Police divers began a second day of searches at a Yorkshire beauty spot on Wednesday morning in the hunt for missing chef Claudia Lawrence.
They were hosed down by colleagues before taking their inflatable boat into fishing lakes at Sand Hutton, a former gravel pit.
Dogs also arrived to search the surrounding woodland for the first time.
Claudia, of Heworth, York, disappeared without trace from her home in March 2009, aged 35.
Nine people have been questioned as part of the investigation but no charges have ever been brought.
North Yorkshire Police began searches at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits, eight miles north of York, on Tuesday morning.
Specialist underwater teams were searching the steep-sided lakes for Claudia’s body.
The former gravel pits were turned into fishing lakes in 1969 and specialise in large carp and bream.
Det Supt Wayne Fox told the press attending a conference in the woods: “The searches which have commenced here today at Sand Hutton gravel pits are in relation to the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia Lawrence more than 12 years ago.
“Whilst I cannot say at this stage how long the search will take today we do anticipate a number of specialist officers, staff and underwater search teams are likely to be at this location for a number of days.
“Whilst I am unable to disclose what brought us to this location I would like to stress that the searches you will see in the coming days are just one of several active lines of inquiry which are currently being investigated and pursued by North Yorkshire Police investigation team in our efforts to establish what happened to Claudia and to identify any person for causing her harm. I can confirm that Claudia Lawrence’s family are aware of this activity”.
Claudia’s mum Joan, has previously described not knowing what happened to her youngest daughter as “the cruellest of pain”.
Of the recent searches she told us she felt “bewildered”.
Martin Dales , a close friend of Claudia's father Peter, called the new development in the search for her body "bitter sweet" and called for those who know what happened to her to give themselves up.
Mr Dales told BBC Breakfast: "It is very sad that Peter died in February and going to your grave not knowing where Claudia is, is in itself bad enough but all I do know is that he would be pleased that the police are carrying on their activity and would wish them well in their energies and resources in trying to find some closure to this matter after nearly 12 and a half years."
Mr Dales said: "It is desperately sad. It is the first thing that's happened since Peter died that we've publicly known about.
"The whole thing is desperately sad but let's hope something good can come from this, whether it's resolution of Claudia or for the police for their efforts.
"I have known Peter for 40 years and over the years of being involved with him on this journey in trying to find what has happened to Claudia.
"There are a lot of people out there wishing for this to be resolved. It is quite clear that somebody knows something.
"Claudia is still missing and I hope somebody somewhere out there is going to provide the information that will come to a positive resolution for the family, friends and community in and around York and wider.
"The reality is somewhere out there somebody knows something. If that information is with them, buried in their own selfishness, then that in itself is awful and it is time for everybody, whoever you are, that this matter is closed."
