Diver, 60, had just retired to Florida

When Antonio Almeida settled in South Florida a few months ago, his plan for an active retirement included spending time at the beach and frequent off-shore scuba diving trips.

After years of working construction jobs in Massachusetts, “he just wanted to be in a warmer place,” said Juarez Madeira, a friend from Framingham, Mass.

Almeida, 60, was on one of those off-shore excursions, diving on Copenhagen reef, east of Lauderdaleby-the-Sea, when he failed to surface Saturday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

His body was found off the coast between Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach about 3:20 p.m. Sunday, the Broward Sheriff ’s Office said. “The death is not believed to be suspicious,” the sheriff ’s office said.

The Broward Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, but only after the dive equipment is tested, said Chief Medical Examiner Craig Mallak.

“He was such a nice guy. He had just bought a condo, and was ready to enjoy life,” said Madeira, a painting contractor who once had employed Almeida.