A police inquiry has been opened for investigation after a man disappeared at Kariega Beach in Kenton on Sea on Sunday afternoon.
Captain Mali Govender says the 23-year-old man was swimming with two of his friends at about 5 pm when they all got into trouble in the water.
She says whilst two men managed to swim to safety, the third could not be found.
Authorities were alerted and a search of the area was conducted, with no positive results.
The search team resumed at first light on Monday.
The missing man's name was not released to the media.