A national police diving squad has today been searching for the diving gear belonging to a 42-year-old Tauranga man, who died yesterday afternoon while diving near Motiti Island off the coast of Papamoa.

The man is yet to be named – and the cause of his death remains unknown.

Tauranga Police Acting Senior Sergeant Cam Anderson says the diving squad has been looking for the man's diving gear, which his diving buddies dumped when the tragedy unfolded.

"Dumping of diving gear is a standard procdure in this type of situation and a national Pplice Diving Squad ahs been searching for it today."

Western Bay of Plenty Police Senior Sergeant Glenn Saunders says the tragedy occured about at about 3pm yesterday, shortly after the man surfaced from a dive with two companions in about 15 metres of water. "The man appeared to lose consciousness and slipped back under the surface of the water”.

A Tauranga man has died while diving near Motiti Island.

'One of his companions dived down, retrieved him from the sea floor and returned him to the boat, where CPR was administered until a Paramedic arrived. Further efforts to revive the man failed.”

Glenn says the name of the deceased is being withheld until next of kin have been informed and the matter has been referred to the Coroner.

Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter pilot Liam Brettkelly says the Tauranga-based rescue helicopter was called out to a boat 1 nautical mile off the south coast of Motiti Island, where a 42-year-old Tauranga man had got into difficulties while diving with friends.

'The man was under resuscitation when the helicopter arrived on scene, an intensive care St John paramedic was lowered onto the boat using the Port of Tauranga rescue winch, sadly the man had passed away.”

'It is not known what caused the man to become unwell or get into difficulty.”