The 44-year-old victim was not identified. She was described as an experienced diver with no known medical problems.

Authorities said the woman and her two diving partners on Saturday swam about 175 yards from shore before diving below the surface just north of the Kingston ferry terminal at Brackett's Landing underwater park.

The group was underwater for just a few minutes before the woman's friends noticed she was missing, Edmonds police Sgt. Mike Blackburn said.

The divers searched for her for more than an hour before calling 911 at about 5:40 p.m. "They did all they could," Blackburn said.

A Coast Guard helicopter found the woman shortly before 7 p.m. in about 10 feet of water less than 100 yards from shore.

Police divers found no apparent problems with the woman's scuba gear, which was to be delivered Sunday to the University of Washington for further study.