KEY POINTS:
A diver missing in the ocean north of Auckland has been found dead this morning.
The diver's body was found washed up on the shore, police told NZPA.
Inspector David Mead of the Police northern communications centre said the body was found on Omaha Beach, a popular weekend retreat 16km northeast of Warkworth.
The 34-year-old man and his diving partner had gone into the sea at Ti Point on Omaha Beach about 1.15pm yesterday.
He failed to join his companion onshore an hour later. Friends and locals at first tried to find him and a full-scale search was launched about 3.45pm.
Heavy rain, 3m swells and wind speeds up to 35 knots hampered search efforts of the rugged coastline last night.
The police launch Deodar, the coast guard and an Eagle helicopter found no sign of the missing man, an experienced diver.
- NZPA
