A police dive team is still searching the 35m depths of Lake Okareka near Te Ngae in Rotorua for the body of 17 year old Bishop Thompson.

He disappeared there on Saturday afternoon following a jetski accident, which is believed to have involved two jetskis.

At the time Bishop was not wearing a life jacket.

Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster Carl Magazinovic says the accident appears to have occurred while the two watercraft were breaking the boating rules.

Watercraft are not permitted to travel at more than five knots within 50 metres of another craft. Five knots is a brisk walking pace.

'It appears that the two craft were operating closer than that, at speed,” says Carl.

'I'm not 100 per cent sure, but what I have been told is this guy was on one jetski and he came off and the next jetski ran over him.

'We are disappointed because we have been pushing the point of life jackets and speed.”

Three rangers have policed Rotorua's 13 lakes every day since December 26.

Bishop's family camped at the lake last night and have been accompanying the searchers on the harbourmasters' boat.

The Lake Okareka accident is the second boating accident involving young people at the weekend.

An 11-year-old is in hospital after the boat he and another 11-year-old were in control of was in a collision with a jetski driven by a 16-year-old, with a 12 year old onboard.

This collision occurred near Tairua on Friday night.

The law states a person must be at least 15 years of age to be in charge of a motor powered craft.

Jetskiers' behaviour on Tauranga harbour has generally improved following two years of work by harbourmasters and harbour wardens, says Carl.

'They have actually been better here because of our presence over the last couple of years, the speeding has decreased hugely.”

The two weekend accidents have prompted Maritime New Zealand to call people speeding on the water nautical 'boy racers” and warns that attitudes have got to change.

Maritime NZ is investigating both accidents, says safety inspector Jim Lilley.

'The key factors for safe boating are not rocket science,” says Jim.

'Just as there are rules for the way we operate motor vehicles on our roads, there are rules that follow us out on the water and govern how we operate our vessels.

'With awareness of others and care for yourself, your passengers and those in the water near you at the top of the list.

'You have all heard about wearing lifejackets, checking the weather forecast, having a reliable means of communication on your person and avoiding alcohol when boating.

'On the water, the five knot rule provides a safety margin in which vessels are required to slow down to walking pace when they come close to other vessels or swimmers, within 200m of the shore or a dive flag, or if they have passengers bow-riding.”

The same rules require every skipper to maintain a proper lookout and to maintain a safe speed at all times.

'These are the main things anybody out on the water should remember, and everyone should enjoy the rest of their summer holidays and we can avoid any more accidents,” says Jim.