The search for a missing five-year-old boy swept out to sea yesterday morning will continue today as the Police National Dive Squad gets ready to join the search.

The boy was caught by a large wave about 11.50am at the base of The Mount in an area known as Shelly Beach.

The IRB preparing to launch for day two of the search.

The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was involved in yesterday's search. Photo: Kjell Nilsson.

Police say the boy was with eight extended family members – two adults and six children – when he and two sisters, age 12 and 14, were washed away by the wave while playing at the water's edge.

The two girls managed to get to a nearby rock and were helped ashore by the adults but the five-year-old boy had disappeared from view.

A search and rescue operation involving police, coastguard, Mount Maunganui Lifeguards, the Port of Tauranga Pilot Boat and the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was launched and continued until nightfall.

The search included area around the base of Mount Maunganui, Tauranga Harbour Entrance and Matakana Island.

Due to the large three metre swells at the beach yesterday, searching was difficult and there was no sign of the boy, says a rescue helicopter spokesperson.

The search for the boy will resume this morning with the area around Shelly Beach being of main focus.

On the TV1 Breakfast show this morning, Tauranga Police Inspector Karl Wright St-Clair says the Police National Dive Squad are at the scene assessing the situation.

'We're keeping an open mind. There is a large area of sea to search and we will focus on a small area known as Shelly Beach.

'The whole base track will be closed off today as the search continues.”

Karl says the family are struggling to come to terms with what has happened and are being supported by victim support, along with an outpouring of support from the community.

'A candle light vigil was held at Mount Main Beach last night and we have had lots of support coming in on our Facebook page,” says Karl.

'We are starting to move into the second phase of the operation but it's still a search for the little boy.”

The 3m swell experienced during the search yesterday is expected to ease this morning as a low sitting off the coast moves away from the country.

But winds are expected to pick up with the light southwester seen this morning expected to pick up to around 25knots in a north-west direction as another front moves closer to the Bay of Plenty.

Toys have been left on the beach after last night's candle light vigil