Florida's Most Dangerous Dive Site That Keeps Drawing In Daredevils

Buried deep in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area near the Gulf Coast of Florida, sits an unsuspecting sinkhole — otherwise known as Eagle's Nest. An ominous sign below the murky green waters (complete with a picture of the Grim Reaper) reads, " Stop. Prevent your death!" Any normal passerby would glance at this algae-infested pool and probably think, "I'd rather not get some type of parasite, thank you," and be on their merry way. But those in the know think differently. Eagle's Nest Sinkhole is more than just an opaque pool — it is also one of America's most dangerous diving locations.  

It's so dangerous, in fact, that numerous people have lost their lives in its depths. However, this doesn't stop daredevils from testing the waters (quite literally). Much like the now-closed Nutty Putty Cave in Utah, this underwater cave system is full of narrow passageways, posing the risk of entrapment. With the possibility of injury and even death, what could it be that makes this dive site so popular that people are willing to put their lives in harm's way?

According to a National Geographic interview with professional cave diver Jill Heinerth, the reasons so many take the risk are mixed. According to Heinerth, one motivation driving daredevils to this underwater cave system is its otherworldly beauty — once you swim through the narrow 70-foot-long tubular chimney, that is. The floor and walls open up and divers are surrounded by darkness — but herein lies the excitement — the possibility of discovering the unknown. Heinerth told National Geographic, "Swimming in these groundwater environments is like swimming through the veins of Mother Earth and the lifeblood of the planet ... I certainly understand the appeal that would have brought these divers to this remarkably beautiful place." With its unique geological intricacies, narrow tunnels, and water depths of over 300 feet, it seems to reason that despite the dangers, this dive site continues to attract so many daredevils worldwide. 

The second reason is curiosity and the desire to explore the unknown. Heinerth goes on to say that there is still so much of this world that is undiscovered, and many cave divers find that aspect of the Eagle's Nest Sinkhole incredibly appealing. She said, "Imagine as a cave diver that you have an opportunity to go to a place that no person has ever seen before and document it. That's an unbelievable privilege in this world." Although there has been a push throughout the years for the closer of the cave, professionals feel this would be unnecessary — claiming there is always a risk when it comes to exploration, especially of the unknown, and that the exploration of Eagle's Nest is no different. 

One professional diver, Dr. Andrew Pitkin, claims that few divers know what they're doing when they're exploring the deep, which is the main cause of so many deaths. The intricacies of the cave itself are not typically the reason for any deaths, moreso it's that people are not fully aware of the risks that lie beneath the surface. In an interview with WYKC Studios, Dr. Pitkin states that the "overhead environment of a cave like Eagle's Nest means there is only one way out. That exit can be hard to find, even with a guide wire." The inner workings of the cave can be challenging to navigate, and there is very limited visibility once inside. 

Although some who entered the cave and tragically lost their lives would be considered inexperienced, the cave has also claimed the lives of advanced divers as well, such as Patrick Peacock and Chris Rittenmeyer. According to an article from The Topeka Capital-Journal, the death of these two professionals "has renewed a decades-old debate over whether Eagle's Nest, proven time and time again to be lethal, should be closed off to the public for good." Since 1981, the cave has taken the lives of 13 divers, and between 1999 and 2003, the area was actually closed off entirely to divers. It has since been reopened at the behest of the diving community, and although there has been an online petition urging the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to close or regulate it, the cave remains open. Today, The Conservation Commission requires divers to have proper cave-diving certifications and they must follow a registration system.  Even with so many deaths, there are still many who would brave the dangers of the cave.