Air fills on Bull Shoals lake

[SteveC]

Does anyone have a list of dive shops with air fills on Bull Shoals lake.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Wkndbum]

Does anyone have a list of dive shops with air fills on Bull Shoals lake.

Thanks,
Steve

These guys are open year around http://www.bullshoalslakeboatdock.com/padi.html

Not sure about the dive shop @ Pontiac, Mo, I think they are "seasonal"

Terry

 

[SteveC]

We will be starting from the Bull Shoals boat dock and we're looking for other dive shops further up the lake so we don't have to keep coming all the way back to this dock. It would be nice if there were several places to fill tanks, but I haven't been able to locate any.

Steve

 

[theskull]

You could certainly rent several additional tanks to take along with you for very little cost. The Boat Dock has rentals available.

theskull

 

[SteveC]

Actually the rental price really adds up. We will have 6 divers with about 3 days of diving. They rent tanks for $8 each. Now at first that seems real cheap, especially since that includes one air fill. The problem with renting additional tanks is you only get to use each tank once and you pay for it for all three days. So the numbers add up this way.

Plan A
6 divers x 4 tanks each x 3 days x $8.00 = $576 !!! (requires no return trip to dock)

Plan B
6 divers x 2 tanks each x 3 days x $8.00= $288 (requires trip to dock each day)

So plan B cuts the cost in half and gives you more air, but requires more trips back to dock. Hence our quest to find convenient air sources.

Steve

 

[Wkndbum]

Actually the rental price really adds up. We will have 6 divers with about 3 days of diving. They rent tanks for $8 each. Now at first that seems real cheap, especially since that includes one air fill. The problem with renting additional tanks is you only get to use each tank once and you pay for it for all three days. So the numbers add up this way.

Plan A
6 divers x 4 tanks each x 3 days x $8.00 = $576 !!! (requires no return trip to dock)

Plan B
6 divers x 2 tanks each x 3 days x $8.00= $288 (requires trip to dock each day)

So plan B cuts the cost in half and gives you more air, but requires more trips back to dock. Hence our quest to find convenient air sources.

Steve

When is your trip?

 

[theskull]

So, with that size group you're going out on a houseboat, right?

For a minimal extra fee you can also get a small pontoon boat and make quick runs back and forth to get your fills. That's how we always do our trips on Bull Shoals (but we also usually start with 3 tanks per diver).

theskull

 

[SteveC]

Our trip is probably going to be in late June.
Yea the shuttle idea is good too. I was hoping to find some conveniant air fill places along the lake, but going back to Bull shoals boat dock once or twice is not too bad.
By the way, I've been told that the spring time is the best vis on the lake. What do yo guys think?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[theskull]

Bull Shoals vis is always good! A little less so just after the lake turns over, but that is hard to predict.

It is also always a little on the cool side, except for shallow water in late summer. Dry suit or full wet suit diving for most folks.

Have fun,

theskull