| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holtzendorff, Lewis | 30 | Male | Not recorded | Not recorded |
Sunday, 30 November 1975 Lewis Holtzendorff (30) and Courtland Smith Jr. were scuba diving to a depth of almost 225 feet in the Promis Springs cave. They were on their way to the surface following the experimental dive when at about 40 feet from the top, Holtzendorff blacked out and fell on Smith. Smith began to buddy-breathe with his diving partner, but also felt he too might be beginning to black out. He swam to the surface and got another tank of compressed air. Holtzendorff could not be resuscitated with the second tank. He died about 6 a.m. while completing decompression.
Analysis:
The editor does not know what about the dive was experimental and how this may have influenced the outcome of the accident. Holtzendorff was considered a highly qualified cave diver who had made significant discoveries in numerous Florida caves.