A huge search effort is underway after a spearfisherman lost his way during a dive on the Mid-North Coast.
Emergency services were called to Myall Lakes National Park a short time after 10.50am on Wednesday following reports the man had not returned from the water.
Police were told the man, thought to be aged in his 30s, had dived into the water near Skeleton Rock about 10.20am, but never surfaced.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said radio operators at Marine Rescue Port Stephens were notified just after 10:30am after a report the diver got separated from his buddy.
"Volunteer crews were quickly assembled and deployed on board Port Stephens 31 and Forster 30," Inspector Sullivan said.
"Conditions are favourable offshore with a one-metre swell, light winds and good visibility."
While the area is very popular for fishermen and divers, the waters in the region are also known to have a seasonal population of sharks, such as the Grey Nurse species.
In 2019, one surfer was lucky to escape a great white shark attack near Seal Rocks.
Mike Bruton, 29, was surfing in the afternoon when a shark hit him and his board, snapping his surf leash and sending him into the air.
"You couldn't wrap your arms around it - it was that big. It was huge," he told 9News at the time.
After swimming back to his board he was able to jump back on and catch a wave back into shore.
"I didn't realise there was a big chunk missing until I got onto the sand," he said.