Local surf lifesavers, marine rescue and water police, as well as the Surf Life Saving NSW drone team began looking for the boy at first light on Wednesday.
Rough conditions are making it difficult around the rock shelf, which is the main area of focus, police said.
There are currently 20 volunteer surf rescue workers, and four paid council lifeguards are helping with three jet skis covering the area around the rock shelf, while a diver is searching near the rocks.
A hazardous surf warning is in place on Wednesday for parts of the NSW coast, including the Central Coast region where the boy went missing.
Surf rescue crews on the Central Coast beach as the search for a missing boy continues on Wednesday.Credit: Billie Eder
Volunteers from Terrigal Marine Rescue helped the water police with Tuesday’s search effort and described conditions offshore as choppy with a 2.5-metre to three-metre swell.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce urged beachgoers to take care over the festive period.
“We want everyone to return to their families and to do that we plead with you to please think before you take risks,” Pearce said, adding that lifesavers had responded to several major incidents on Christmas Eve.
“We’re already seeing these major incidents come through which are devastating for many families at this time of year.”
Pearce said 17 people had drowned on the NSW coast since July 1 this year.
“Please stop, look and stay alive,” he said.
Central Coast councillor Jared Wright said the “thoughts of our community are with the young man and his family during this difficult time”.
“For those visiting our beaches across the summer and particularly over the holiday period, please remember to be safe in and around the water. Swim between the flags, swim with a friend where you can and always let someone else know where you are going,” he said.
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