A Suwanee man dies diving for abalone in northern California. 

49-year-old Hyun Kook Shin of Suwanee was one of three divers who died in rough surf off Mendocino Sunday.  He had rented a vacation home with a group of friends during abalone season which started April 1. 

An off-duty firefighter fishing in the area noticed five divers were struggling and called for help.  Two divers were rescued by boat from the rocks.  Rescuers recovered two bodies right away, but it took nearly five hours to find the third body in a small cove.

Shin is the only casualty from Georgia.  The other two were from New Jersey and California.  

Abalone is prized because it fetches top dollar on the open market, but each season is marred by numerous rescues and several fatalities.  Experts say inexperienced divers may chance difficult conditions to seek their daily limit of three abalone off the rugged northern California coast.