DEAL — Dive teams are preparing to restart search efforts along the Monmouth County coastline for a Long Island man who disappeared while swimming off an unguarded, off-limits beach area off Ocean Lane, police said.

“We still have not found him, but State Police helicopters are searching the beachfront and we alerted all the shore towns in Monmouth County about the missing swimmer,” said Police Chief Steven Carasia, who added there were concerns about the weather and rough seas.

A dive team from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office was preparing to enter the waters again this afternoon in search of 30-year-old Joshua Nevarez of Amityville, N.Y. who was swimming with a female friend at the unguarded and off-limits beach area shortly before 4:30 p.m. Saturday, when he apparently tired and slipped below the surface, Carasia said.

The unidentified female friend unsuccessfully tried to pull Nevarez ashore. She was rescued by Rachel Rosenthal, of Long Branch, a bystander at the beach; Nevarez was last seen when he slipped below the surface, Carasia said.

Coast Guard, State Police and county dive teams have been searching the area since Saturday, but weather has hampered search efforts with rough seas making underwater search efforts dangerous.

The National Weather Service issued a warning this morning for a moderate risk of rip currents in the ocean waters off New Jersey and Delaware today, with waves expected to be 3 to 4 feet high.

Charles Webster