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Search teams recover body of missing diver

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TBO.com

Published: May 3, 2009

Updated: 05/03/2009 06:15 pm

TAMPA - Clearwater Fire and Rescue divers have located the body of a scuba diver reported missing since Saturday afternoon.

Michael McQuillen, 29, of Lakeland, was located about 20 miles off shore and in 80 feet of water west of John's Pass, police say.

McQuillen was diving with a group of people Saturday approximately 27 miles off shore when he became separated from the group, authorities say.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and cutter helped in the search, along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Friends and family members of McQuillen also headed into the Gulf of Mexico today to join the hunt, said a woman who identified herself as the missing diver's aunt.

The Coast Guard was called about 12:50 p.m. Saturday by someone aboard a 24-foot boat called Lori's Other Half, saying the missing diver had not resurfaced.

McQuillen was diving at a buoy with the GPS coordinates of N 27 46.141 and W 083 12.765.

The aunt said the man was an experienced diver, wearing a wetsuit. He was diving in about 90 feet of water.

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