TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. -- The 57 divers who will participate in Tarpon Springs' Epiphany this year set up the Spring Bayou on Friday. 

The divers put together the platform where the Archbishop will stand to throw the cross. The divers also positioned the 10 boats, called dinghies, in the water.

Anderson Combs, the cross retriever in 2016, helped the divers build the platform.

“Getting to actually interact with them, see them, know who they are and have them know me, it's just such a bonding experience," said Combs. 

 

 

The belief is that the diver who retrieves the cross will have a blessed year. Combs says for him 2016 was an incredible year.

"I got into the school I wanted, I got into the program I wanted. Just everything in my life really kind of clicked together that year," said Combs. 

 

Combs says while every diver wants to be the retriever, he hopes all of them remember how participating is an honor. 

"Nobody in the world gets to do this except you guys, and it's a blessing of itself to touch the water," said Combs.