Bonne Terre...how long are the dives?

[Jayfarmlaw]

Oklahoma lake diving just does not sound like much fun right now and am considering Blue Hole, or Bonne Terre. I have a. 7.5 mil suit and a 1 mil rash guard but I'm also an air hog. What is the average length of dive at Bonne Terre? I see they have 92 cu ft tanks and I can usually get close to an hour out of a 100 cf in Cozumel. 40-45 minutes or so out of an 80 lake diving. But I've never dove cold before. Even suited up like the stay puff marshmallow man, 58 degrees for an hour is going to be chilly, swimming or not.

If you run low and have to surface, do you surface swim on top, or ride in the kayak chase boat?

Thanks in advance for your response,
jay

 

[tajkd]

I had between 45 and 60 minutes there.

 

[Traijin]

The guides do several air checks at turn back points, if you don't have the minimum air, they turn you back and surface swimming back is possible, however its always best to do the safety stop at their hang bar the have suspended below dockside. They also have 100 cuft cylinders for an added fee. Most dives I have logged were 38-45 minutes. Your thermal protection is fine, many people I know dive the mines in a 7 mil. I dive the mines dry and with a steel 95 (H Valve)I lug down the steps. I have somewhere North of 15 dives at Bonne Terre. Its expensive, but I have always enjoyed my dives there.