Mark "Monty" Montague (pronounced mon-tayg), 43, of Altadena, died in an accident while diving at Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach Monday.
Montague, who was known as a technical whiz who worked at Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was diving with his girlfriend and reported problems with his equipment, reports say. As they were swimming back to shore, she reportedly lost track of him but later found him face down in the water. He was dragged out by rescuers and paramedics, but died at the scene.
According to the Orange County Register, there appeared to be no equipment problems and the coroner is looking at a pre-existing health condition as cause of death.
Montague is remembered by friends and colleagues in this profile by Nathan McIntire of PSN.
(Photo from Montague's website).