In Reply to: Cambria Diver Dies posted by B. Xavier on July 07, 2009 at 11:47:03:

CAMBRIA - A Cayucos man, who died while free diving off the coast, is being remembered as a free spirit who loved the water.

Rescuers pulled 28-year-old Jesse King's body from the Ocean near Cambria on Wednesday afternoon.

King was a strong swimmer with extensive knowledge of the ocean.

He was a beach lifeguard, a reserve Morro Bay Harbor Patrol Officer and a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard.

"He definitely had experience," said Sr. Chief Kirk McKay of the U.S. Coast Guard. "I guess the key here is it could happen to anybody, I guess."

His colleagues and friends say he died doing what he loved: being adventurous in the ocean.

"Jesse was a unique individual, kind of a free spirited kind of guy," said McKay.

Members of the Morro Bay Harbor Department and Coast Guard, many of whom had worked with King, were a part of the search and recovery effort. They are now wearing black bands across their badges.

"He was a great person," said Eric Endersby, Harbor Operations Manager. "A lot of people looked up to him, he was a leader among men and a good guy."

King's body was discovered after someone called 911 to report an overturned kayak in the surf, about one half mile off Cambria State Beach.

Investigators are examining his diving equipment for insight into his death.

An autopsy is scheduled for next Wednesday.

• video 13:18:11 07/07/09 (0)