The search for a father-of-four who disappeared while rowing on the Brisbane River on Wednesday morning has become a recovery operation as police divers comb the riverbed for any traces of the 63-year-old.

It was windy in the early morning darkness as the engineer and two friends set their single sculls onto the water at South Brisbane and headed upstream.

It was not until they decided to turn around up from Orleigh Park at West End that something went horribly wrong.

The experienced rower’s regular boating companions turned around and he was gone, leaving behind an overturned scull, sparking a large search and rescue operation.

According to police, the companions called out to other rowers, who began a frantic search, and shouted to the shore for someone to ring triple-0.