A scuba diver was found dead at Twin Caves in the Blue Springs Recreation Area in Florida after disappearing during a diving trip on Tuesday. Authorities responded after three divers failed to resurface on time, initiating a rescue operation that successfully retrieved two of them. The third diver was later found deceased inside the cave system.
The identity of the deceased diver has not been released, and the cause of death remains under investigation by the coroner. Sheriff Donnie Edenfield acknowledged the efforts of Jackson County Fire & Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the staff at Cave Adventures in the rescue operation. He also asked the community to keep the families of those involved in their thoughts.
Twin Caves, located at the bottom of Merritt’s Mill Pond in Marianna, Florida, extends several hundred feet and includes passages that reach depths of up to 100 feet. The complex cave system features multiple “jump tunnels” leading into wider areas, making navigation challenging.
Diving instructor Mehdi Zinetti entered the cave to search for the missing divers when they failed to return. He initially found one of the divers searching for her friend and ensured she exited safely. Zinetti then re-entered the cave to continue the search for the missing diver.
According to Edd Sorenson, a world-renowned diving expert who was called to assist but was 50 miles away at the time, Zinetti faced extremely difficult conditions inside the cave. The low-visibility environment required him to navigate by touch alone.
Zinetti exited the cave after his initial search but did not see the missing diver on the surface, prompting him to re-enter despite having limited air supply. Sorenson stated that Zinetti ultimately located the victim in complete darkness and brought the diver back to the surface.
Authorities attempted CPR while a medical helicopter was en route, but the diver could not be revived. According to Sorenson, this was the first body recovery or rescue Zinetti had ever performed.
Sorenson, the owner of Cave Adventures Dive Shop, has extensive experience in cave diving rescues. He has been involved in several recovery operations and is reportedly the only person in the world to have completed multiple successful cave rescues.
Twin Caves is known for its tight passages and low water flow, which can lead to silt accumulation, reducing visibility and potentially blocking exits. Merritt’s Mill Pond, where the caves are located, is a popular spot for swimming and diving due to its clear waters. The pond also has a history of diving-related fatalities.
Police were called to Twin Caves in the Blue Springs Recreation Area in Florida on Tuesday after three people failed to return to the surface on time. A scuba diver has been found dead. Twin Caves extends back hundreds of feet and has three passages that drop to even greater… pic.twitter.com/dv1De0NPY6
— liten drage (@DrageLiten) March 20, 2025
In July 2020, Clyde Douglas Rorex, a 68-year-old experienced diver, died after becoming trapped inside the nearby Hole in the Wall cave. His body was recovered later that day by Sorenson. Rorex had been diving in the area for nearly 20 years and was known to frequent the pond.
Four years earlier, in July 2016, 17-year-old Jeremiah Sabeff drowned in Merritt’s Mill Pond while attending a birthday party. According to reports, he disappeared underwater while swimming with other children. A bystander later found his body submerged in the sediment at the bottom of the pond.
Authorities have not released additional details on Tuesday’s incident, and the investigation into the diver’s death remains ongoing.
