Up to 30 knot winds and 1.5m swells have presented difficulties for volunteer rescue crews but police divers and boats are still ploughing through.
Emergency services were called to Little Bay Beach in Arakoon on the mid-north coast of NSW following reports an 18-year-old man was in trouble in the water.
Police officers alongside Marine Area Command officers and Surf Life Saving NSW responded and conducted a search of the area, but were unable to locate the man.
The search was called off after an extensive search on Monday and resumed at 8am on Tuesday.
John Murray from volunteer group Marine Rescue NSW said vessels from Trial Bay and Port Macquarie searched waters from Laggers Point to Gap Beach for almost eight hours.
On Tuesday, the winds and swells put the volunteer crew out of commission after a few hours.
"It has become quite uncomfortable, making it extremely challenging for our volunteers," he said.
NSW Police confirmed officers were still pursuing rescue efforts.
It is the second incident in the region in recent days after a 59-year-old died on Friday after being pulled from the water in Crescent Head.
In November, a shark attack killed a Swiss woman and severely injured a Swiss man both swimming at a remote beach also in the NSW mid-north coast.
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