A SEARCH and rescue operation is currently underway for an elderly Brit who was swept out to sea while snorkelling with his wife in Bali.

Graham Smith, 68, went missing in the pristine waters of the Blue Lagoon Beach resort in the Karangasem Regency on the Indonesian island on Wednesday afternoon.

Graham's panic-stricken wife, who has not been identified, informed local authorities of his disappearance around 5.30pm, an hour after she reportedly emerged from the beach's waters herself and began to wait for her husband to return.

A search and rescue operation for Graham began a few hours later at 10.25pm, according to the coordinator of the Karangasem Search and Rescue Team, Gusti Ngurah Eka Widnyana.

"The search for the victim is still being carried out by a joint team," Widnyana said.

"So far, the victim has not been found."

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This was after Widnyana reportedly dispatched six rescue team members to the area in a speedboat.

Widnyana said he is hoping that Graham will be found as soon as possible.

Gede Darmada, the head of the Bali Basarnas government office, told local media that the search area for the missing Brit was divided into three sections on Thursday.

"Yesterday's search yielded no results, and today the search and rescue operation began this morning," Darmada said.

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Local officials have encouraged snorkelers to be mindful of the ever-changing weather conditions in Bali.

Graham's tragic disappearance comes after a 44-year-old Italian woman miraculously survived being hit by a powerful wave at Klungkung Beach in Indonesia in June.

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