Bonne Terre Mine questions!!

[alexmartinezphoto]

So my LDS is orginizing a trip out to the Boone Terre Mine some time in January. I figure I should get some information from people who are not trying to sell the trip to me. So how is it? I hear the vis is soposed to be great. is there any marine life down there? What is there to be expected. Itll be about a total of about $200 for me to do this plus what ever it takes me in gas to get down there. Think its worth it?

 

[aquaregia]

There's one largemouth bass. They stocked it with several but all the others died. I think there's some shrimp or something. I did the walking tour while my girlfriend dove; she had an okay time.

 

[Johnny Mojo]

It's on my bucket list of dives, but have not been there as of yet. From what I can tell, bring your money tree. The "trails" are staged such that you need to complete 1 before 2 and 2 before 3 etc. I am told all the "good stuff" is in trails 4+.

I caution, that I have not been there as of yet so I cannot verify. This information was given to me by reliable sources though who have been there on all of the available dives. You may do a little search on trip advisor dot com too. Take it for what it's worth there as well.

Oh, and I will likely do all of the available dives when I go. It would be too cool not to do. Just go and enjoy

<edit> Please report back on how it was. I would like to hear as others would too!

Have a great time!

J.

 

[The Chairman]

The Bonne Terre Mine is simply awesome! I have been there twice and loved it both times. The mine was started in 1860 as a 6 ft trench. They drilled, dynamited and dug for about 100 years and in 1964 they turned off the lights and the pumps and simply walked out. Now it's a 21 mile lake 150 ft below the surface that goes down another 400+ feet. All the stuff is still down there: ore carts, shovels, jackets, a steam engine and lots, lots more. They are quite safety conscious and some are put off by that, but the dives are cool and a must do.

 

[Codiak]

It's cavern conditions, dark and chilly. 58 degree water with 30 to 100 ft vis depending on run off and bottom kickers ;-)

The trails are done in sets with everyone starting on trail one. Dives are led by local start with at least one safety.

I dive there regularly even though it's a eight hour drive

It's well worth experiencing it and coming to your own opinion


Enjoy

 

[PvtStash]

An 18 hr (roundtrip) roadtrip for 2 days of diving is pushing it for me... If I'm gonna spend that long in a car I need to be there for at least a week...

I've not Completely ruled it out, but eh...

 

[The Chairman]

It's cavern conditions, dark and chilly.

With no overhead! You do not need a cavern or cave cert.

 

[inventor]

They've got a steam engine to dive?! Cool! I know it's probably just a mine engine, but still cool. This place is now double bucket list! Please post pics. Anybody know where I can find pics? A local guy took his family and raved about it.

 

[bladephotog]

They've got a steam engine to dive?! Cool! I know it's probably just a mine engine, but still cool. This place is now double bucket list! Please post pics. Anybody know where I can find pics? A local guy took his family and raved about it.

Did a story there a couple years ago for Scuba Diving Magazine. Here is a link to some photos.

It's a super cool place to dive. It's dark, pretty cold and a lot of fun.

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

We considered going there but opted not to when we found that divers are not allowed to carry lights. Is that still the case? Only the dive leader has a light?