May 8, 2021: After receiving a permit for scientific exploration from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri State Parks, KISS divers began their first monthly, weekend exploration of Roaring River Spring. Water flow was too great to permit passage through a restriction that exists in the cave at a depth of 225’.

July 17, 2021: KISS Rebreathers CEO and team leader, Mike Young, was able to penetrate the restriction, along with teammate and cartographer Jon Lillestolen. They found a room on the other side which Young described at the time as “scary big.”

September 25, 2021: After exploring upwards, where they discovered the presence of air bells above the surface of the water, Mike Young said the only direction left to explore was downward. Divers reached a depth of 344’ feet below the surface of the water.

October 23, 2021: Mike Young reached a depth of 452’ below the surface of the water.

November 13, 2021: Mike Young and Randall Purdy dropped to a depth of 472’ feet subsurface in the cave, establishing a U.S. depth-record at that time. That record has since been broken.

February – September, 2022: Due to high water flow, most of the work in Roaring River Cave involved biological research and taking measurements of the upper cavern. Fernando Gutierrez, marine biologist from Texas A&M, San Antonio, joined the team.

September 17, 2022: During a special public event, the KISS Rebreathers divers were recognized by the Missouri Senate for their work in the Roaring River Spring Cave.

October 14, 2022: Diver Eric Lee Hahn lost his life in Roaring River Spring Cave while staging air tanks for planned weekend depth exploration by the team. After Hahn’s death, further cave exploration ceased. The KISS team’s permit from the DNR was not renewed for 2023.

Members of the Dive Team included: Greg Ables, Tim Bass, Neil Brownlow, Bob Dankert, Fernando Gutierrez, Eric Hahn, Joseph Heinrichs, Mike Henry, Charles Jay, Jon Lillestolen, Gayle Orner, Randall Purdy, Ashley Sutherland, Charles Walker, Matthew Westpheling and Mike Young. Surface support was provided by Colonel (Ret.) Tony Bryant, Tom Creason, Tana Henry, and Adam McDowell.

Although only a few individuals are named in this summary, the contributions of all members of the dive team cannot be overstated, say team members. The team appreciates the tremendous public interest and support for the exploration. A special thanks goes to Curt Bowen, of Advanced Diver Magazine, for his artistic rendering of the map created for the park service.