Navy divers, expected to arrive in Wanaka tomorrow or Friday, are a "last option" in the search for the body of missing Wanaka Yacht Club member Trevor Hawke (70), who is presumed drowned after a boating accident on Lake Wanaka last Thursday.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said contact had been made with the navy's dive squad, which would come to Wanaka equipped with an advanced sidescan sonar system to search Roys Bay.
An intensive five-day search by surface, shore and police dive crews failed to find Mr Hawke's body.
"I'm just a bit frustrated by the fact that we just haven't been able to find him," Sgt Nicholson said.
Mr Hawke's family was "very anxious for us to find him obviously, to get Trevor back. We're doing the best we can. We're down to our last option really. Now our fingers are crossed that this will work".
Parts of the 350m by 450m area near Eely Point identified as a probable location for Mr Hawke's body would be re-checked and the search extended further out into the bay.
