A search for a 21-year-old diver reported missing in the Western Cape ended on Wednesday morning when rescuers found him walking on a road, said the National Sea Rescue Institute.

"We found him walking on a road near where the drowning incident was reported to have happened. He was fine, no injuries so we returned him to his family," spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.

He said Sadian Fiay's friends reported him missing on Tuesday after they had gone diving in Oudekraal at around 9.45pm.

Lambinon would not comment on what had happened to the man between the time he was reported missing and 9am on Wednesday when he was found.

"Police are handling that," he said.

Western Cape police spokesman Inspector November Filander said they were investigating the incident.

"We have no specific information at the moment. We are still waiting for the detectives to confirm if he was the man who was reported missing or drowned," he said.

He could not immediately indicate if criminal charges would be pressed should it be found that police and rescuers were sent on a wild goose chase.

Sapa

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