Body of female swimmer found by Tasmania Police at Cataract Gorge

Police divers searched First Basin yesterday for the missing woman. (ABC News: April McLennan)

Police divers have found the body of a female swimmer who had been missing at Launceston's Cataract Gorge since Tuesday afternoon. 

The woman, aged in her 20s, was last seen swimming in the First Basin around 1pm on Tuesday, when she became separated from her swimming companions.

The rescue helicopter, a police drone, police divers, State Emergency Service members and Surf Lifesaving volunteers all took part in the search.

Police said divers found the woman's body around 4pm on Wednesday. 

Family and friends of the swimmer "lost sight of her" yesterday while she was swimming, police say. (ABC News: April McLennan )

Earlier, police refused to speculate on whether a scheduled release of water by Hydro Tasmania into the Gorge from the Trevallyn Dam may have made swimming conditions there more difficult. 

The release was due to happen between 10am and 4pm on Tuesday for a paddling event.

A public notice printed in The Examiner newspaper said Hydro would release 35 cumecs (cubic metres per second) of fast-flowing water and for people to "please check water conditions before getting in and ensure you're adequately prepared and experienced".

There are warning signs at the basin alerting swimmers to changing conditions. (ABC News: April McLennan)

A second release was due to happen on Wednesday, but it was cancelled. 

President of the Launceston Surf Life Saving Club Geoff Lyons helped with the search on Tuesday. 

"Hydro are very good … at letting people know what's going on and the city council put signs up on all the paths there's going to be a potential flow of water," he said.

"It's really important to understand the circumstances, talk to the locals who know the situation and know the risks and be prepared to work out whether you can handle it or not."

The rescue helicopter helped search the area on Tuesday.  (ABC News: Jessica Moran)

Mr Lyons said so far this year, Surf Life Saving Tasmania had rescued the same number of people as they did in all of 2021. 

"People probably don't understand the risks like they used to," Mr Lyons said.

The South Esk River passes through the Cataract Gorge recreation area, which is popular with locals and visitors. (Commons: Bob T)

Gorge basin normally 'very calm'

Earlier on Wednesday, Tim Walker, a city councillor and chair of the Cataract Gorge Committee, said he swam the waterway regularly.

"Generally, the water is very calm … it's normally a calm water body, with a mild flow of about two and a half cubic metres per second moving through."

But, he said, "you'd never like to recommend [swimming the gorge] to anybody who isn't familiar with the water body they are swimming in."

Police said "out of respect to friends and family", no further details about the incident would be released.