A dive quad is set to resume the search this morning for an Indian man who went missing while swimming at a popular Tauranga lake.

The man is feared dead, after his friend's body was pulled from the water at McLaren Falls Park, Kaimai, last night.

The pair were seen going into the water about 5.20pm. One fell from a rope swing into the water and got into difficulty, and the other then went in to help him.

Both disappeared from sight, and one man's body was later recovered from the swimming spot.

The search for the second man went late into the night, with police using a boat with sonar on board.

The lake level was lowered to help with the search.

A dive squad was due to resume the search this morning.

The scene was guarded overnight.

The men were believed to have been with a group of friends, all students from India who live locally.

McLaren Falls Park, a 10 minute drive from Tauranga City, is home to 190ha of pastoral and horticultural parkland set alongside Lake McLaren. It is popular for camping, fishing, kayaking, and bush walks.