While open to the public Eagles Nest is a journey to get to. Located in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area (an hour North of Tampa), you take a series of dirt roads that eventually lead you to the cave site. (Source: David Sutta)
A Different Perspective
Photographer Kyle Hall rolling out one of our GoPro cameras to get the shot. At times 4 cameras rolled during our shoots. (Source: David Sutta)
Gearing Up
The crew preps gear for the Eagles Nest Dive. The ominous sign in the background reminding you what you are doing is extremely dangerous. (Source: David Sutta)
Warning Sign
A closer look at one of three signs at Eagles Nest warning divers of the dangers ahead. (Source: David Sutta)
Eagles Nest Overview
Eagles Nest reaches more than 2,000 feet back and 200 feet deep. For this report, David Sutta and crew only entered into the entrance. A professional team of cave divers went beyond the CBS4 News crew training limits to capture the story. (Source: David Sutta)
Training For Eagles Nest
David and his team spent three days doing cavern and intro cave training before shooting at Eagles Nest. Even then, they only felt comfortable shooting in sight of daylight. (Source: David Sutta)
A Different Kind Of Scuba
To conduct underwater interviews, David Sutta used full face masks. The technology allows them to communicate wirelessly. It seems like it would be an easy change from a regular mask but it actually presents a new set of challenges. David Sutta had to become certified on the mask to handle basic things like how to breath, speak and react in an emergency. (Source: David Sutta)
Dry Suits
The crew is getting ready to go down for their first shoot at Eagles Nest. Typical open water diving off South Florida may last about an hour. In cave diving, the dives can last as much as 8 to 10 hours including decompression. Between the length of time underwater and cold temperatures cave divers usually wear dry suits instead of wet suits. (Source: David Sutta)
The Dive Team
Eagles Nest was one of the most challenging shoots David Sutta and crew had to do to date at CBS4. It took the efforts of a team of divers to pull off the shoot. (back left to right) David Schott, Kyle Hall, David Sutta. (front left to right) Brett Hemphill, Becky Schott. (Source: David Sutta)
Going In
They could have just covered the story from the surface but photojournalist Kyle Hall and Reporter David Sutta made the choice to go in. To truly understand the draw of the site and the sport they felt they needed to experience it as divers. (Source: David Sutta)
Cave Diving 1
Cave explorers Matt Vinzant and Brett Hemphill discovering a new cave in Central Florida. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 2
Cave explorer Brett Hemphill mapping a cave with a line. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 3
Diver peeks out of cave. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 4
Diver heads down into cave in Eagle's Nest. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 5
David Sutta (rt) interviews Brett Hemphill underwater. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 6
Underwater camera operator Becky Kagen-Schott (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 7
Underwater warning sign at Eagle's Nest. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 8
Becky Kagen-Schott squeezing into new cave. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 9
Diver going into Twin Cave in Marianna, Fl. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 10
David Sutta in a silt out and using the line to get out. (Source: CBS4)
Cave Diving 11
Warning sign in Twin Cave in Marianna, Fl. (Source: CBS4)