PENSACOLA, Florida — A man died while scuba diving 24 miles southeast of Pensacola, the third fatal scuba diving accident in three days in Florida waters. Authorities told CDNN that Timothy Teagarden, 51, of Georgia, died while exploring the Oriskany, a Navy vessel sunk by tourism promoters to lure scuba divers to the area. Teagarden was diving off the Down Under dive boat, a 46-ft Newton that is owned and operated by Down Under Dive Shop in Gulf Shores, Alabama. According to John Rizzo, a Coast Guard search and rescue specialist, the crew of the Down Under dive boat started CPR on the scuba diving accident victim and called for help at about 12:20 pm. The 41-ft Coast Guard vessel escorted the Down Under back to shore where Teagarden was transferred to a helicopter and flown to Baptist Hospital. Jeff Martin, director of the Florida Medical Examiner's Office, said Teagarden never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to local news reports, the owner and staff of the Down Under Dive Shop have refused to comment on the fatal scuba diving accident. During the past three days, two other divers, Johnsie Hudspeth of Elkin, Florida and Richard McCoy of Cypress, Texas also died while scuba diving in Florida waters. Two weeks ago, CDNN reported that another scuba diver, James Woodall II of Richmond, Kentucky, died while cave diving at Eagle Nest near Weekie Watchee, Florida. During 2009, more than 50 people have died or suffered serious injuries while scuba diving in Florida. | 
