A SEARCH is under way for a Canadian tourist washed off rocks along a rugged stretch of Western Australia's south coast.

The 22-year-old man was one of two tourists washed off rocks on Saturday near the popular but notoriously dangerous sightseeing destination The Gap, police said.

"He was in a group of people, of which two got washed off,'' Senior Sergeant Dave Hornsby said.

"One managed to scramble back in.''

Weather conditions along the treacherous coastline on Saturday night and Sunday were "horrific'', making a search virtually impossible, Snr Sgt Hornsby said.

An air, land and sea search was conducted yesterday and today and will resume again tomorrow.

The tourist's parents arrived in Albany today, Snr Sgt Hornsby said.

Another tourist was watched off rocks the near The Gap on Friday, he said.

"They managed to get out to open water and were rescued by a boat,'' Snr Sgt Hornsby said.