Headstone in Little River??

[Jim Wyatt]

Back in 1978 circa several of us placed a headstone in Little River for a diver killed in a dam accident. The name on the headstone was Bill Kohler.

This stone was a regular granite stone - weighing around 75 lbs as I recall.

We placed it near the Florida room. Is the headstone still there? Anyone ever seen it?

[sdalcher]

Never saw that, where about in the florida Room was it placed?

[Gary]

We placed it near the Florida room. Is the headstone still there? Anyone ever seen it?

I've never seen it. I started diving there in the early 90's so it has been gone/lost/burried for a while.

[DeWayne]

In my few dives there so far I have not seen it either. This gives me something to look for next time that I make it down that way.

[Dwain]

I've been in there many times... Never seen it. Could be tipped over and covered up????

[odin]

the marker was located before the chimney late 80's early 90's. Haven't seen it since. It was really in the cavern zone. May be covered with sand.


Odin

[Brent]

The Headstone you are referring to was in the Cavern area just to the right of the existing location of the start of the Gold line. It was there from the early nineties until around the 96-97 time frame. I always used to point it out to my students when I was teaching Cavern/Intro there. It was a real good attention getter!

[Bill Oigarden]

I also remember seeing it in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It was at about 60 feet at the bottom of the cavern zone.

Bill

[Jim Wyatt]

There was some discussion about it being a "magnet" if it remained that far back in the cave. Apparently someone moved it to the cavern zone later due to that reasoning.

I suppose it is covered with silt/mud by now.

[Neptuno]

There was some discussion about it being a "magnet" if it remained that far back in the cave. Apparently someone moved it to the cavern zone later due to that reasoning.

I suppose it is covered with silt/mud by now.

it must be buried :?: , I never seen it... and I think I played all over the cavern doing deco :D

[Howard]

The headstone Jim is refering to is in the area just before the chimney where the bottom is covered with the snail shells. Right where the line goes from L-R then back L and down the chimney. I think the depth there is about 45'-50' Your best bet see it is on exit stop in that spot and dig thru the shells.

Good Luck
Howard

[Jim Wyatt]

Yesterday I relocated that marker. The recent flooding uncovered it. It was very nostalgic to rediscover it after all these years.

Vis at LR is about 20-25 feet.

[FW]

Yesterday I relocated that marker. The recent flooding uncovered it. It was very nostalgic to rediscover it after all these years.

Vis at LR is about 20-25 feet.
Wow, that is eerie. I haven't seen that stone since the early '80s.

[Serota]

What was the story regarding the death? Was he a local cave diver? Where was the dam, etc..

Thanks.

[Jim Wyatt]

Bill Kohler was a commercial diver and was working on a dam in South Carolina --they opened the flood gates while he was working. He was a cave diver and OWSI who trained one of my cave instructors as an open water diver, Bill Schenck.

Bill had the marker made and we carried it in using an inner tube that we could inflate using a fill fitting. There were no lift bags around in those days.

[Squirrel Girl]

Wow, that is eerie. I haven't seen that stone since the early '80s.

Geology in action! :clapper

However, it's sad about the death. Up here in the DC metro area, we have our share of sadness, too, these days. :smt086

[jeandiver]

Geology in action! :clapper

However, it's sad about the death. Up here in the DC metro area, we have our share of sadness, too, these days. :smt086

That you do. (sigh)
My prayers to all.

Thanks Jim for the story behind the stone.
I'll have to take a peek for it the next time I am around the chimney.

Jeano

[Jim Wyatt]

The stone is about 20 feet upstream of the beginning of the Gold line. It is mostly buried, I dug it out some during our exit but time did not allow us to stay long.

There is a white cookie with "JW" on it beside the marker. Hopefully no one will remove it.

I would like to see the marker pulled up and placed on a hard rock bottom. Any help will be much appreciated.

[sskasser]

Jim, I'll be glad to help you. Let me know when you'd like to do it. A few of us plan to dive LR this Saturday.

[FW]

I would like to see the marker pulled up and placed on a hard rock bottom. Any help will be much appreciated.
That *was* a hard rock bottom when they moved it to there.

[Gene Powell]

Jim, I remember the stone at LR. I'm trying to remember if it is the same stone that used to be @ jenny. It was just past the grate around this same time. Anyone remember the signs that were in the caves back then when they had body counts on them?

[BabyDuck]

very interesting, jim - thanks for the update. jean, find it & show me next time!

[dweyant]

The stone is about 20 feet upstream of the beginning of the Gold line. It is mostly buried, I dug it out some during our exit but time did not allow us to stay long.

There is a white cookie with "JW" on it beside the marker. Hopefully no one will remove it.

I would like to see the marker pulled up and placed on a hard rock bottom. Any help will be much appreciated.

Jim,

I'd be honored to help you move it.

I'm planing on being in High Springs on/around 7/14, if that works for you.

-Dan

[sskasser]

very interesting, jim - thanks for the update. jean, find it & show me next time!

You can't miss it. I promise!

[jflynn]

Jim, I remember the stone at LR. remember the signs that were in the caves back then when they had body counts on them?

Now that sounds like a little bit of history. Anyone have any pictures of those signs. Any idea who was posting the numbers?

Jim

[sskasser]

Photo by DonJ:

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/gallery/files/1/7/2/2/pict0400.jpg