The depth of where they found one of the bodies, suggest they never left the Ballroom, which technically is a cavern dive and not a cave dive as reported.
Most agencies limit cavern diving to 100' depth. Their dive computers indicate they were at a maximum depth of 233', more than twice the cavern depth limitation and well into the cave zone.
---------- Post added December 26th, 2013 at 09:49 PM ----------
A cavern dive has a total penetration (depth plus distance from entrance) limitation of 130 feet in every agency with which I am familiar. But maybe you can tell me about some different standards from some agency other than PADI, TDI, NSS-CDS, NACD? Or it's possible I've been mis-informed and you can set me straight?
Many agencies, NACD, NSS-CDS, TDI, allow 200 feet total penetration in cavern diving.
---------- Post added December 26th, 2013 at 09:51 PM ----------
Vortex Springs has a locked gate...you can’t wander off…
The locked gate is well into the cave zone. The cavern zone ends around 60' depth or so. the gate is still over 200' beyond the cavern zone and also over 100' deep.