LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. – Recreational divers found skeletal remains of an unknown origin in a lake in Lehigh Acres on Thursday.

Fossil Junkie Captains John and Carrie Kreatsoulas said they have been to the lake before, but on Thursday, they ventured out to a new area.

The Kreatsoulas’ dive all the time. They own Fossil Junkies, which is a fossil scuba dive charter and megalodon shark tooth hunting outfitter that operates across Southwest Florida.

After taking a closer look, they realized it was a skull and what they believed was a human skull; they immediately called the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).

“She picked up what she thought was a motorcycle helmet, and it turned out to be something different,” said Captain John.

LCSO investigated the area on Oakridge Circle near Joel Boulevard.

“She spotted that sucker, those leg bones, vertebras, and stuff kind of buried in the muck on a shelf, and yeah, it was cool but crazy at the same time,” said Captain John. 

Captain Carrie said she’s been waiting to make a discovery like this her whole life.

“When you do stumble across something like that, it just kind of makes you step back and be like, wow, how old is this thing really,” said Captain Carrie.

Eight-foot-long alligators required deputies to stand with rifles ready, protecting the divers as they got in and out of the water.

Divers had to go 200 feet below the surface to search the bottom of the lake with limited visibility.

LCSO’s Marine Unit, underwater drones and forensic technicians were used in the search.

According to LCSO, this investigation will take some time, as great care is being given to any possible evidence or historical artifacts. 

Captains John and Carrie hope if the remains are in fact artifacts, that they get in the right hands and get preserved correctly.

“If it is somebody that’s missing, I hope it can bring them closer to their family; if it’s something of historic significance to Florida and Lehigh Acres, then I would love it to kind of put this place on the map and date how long people have been living here,” said Captain John.

LCSO stated they are working with the medical examiner’s office for further testing as the investigation continues.