I dived two springs in that area in the 70s, Vortec and Morrison. These are dangerous dives under the best conditions.
My prayers for their loved ones.
This happens every few years here in Florida.
Cave Diving is the most dangerous sport .....................
I dove that area a lot back in the lates 70s as well. I never technically cave dived, but lots of spring diving where you were under ledges and could even come up in air pockets to talk with your buddy. But you could always see the light of the entrance. Not really much more dangerous than open water diving, but all diving deserves respect for your equipment, air, dive time, and the ability to know safe limits. When I read 137 feet down, if that’s distance into a spring, it’s not so much. If that’s vertical, that’s a lot and pushes the limits of straight O2 diving.
My brother-in-law is a certified diving instructor, met his Lovely wife in class. . He is carefree about many things, but is Exacting Detail when dive related. As he often said in stories and conversations, “there are no little mistakes in diving, only fatal mistakes”.
I did a cavern dive at Silver Springs one Spring Break years ago. At the point where it became a cave, there was a sign that said, “This is a cave in which 18 divers have died. Enter at your own risk.” The 18 had been crossed out with nail polish and a “19” painted above it. Pretty chilling.