Abalone diver missing near Fort Ross

A 29-year-old abalone diver from Sunnyvale is missing and presumed drowned off the Sonoma County coast near Fort Ross.

Jonathan Su was reported missing at 3:19 p.m. Sunday after his cousin noticed he had not resurfaced. The two were diving in an area called the Potato Patch, which is less than a mile northwest of Fort Ross.

"Conditions were pretty rough out there -- a 14-foot swell and a pretty good wind chop," said Jeremy Stinson, State Parks supervising ranger.

Several agencies participated in a search that included helicopters from the U.S. Coast Guard and Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, and State Parks lifeguards who entered the water where Su was last seen, Stinson said.

The search was called off Sunday night, but was to resume early this morning, Stinson said.

Prior to Su's disappearance, seven divers had drowned off the North Coast this year. An abundant kelp growth has claimed the lives of two divers this year.

Since 1987, 71 people have died while abalone hunting along the North Coast. In 2007, heart attacks were suspected in at least three of seven abalone-diving deaths.

You can reach Staff Writer Nathan Halverson at 521-5494 or nathan.halverson@pressdemocrat.com.