DIVER DIED OF AIR LOSS.

Byline: - Bhavna Mistry

An autopsy completed Saturday on a 56-year-old scuba diver indicated that the nurse died when the air ran out on her oxygen tank, coroner's officials said.

``She died of asphyxiation due to drowning due to depleted air in her scuba tank,'' said James Baroney, chief deputy medical examiner with the Ventura County Coroner's Office. ``I think she ran out of air.''

Katherine Sentner of Santa Clarita was pronounced dead just before 3 p.m. Saturday on a diving expedition at Scorpion Cove at Santa Cruz Island.

Sentner was among a group of divers that left Ventura Harbor at 1:15 p.m.

Shortly after the dive began, other divers found Sentner underwater and in distress. Sentner was pulled from the water and found in cardiac arrest.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Ventura County Sheriff's Department were summoned and a rescue boat and helicopter were dispatched to the area. Emergency personnel attempted to revive Sentner but could not.

Larry Sentner, a relative, said she was a wonderful person.

``She was a nurse at Holy Cross Hospital for many years,'' Sentner said. ``They loved and respected her. She was a great lady.''

Co-workers at the hospital were also saddened to hear the news and said that Sentner was president of a critical care nurses association. ``She's been in our critical care unit for many years,'' said Carol Mears, nursing supervisor.