Drowned diver identified

MEXICO - A 23-year-old woman who drowned Tuesday while learning to scuba dive in shallow waters off the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario was from Florida, authorities said Wednesday.

Bridget A. Turbeville, of St. Augustine, Fla., was scuba diving for the first time. She was accompanied by her instructor, Ronald L. Armstrong, 61, of Mexico, the Oswego County Sheriff's Department said.

Oswego County Sheriff Reuel Todd said the pair entered the lake off Mexico Point State Park around noon and began practicing in water 7-to-8 feet deep when she began to panic. Armstrong tried to help Turbeville, but she fought off his rescue attempts, Todd said. Rescue crews found the woman at around 1:30 p.m. and pronounced her dead at the scene.