A scuba diver was found dead while exploring a popular underwater labyrinth in a Florida state park.
Police were called to the Twin Caves, a well-known diving site at the bottom of Merritt’s Mill Pond in the Blue Springs Recreation Area, on Tuesday after three divers failed to return at their expected time.
Officials initiated a search and rescue mission at the cavern around 1.15pm, which led to the safe recovery of two divers.
A third diver, whose identity has not been released, was found dead in the caves system, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said.
The coroner is working to determine the cause of death.
Sheriff Donnie Edenfield has thanked Jackson County Fire & Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the staff at Cave Adventures for their help with the rescue.
He also urged the community to ‘please keep the families of the divers in your thoughts and prayers’.
The Twin Caves are located at the bottom of Merritt’s Mill Pond, situated in the Blue Springs Recreation Area in Marianna, Florida located roughly 65 miles northwest of Tallahassee (file photo of divers exploring the Twin Caves)
Twin Caves appears to be a notoriously dangerous diving spot, with social media users this week saying it is ‘very sad’ to learn the cavern has ‘claimed another life’ (file photo)
The Twin Caves system extends back hundreds of feet and has three passages that drop to even greater depths. The cavern descends in stages going from 20ft to 100ft deep and up to 3,000ft underground. It also features multiple ‘jump tunnels’ that run off into wider tunnels
The Twin Caves are located at the bottom of Merritt’s Mill Pond, situated in a park in Marianna, located roughly 65 miles northwest of Tallahassee.
The two caves can be found roughly 88ft away from the swimming platform at the man-made pond, according to Cave Atlas.
Merritt’s Mill Pond is a popular swimming and diving spot due to its clear, light blue waters and lack of vegetation.
The Twin Caves system extends back hundreds of feet and has three passages that drop to even greater depths, Cave Adventures reports.
The cavern descends in stages going from 20ft to 100ft deep and up to 3,000ft underground. It also features multiple ‘jump tunnels’ that run off into wider tunnels.
Cave Adventures warns the system is a ‘low flow cave’ that can easily become filled or blocked with silt if divers are not careful.
The cavern is also very tight, with officials noting ‘if you get nervous in small places, this isn’t the passage for you’.
Twin Caves appears to be a notoriously dangerous diving spot, with social media users this week saying it is ‘very sad’ to learn the cavern has ‘claimed another life’.
DailyMail.com has approached the sheriff’s office and the regional medical examiner for comment.
