SONOMA COUNTY (BCN) -- The Sonoma County coroner's office has identified  62-year-old San Rafael resident Brian Dinday as the diver who died at  Horseshoe Cove on the Sonoma County coast Sunday afternoon.

Dinday, a criminal defense and personal injury lawyer with offices  in San Rafael and San Francisco, was abalone diving with his 30-year-old son  Matthew when they were caught by surprise by heavy waves, Dinday's wife Mary  said Monday morning.

Matthew tried to rescue his father and made contact with him but  the waves carried the elder Dinday farther from shore. Matthew was able to  make it back to shore, Mary Dinday said, “They were both good divers. They always checked the weather. The  waves started quickly. They didn't expect them.”

Her husband had dived for many years, but gave it up for a while,  she said. He had resumed diving about two years ago. Her son Matthew informed  her about her husband's death at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday, she said.

The Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter Henry-1 was dispatched to  try to rescue Dinday at about 1 p.m. at Horseshoe Cove in Salt Point State  Park.

Dinday was partially out of the water when they arrived, Sgt. Dave  Thompson said. Pilot Paul Bradley and paramedic Scott Westrope used a  100-foot long-line rope attached to the underside of the helicopter to  retrieve Dinday's body.

Dinday was flown to the top of the bluffs surrounding the cove and  was pronounced dead at 1:08 p.m.
     
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