Surf lifesavers are putting their faith in local surf knowledge in an effort to find five-year-old Jack Dixon and bring closure for the little boy's family.

A contingent of Mount Maunganui, Omanu and Papamoa surf lifesavers arrived at Mount Maunganui Surf Club about 6.30am preparing for another day scouring the water where Jack went missing.

Jack disappeared about 11.50am on Wednesday when a large wave swept him and two girls, sisters aged 12 and 14, out to sea as they played in an area in Mount Maunganui known as Shelly Beach.

Since then an extensive land and sea rescue has been in full swing, with Land Search and Rescue members, divers and surf lifesavers.

SLNZ Eastern Region lifesaving and education manager Leigh Sefton says a number of teams are going both back into the water this morning and around the rocks at low tide.

They are being supported by five IRBs, trawling just outside the teams in case anything appears outside the search parameter.

'We are utilising the IRBs to do a grid search between the Mount Maunganui and Matakana Island,” he said. 'So we are covering our bases there with wind direction, swell and tides.

'We are just making sure we keep our eyes and options open.”

Leigh says the search spans to Matakana Island as the large swell, or king tide, which hit on Wednesday came from an Easterly direction with predominant channels and drifts flowing towards the island.

Searches are also being held on the island with firefighters constantly searching the beach on quad bikes, particularly during low tide.

'Everyone here is local so they know the area like the back of their hand,” adds Leigh.

'The clarity [in the water] is clearing up the whole time so with the drop off of swell and the direction of the wind, the water is clearing up nicely.

'I understand if we don't find Jack today the police are looking at the option of bringing the dive team back in over the weekend.”

Surf lifesavers are expected to continue searching until 9.30-10am when police are planning to reassess the search, including whether the Mount re-opens.

Today might be the last clear day for a few days with the MetService forecasting strong gales and showers for the Bay of Plenty.

A severe weather watch is in place for the area, with strong westerlies expected to develop today, then southwest gales due overnight through to tomorrow morning.

SLNZ Eastern Region lifesaving and education manager Leigh Sefton.