An abalone diver who died off the coast near Fort Ross on Thursday has been identified as a San Francisco man named Jason Chak Yin Cheung, the Sonoma County Coroner's Office said.
Cheung, 42, appears to be the first victim on the North Coast since the April 1 start of the abalone season, which in past years has resulted in numerous ocean rescues and fatalities each year.
Eight people died off the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts in 2008. There were at least four fatalities in 2009 and at least two last year.
It wasn't clear if Cheung drowned or had some other medical problem.
A companion who was with him near Cardiac Hill north of Fort Ross late Thursday morning climbed the cliff to Highway 1 and flagged down a resident sheriff's deputy.
A helicopter crew was sent to the site, but Cheung already was dead, Deputy Debbie Little said.
He was scheduled for an autopsy Friday, a coroner's representative said.
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