Two men are recovering from hypothermic symptoms after they were pulled from the water near Rabbit Island off Mount Maunganui Main Beach on Good Friday.

The men were in a dinghy, which began sinking, while they were fishing, forcing them into the water.

They were not wearing life jackets and began calling for help as the boat when down.

The men were rescued by off-duty lifeguards.

St John Ambulance attended and took the men to Tauranga Hospital.