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#67
HUDSON Fla. -Two cave divers found dead in a sinkhole
Palm_Harbor_Rick - 11/13/2008 12:25 PM
Category: Health & Safety
Replies: 0

Please extend a few minutes of silence for the two cave divers found dead in a water-filled sinkhole in Hudson, Fal. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say our thoughts and prayers are with them and there families.

-Please be safe out there, know your own limitations, make sure you have all of the proper training/certifications and gear for the dive[s] your attempting. We can only rely on ourselves, when it comes to diving safety.
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HUDSON Fla. –Rescue Divers have found the bodies of two cave divers who have been missing since Tuesday.

Divers went into a water-filled sinkhole in Hudson around 5:55 p.m. Wednesday and found the two men about a half hour later. The two men have not been identified.

The sinkhole lead to a complex networks of underwater caves and tunnels that reportedly go all the way out to the Gulf of Mexico.

The two men were found not far from the entrance to the sinkhole.

According to Pasco Sheriff’s spokesman Kevin Doll, it appears preliminarily that the two men may not have been certified to dive in a cave of the complexity of the one they were found in.

The cave is west of U.S. 19, in a wooded area south of Stevens Drive in Hudson.

It is known by various names such as "The Sink" and "School Sink."

The search for the two men started in Hillsborough County yesterday when the families of the two divers reported them missing.

Then Pasco deputies found one of the men’s car near the sinkhole.

The divers haven’t been identified.

The sinkhole is popular among divers. A friend of one of the divers told FOX 13 that the two men who are missing are experienced divers who have been diving in the area many times in the past.
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HUDSON Fla. –Two divers found dead in a water-filled sinkhole have been identified, and one was a Marine stationed at MacDill Air Force Base.

According the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the victims are Yessic Spencer, 42 and Joseph Hartranft, 52.

Hartranft and Spencer were reported missing to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday. The search shifted to Pasco County Wednesday after deputies found one of their cars near the sinkhole just west of U.S. 19 in Hudson.

Divers located the men’s bodies near the entrance to the cave known as School Sink.

Spencer lived in Gainesville, and was stationed at MacDill in Tampa.

He also served as the Assistant Cubmaster for Cub Scouts Pack 127in Gainesville.
Hartranft was from Brandon.

The cause of death has not been determined, and deputies are still investigating

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7848492&version=12&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1