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Two divers found dead in "Mt. Everest of cave systems" - Eagle's Nest (truncated)
Daily Mail ^ | 17 October 2016 | Liam Quinn

Posted on 10/18/2016 9:19:22 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Two divers have drowned while inside a deadly cave system described as the 'Mount Everest' for underwater explorers. Patrick Peacock and Chris Rittenmeyer were in the Eagle's Nest diver area in Weeki Wachee, Florida, with a friend, Justin Blakely, on Saturday. They were missing for about three hours before Blakely called police to report the incident.

The dive site is about 50 miles north of Tampa, and the trio was there for a three-day trip, according to WFLA. Divers have referred to the caves as the 'Mount Everest' or 'Grand Canyon' of dives. Peacock and Rittenmeyer were experienced divers, and they decided to tackle the incredibly dangerous caves - ignoring severe warning signs.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: cavediving; drowning; eaglesnest; twodead
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To: -YYZ-
"Hard to believe they dived to 260 ft deep"

When I read they went down 260 ft, I thought, "Dang, they were on mixed gas for a cave dive!" But, I think you're right, the reporter mixed up distance with depth.

21 posted on 10/18/2016 10:45:42 AM PDT by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: -YYZ-

It may have actually been that deep.

When I was a kid in the early 60s or maybe late 50s a diver drowned in Morrison Springs at something close to 300 feet. I guess my memory could be off a bit.

Lloyd Bridges came but when he found out how deep he was, he said it was too deep.

It took a while but finally some kids from Auburn got the body out.


22 posted on 10/18/2016 10:48:23 AM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Thanks for posting! I’m a caver but I would never cave dive. Way too dangerous.


23 posted on 10/18/2016 10:50:19 AM PDT by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: caver

I have been a diver and a spelunker. Would NEVER mix the two!!!


24 posted on 10/18/2016 10:54:07 AM PDT by piytar (http://www.truthrevolt.org/videos/bill-whittle-number-one-bullet)
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To: piytar

Did a few long lava tubes in Hawaii, including one with a very tight passage. Having done them, had enough of that.


25 posted on 10/18/2016 10:55:00 AM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: yarddog

This brings to mind the old aviator’s saying - “There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are few old, bold pilots.”

To me this looks like pure craziness, but then I’m somewhat claustrophobic so the idea of deep cave diving, or even spelunking, sends shivers through me. These guys died in an unusual place and way, but I could just as easily kill myself while pushing my limits on the road on my motorcycle. I’ll presume that these guys weren’t idiots, and apparently they were experienced, so I guess something unexpectedly went wrong.

At least if I ever manage to kill myself on my motorcycle, it won’t likely require a team of people to risk their lives to recover my body.


26 posted on 10/18/2016 11:01:22 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like tractor.)
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To: doorgunner69

Went through a large cave system in Kentucky. Had been fully explored, guide knew it very well. Was my last time spelunking though.

Why?

One of the people in the group could not fit through a squeeze because he had a panic attack and could not relax enough to get through. Guide had to take him back out the way we came in. So he put *me* in charge of the group. I was not nearly experienced enough. His instructions were clear though — take every right turn that did not involve squeezes, wait for me in the “window” room where you can see sunlight (that particular chamber was open to the outside — the opening was about 100 feet above the base). After about an hour, he got to us through another passage.

That’s when I quit.

Saw some amazing things down there, though.

PS Cannot remember the name of that cave system. Will have to look it up...


27 posted on 10/18/2016 11:02:58 AM PDT by piytar (http://www.truthrevolt.org/videos/bill-whittle-number-one-bullet)
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To: piytar

I read the NSS accidents publication every year. Cavers can usually be rescued, but almost never do the divers get rescued.


28 posted on 10/18/2016 11:10:53 AM PDT by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: piytar
Sorry for the double post.

Don't be sorry, that warning is worth repeating...

29 posted on 10/18/2016 11:11:30 AM PDT by snowtigger (Deplorable, and proud of it!!)
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To: caver

A diver was rescued just last year near here.

The rescuer was informed, he jumped in his pickup with a buddy in back to get his gear ready. He drove 100 mph and got there just in time to rescue the kid.

Around a week later the rescued guy’s Father drove from Oklahoma and met with the rescuer. He tried to give him a check for $5000 but he refused it.

Me, I would have taken it.


30 posted on 10/18/2016 11:23:33 AM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: yarddog

Me too. You could max out on donations to Trump with that check.


31 posted on 10/18/2016 11:25:12 AM PDT by JediJones (Social conservatism is the root of all conservatism.)
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To: smokingfrog

I went to Ginnie Springs with my Senior Scouts. I saw a shiny object on the floor of one of the springs. It changed my life. It was a miniature lock back knife. I put my old 3” lockback in a drawer where it remains. Once hooked on the little blades there was no turning back

We went out into the river and there was a large tree extending out over the water. The scouts went out there to jump in the river.

One scout raised a hue and cry....... manatee! Manatee!
Everyone started looking for the rare beast so close.

He deflated the baloon.......”no manatee, it’s Mr bert.”


32 posted on 10/18/2016 11:35:22 AM PDT by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;WASP .... Hilary is an Ameriphobe)
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To: bert

ha-ha


33 posted on 10/18/2016 11:40:31 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

On multiple years in Jr. high and high school in miami there would be news of cave diver deaths, followed by at least one teacher in classes at school going over how stupid it is to dive in caves without training and equipment.


34 posted on 10/18/2016 12:02:15 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Bill and Hillary for ADX Supermax!)
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To: yarddog

That has a happy ending.


35 posted on 10/18/2016 12:25:54 PM PDT by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: DJ Taylor

The sharks, no problem but the Blue Hole at about 100’? A decompression dive on top of a cave dive? So how long do you decompress after exploring the cave?


36 posted on 10/18/2016 12:32:43 PM PDT by Chgogal (A woman who votes for Hillary is voting with her vagina and not her brain.)
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To: yarddog

I’ve been diving in both of those springs back in 1974 or 1975 but only went to the mouth of the caves.


37 posted on 10/18/2016 12:57:32 PM PDT by Hotmetal
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To: DJ Taylor

After reading more about this cave complex, it’s apparently quite possible that they intentionally dived that deep, which I guess would mean they would be using mixed gas, as you say. Still seems nuts to me, why do people have to take already dangerous activities and push the danger right to the limit?


38 posted on 10/18/2016 1:41:48 PM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like tractor.)
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To: Hotmetal
I’ve been diving in both of those springs back in 1974 or 1975 but only went to the mouth of the caves.

Same here, between 1976 and 1980. We called it spring or ledge diving, but never went so far you could not see light to the exit. Was fun coming up in air pockets in the "ceiling" of the cave entrance and having brief conversations...

39 posted on 10/18/2016 1:48:08 PM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them)
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To: Chgogal
"So how long do you decompress after exploring the cave?"

It's been over twenty-five years, so there's no way I could possibly remember the dive plan, but we did plan the dive, and we did dive the plan. Based on the depth and the time spent at that depth, we made about four stops for varying lengths of time during the ascent.

40 posted on 10/18/2016 2:07:21 PM PDT by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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