Trapped in Jackson Blue Spring: How Edd Sorenson Helped Save a Lost Cave Diver
| Incident Location (country, town/city/region, cave name) | Diver Full Names (deceased only) |
|---|---|
| Florida, Jackson Blue Spring | None |
It was meant to be a smooth, well-planned dive.
On November the 4th 2014 two experienced cave divers prepared their diving gear with care—checking diving tanks, securing sidemount configuration, and packing two extra stage bottles for extended breathing gas.
Their diving computers were set, and the diving suits zipped tight. They mounted DPVs (scooters) for extra speed, knowing they’d need to cover a lot of ground inside the vast Florida spring system.
“We’ll follow the gold line all the way back,” one of them said, sealing his diving mask.
The plan was simple: explore deep, then return via the gold line, the main navigation lifeline in Florida’s underwater caves.
The Map of the Cave – Gold and White Lines
Inside these caves, navigation is everything.
- Gold line → main route in and out.
- White line → side tunnels, usually ending in dead ends or complex loops.
- Temporary “jump line” → placed by divers if they intentionally explore a side tunnel.
Most white lines never connect back to the gold line. This prevents lost divers from following the wrong path in low visibility.
The Trash Room and the Hidden Trap
About 2,300 feet from the cave entrance lies a chamber called The Trash Room. Here, the gold line takes a sharp left.
Straight ahead, hidden in plain sight, is a small tunnel—the Rabbit Hole bypass.
This bypass is:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Map presence | Rarely shown |
| Passage size | Tight, silty |
| Skill needed | Advanced cave diving |
| Hazard | Easy to enter by mistake |
With scooters humming and silt starting to swirl, the two divers didn’t notice they had missed the gold line turn.
Drifting Into Danger
Instead of turning left, they sped straight into the Rabbit Hole.
No jump line connected them to the gold line. No marker warned them. Just a narrow, twisting tunnel ahead.
The water became cloudy with disturbed silt. The beams from their lights faded into the haze. Their diving computers ticked down the minutes of safe breathing gas.
They didn’t yet realize they had taken a wrong turn—only that the tunnel felt… different.
At first, the Rabbit Hole bypass felt just like the main passage—open enough for the scooters and the bulk of four diving tanks each.
But then, the tunnel narrowed.
The lead diver’s scooter scraped against rock. The pair were suddenly in a restriction far too tight for their full loadout. Moving forward meant squeezing through with heavy gear.
The water here was heavy with silt.
One careless fin kick, and a thick cloud exploded around them, instantly dropping visibility to zero.
Blind in the Dark
The lead diver froze, unable to see even the glow of his buddy’s light. His diving mask reflected only the pale haze of silt swirling inches from his faceplate.
Scooters, tanks, and stage bottles tangled him in a space that felt smaller by the second.
The second diver felt the walls closing in as well—but he managed to reverse, carefully inching his way back out of the restriction. His diving computer beeped faintly as he found the white line again, then the gold line.
He made the hard choice to exit the cave alone and call for help.
The Long Wait
For the lead diver, time blurred. His breathing echoed loudly inside his diving suit’s hood. Every inhalation reminded him his gas supply was shrinking.
Then, slowly, the silt began to settle. The faint golden thread of the main line appeared in the distance. Relief surged through him. He followed it with steady hands, refusing to rush.
A Desperate Detour
Gas was running low.
The diver knew there was one chance—another diver had stashed a safety bottle nearby. He swam to it, clipped it on, and took a careful breath.
With that backup, he began his final push toward the exit.
The Rescue Meeting
Just before reaching the cavern zone, a light appeared ahead.
It was diver Edd Sorenson, called in for an emergency assist. Sorenson signaled calmly, and the two swam together toward daylight.
Moments later, the original buddy returned to help, joining the group for the final stretch. The three surfaced together, the spring’s blue water glittering in the afternoon light.
