Search efforts will resume today for a young man believed to have drowned in the waters off a popular East Coast surf beach.

The 19-year-old Gisborne teenager and his 23-year-old brother disappeared while swimming at Makorori Beach on Saturday morning.

The body of the teen's older brother has been found, but specialist dive squads are continuing to look for the 19-year-old.

The search was called off last night due to poor sea and light conditions.