Waikato Police are working to formally identify a woman's body recovered off the coast of Hahei following a diving incident this afternoon.

Waikato District Command Centre senior sergeant Gael Mockford says a diver was reported missing in Feal Bay on the edge of the Marine Reserve shortly before 2pm.

Waikato Police have recovered the body of a woman following a diving incident in Hahei this afternoon. Photo: File

'The Police Eagle helicopter from Auckland, a Coastguard vessel and surf life savers were deployed to the area to try and help locate the woman. A search team was also deployed to search the shore.

'When bubbles were sighted in the water near rocks a number of boaties, scuba divers and snorklers converged on the area and her body was located shortly after 3pm.”

Gael says the woman's body was recovered to shore by rescue boat a short time later but despite rescuers best efforts the woman was pronounced dead by an attending doctor.

Police would like to acknowledge the efforts of those involved in the initial search for the woman and her subsequent recovery.

'Work is currently underway to identify the woman and locate her family, we will not be able to release the woman's name until her family have been notified.

'Police would like to extend our sympathies to the woman's family for their loss.”