A specialist dive squad has continued the search for a young man feared drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne yesterday morning.

A dive team from Wellington has been searching for the 19-year-old who disappeared with his brother while swimming at Makorori Beach just before 10.

The body of the man's 23-year-old brother was discovered around half an hour later.

A 20-year-old man, a friend of the two brothers, made it back to shore before help arrived.

It is believed the three got into difficulty while swimming in metre-plus surf about 100 metres off the beach