Two Otago men missing after diving for paua

Two Otago men missing after diving for paua
Photo credit: Google Maps

Two men are missing after they went diving for paua in Southern Otago.

The Balclutha locals, aged 23 and 51, entered the water in Purakaunui Bay on Saturday.

At 7:30pm police were notified they hadn't returned.

Search teams immediately took to the water and worked until midnight but were unable to find the men.

A land and marine search resumed at 6am on Sunday morning, focusing on the area between Irihuka and Nugget Point.

LandSAR is conducting the search with several boats currently out on the water.

Both a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft have also been deployed, and the police National Dive Squad has been called in for help.

Newshub.