A full-scale search was launched on Monday after two Nepalese students were washed from rocks at the Figure 8 Pools in the Royal National Park.

The group of international students were on the rock platform approximately 1km south of Burning Palms SLSC just before 2pm.

According to Surf Life Saving NSW, a wave washed one man into the water and the other across the rocks. 

A 21-year-old man was washed into the water at the remote location before disappearing from view of the group.

Surf Life Saving Sydney and Illawarra rescue jetskis worked with the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter, Illawarra lifeguards, Botany Water Police, PolAir as well as Fire and Ambulance services after being notified of the incident. 

The 22-year-old man who was washed over the rocks sustained minor lacerations, and was treated by Special Operations Paramedics before he and the group were transported to Sutherland Hospital.

A southerly search pattern was set up based on dye pack dropped from the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Four jetskis, as well as water police, assisted with the water search until 6pm when the search was suspended due to low-light. 

"Every service worked seamlessly together in this critical incident," SLS Sydney Duty Officer Jackson Townsend said. 

"Operations like this in the Royal National Park are particularly tricky due to the lack of radio and phone service combined with the big swell.

"We wrapped up the search for the evening but the air and water search will resume in the morning."

The incident occurred at the peak of the high-tide and with hazardous surf conditions.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce reiterated the importance of not taking unnecessary risks.

"The last week has seen extremely dangerous surf and high tides.

"We continue to urge the public to stop, look and think before walking on rock platforms especially when conditions are as treacherous as they are at the moment.

"It's not only our beaches that are dangerous in these situations, rock platforms pose a significant and unpredictable threat." 

Update 7.45pm:

Surf Lifesaving Illawarra duty officer Anthony Turner said emergency services were yet to locate the missing male. 

He said the search had been called off for the night, and emergency services would resume the search on Tuesday morning. 

Earlier:

A search is underway in the Royal National Park for a swimmer who has gone missing after being swept off the rocks near the Figure 8 pools.

Police said two men had been swimming at the popular tourist location before being swept off rocks just before 2pm on Monday.

"One of the men was able to climb to safety, while a search is under way for the second man who did not resurface," a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

The man who made it to safety was winched out of the area by a Wesptac Lifesaver Helicopter.

He was treated by paramedics on the ground for minor lacerations.

A second man, believed to be aged 22, was seen to disappear underwater and not resurface.

Three other people were with the pair on the rocks at the time, but were not injured.

Wollongong police are being assisted in the search for the other swimmer by NSW Ambulance and the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter.

Two Surf Life Saving Illawarra support operations jet skis are being used to assist with the search for the missing male. 

The search is expected to continue until later this evening.

Police have reminded those planning to visit the Royal National Park to check weather conditions and tide times before heading out.

Last December, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service launched a  new online warning system predicting wave conditions at the Figure Eight Pools up to four days in advance.

The website urges potential visitors to plan their trips according to the wave forecast – which showed the risk rating for Monday as "extreme".

The website's advice for times of "extreme" risk is not to visit the pools at all due to the risk of severe injuries.

"You can’t see Figure Eight Pools because it’s underwater. Waves are washing over the whole rock shelf," the warning states. "If you’re in the rock pools you’ll be trapped and thrown against the rocks, before being washed out of the pools and dragged across the rock shelf.

"If you’re standing on the rock shelf you’ll be knocked over by waves and dragged across it. You could also be washed into the ocean."

Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant said at the time the Wave Risk Rating tool was launched that there had been numerous rescues where sightseers had been trapped by tides or gone onto the rock platform in unsafe conditions.

“Emergency Services often have to rescue people in hazardous conditions that, tragically, could have been avoided,” he said.

Read more: Surf lifesavers rescue man from treacherous surf at Kiama