Bonne Terre Mine Dive Report

[trashman]

I had a trip scheduled to Alpena MI. to dive The Grecian and a couple of other wrecks the weekend of Sept. 14-16.Weather forced us to cancel the trip.I called Doug on Thursday Sept.13 to try and set up a weekend of Bear Trails for myself and Trails 1-4 for a new diver I was bringing with me.Even with this short notice of only 1 day Doug put the dives together for me.I did 5 Bear Trails with 2 staff members.The dives were world class as usual and everyone at the mine treated me like family.I highly recommend diving at Bonne Terre Mine.

 

[maxnico]

Help me understand their gig. I went to the web site. It sounds like they are hawking classes I don't need and it is basically a simple open water dive that is fun. I don't own a log book which it says I "must have'. I prefer to dive dry in 58 degree water. What do you advise?

 

[nagel]

Not sure what your question is, but it fine to dive dry at Bonne Terre. The difference is that all these dives are escorted and you have to do the trails in order. You start with trail 1 and graduate up through the trails. That is why you need a dive log so they can stamp your dive log on what dives you have done. Without the stamp the next time you will have to start at dive 1 again.

Snagel

 

[trashman]

The first few trips to the mine are basically open water diving with a few swim throughs and some short tunnels.After you have done trails 1-20 you are probably known by your dive guide.He or she will make a determination as to whether or not you are ready to dive Bear Trails.By this time your buoyancy should be perfect as should your air consumption.You should be comfortable doing 60 minute dives.For the most part Bear Trails should be considered technical diving IE: 100 ft. depth/overhead enviornment.If your guide thinks you have the skills you will go to The City,Rotator ect.The City is a collection of buildings blasted out of rock with cinderblock fronts.It is possible to enter the buildings and explore.The City is at 90 ft. and a line is run from whatever entrance you use.Your buoyancy must be perfect because there is a 3 ft. pile of silt on the bottom and many jagged pieces of pipe/steel hanging down from the ceiling.After you have done The City/Rotator and other named Bear Trails you are wide open as to what you can do.I have spent my last 20 dives exploring ore dumps,mine shafts and tunnels.Most if not all have never been explored.I highly recommend diving at Bonne Terre Mine.