Somewhere like Bonne Terre that's not Bonne Terre

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Jake

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Like many of you, I'm itching to travel again. Recently vaccinated, I'm starting to consider safer options available to me within the United States.

I've been toying with the idea of a trip to Bonne Terre mine for several years now, as it seems like an easy trip to a destination that's somewhat novel. But, the more I read about it on this forum the less interested I am. Primarily because it sounds like even if your skill level is relatively high you don't get to see particularly interesting areas quickly, if ever.

So, I'm wondering if anyone can suggest something similar to Bonne Terre in the sense of an easy trip inside the continental US, ideally with a somewhat unusual nature to it.
 
Like many of you, I'm itching to travel again. Recently vaccinated, I'm starting to consider safer options available to me within the United States.

I've been toying with the idea of a trip to Bonne Terre mine for several years now, as it seems like an easy trip to a destination that's somewhat novel. But, the more I read about it on this forum the less interested I am. Primarily because it sounds like even if your skill level is relatively high you don't get to see particularly interesting areas quickly, if ever.

So, I'm wondering if anyone can suggest something similar to Bonne Terre in the sense of an easy trip inside the continental US, ideally with a somewhat unusual nature to it.

I think Bonne Terre is the only destination like it for a mine that's accessible to non-cave trained divers. I dive a former lead/zinc mine in SW WI, but you've got to be cave certified by the instructor who has sole access in order to dive it. And you have to be full cave to see the really interesting parts with the artifacts and such.
 
I think Bonne Terre is the only destination like it for a mine that's accessible to non-cave trained divers. I dive a former lead/zinc mine in SW WI, but you've got to be cave certified by the instructor who has sole access in order to dive it. And you have to be full cave to see the really interesting parts with the artifacts and such.

I secretly want to go back to bonne terre even after getting cave cert.... It's totally different from the mines up here.

Some of the mine pictures I see from europe/russia areas look similar.
 
this is appropriately obtuse: Santa Rosa Blue Hole New Mexico

D6DEA59C-EDED-4B86-93B7-F20B3A44B541.jpeg



I dive a former lead/zinc mine in SW WI, but you've got to be cave certified by the instructor who has sole access in order to dive it

is that the slit entry in a very small creek requiring a tank-off squeeze? That one is kinda nutty.
 
is that the slit entry in a very small creek requiring a tank-off squeeze? That one is kinda nutty.

Nope. And I doubt I will ever want to do that one.
 
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Ah, I would suggest it’s a waste time with diving Monte Ne. The lake gets really murky at the shallow end, nothing to see, most likely just a few feet visibility.

It’s an interesting story, and I actually saw the entire site out of the water about 45 years ago. The mud is almost as deep as the water.

The other end of the lake though is currently crystal clear, you can see the bottom in 20-25’ of water.
 
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