WEEKI WACHEE - Three days after he failed to emerge from the underwater caves of Eagle's Nest, divers recovered Craig Simon's body.
Simon, 44, of Spring Hill went diving on Saturday in the popular underwater caves with John H. Robinson Jr. of St. Petersburg. Another diver reported the men missing when they failed to resurface after more than three hours. On Sunday, divers found Robinson's body in an area called John's Pocket. Simon's body was found in the same area Monday evening and was recovered at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office in Leesburg.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office ruled it an accidental drowning. The discovery, while it brought some closure for grieving family, was also a sober reminder of the risks of cave diving.
Eagle's Nest, known for its large rooms and clear water, attracts divers from near and far seeking to explore the charted passages that go as deep as 300 feet. For Simon, who runs a landscaping business, and Robinson, an electrical engineer, their summer weekend dive had a tragic ending.
