Search for missing diver

A big search was mounted this morning for a diver who went missing off the North Canterbury coast.

The alarm was raised when the diver failed to surface from a dive off Motunau Island, 1km offshore from Motunau Beach, northeast of Waipara, around 7.30am.

Police said that a helicopter and at least five boats were combing the area.

No further details were immediately available.

- NZPA