Thirty knot northerly winds and a 1.5m swell are frustrating the search off Mana Island today for missing diver Robert Hewitt.
Mr Hewitt, 38, a former Navy diver, went missing on Sunday afternoon.
Nine National Police dive squad members, four officers from the Wellington Police Maritime Unit and 12 Navy divers left Mana Cruising Club before 9am this morning to continue the search for Mr Hewitt.
However weather conditions have deteriorated and have meant they are unable this morning to continue searching the area northwest of the island - the point where Mr Hewitt was last seen. The divers are however searching an area known as The Bridge - a channel area running between Mana Island and the mainland.
The two squads are using the Police launch Lady Elizabeth III, which left her Wellington berth at 4.30am today, and two inflatables as dive platforms.
Ends
Released by:
Kaye Calder
Wellington Police District communications manager
Tel: 04 496 3464 or 0274 373 020