May 5th-Herald

Herald Editor

HIGH SPRINGS -- A certified cave diver from Switzerland was found dead inside the Ginnie Springs cave system Monday, March 10.

Mark Fyvie started his dive in Ginnie Springs around noon Monday at the underwater entrance known as "Devil's Eye." He was diving alone, according to the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office.

Fyvie was using a rebreathing system that allows a diver to stay underwater for a longer period of time.

But by 9 p.m. Monday, Fyvie had not returned, and another cave diver, Corey Mearns, went looking for him. Fyvie was found approximately 3,800 feet into the cave system.

"Due to darkness and safety concerns for the recovery team, it was decided to wait until the following morning to remove the body from the cave system," said Gilchrist County Sheriff's Lt. D. Slaughter.

Fyvie's body was taken to the Gainesville Medical Examiner's Office, and the death is still under investigation by the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office