“Go no farther. There’s nothing in this cave worth dying for.” Those were the words printed on the sign at the entrance of an underwater cave in Vortex Springs, Florida. Despite this plaintive warning and the drawing of the Grim Reaper that accompanied it, many divers of differing skill levels failed to heed these words in search of adventure. On August 18, 2010, 30-year-old Ben McDaniel was seen entering the water in his scuba gear. He was never seen on land again.

What was at first assumed to be a tragic, yet straightforward diving accident came into question as days went by without Ben’s body being found. Did Ben get deeper into the cave than anyone could have imagined? Or did someone remove him from the water before searchers could find him? Some have questioned if Ben was ever in the water at all that night, or if something completely different happened on the ground. The only thing we know for sure is that after a decade, despite an extensive search, no one knows for sure what happened to Ben McDaniel.

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Ben McDaniel is urged to call the Holmes County Sheriff's Office 850-547-3681.

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