be quite difficult.

"They are limited obviously by depth, by the weather conditions and all sorts of factors. So that's why we get the experts in straight away."

"The dive guys work with the local harbour masters in plotting all the currents. It's not just a case of dropping in and having a look around."

He said the area was not renowned for being particularly treacherous for divers and it was not clear what had prevented the woman resurfacing.

"Certainly there's not a situation where she has become tangled or anything like that. [But] all dives are dangerous."

- NZPA