Search continues for missing snorkelers

5:17 pm on 11 January 2020

The police dive squad is still searching the sea off the Wairarapa coast for two snorkelers who failed to return to shore on Friday.

Police dive squad searching for Mandeep Singh.

Photo: RNZ / Lauren Baker

It's believed the pair are a father and his young son who were collecting pāua near Mataikona.

Police were alerted to the missing pair at 11.34am yesterday, after they failed to return to shore.

Two helicopters, a police maritime unit, three commercial fishing boats and the Riversdale Surf Lifesaving Club took part in the initial search, as well as a number of fishing vessels that were taking part in a competition.

The pair were not found though and a shoreline and sea search was resumed on Saturday morning. A helicopter is also scouring the coast.

Sergeant Tony Matheson of Wairarapa Search and Rescue said earlier on Saturday there are grave concerns for the pair's safety.