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It's not very deep at all. The deepest spot I've found is about 70 ft although I now know where it dips below 100.
Most consider it an advanced cave dive though because of the poor vis near the entrances (good further in), the temp and the way the lines are run. There are lots of intersections that present the chance to go the wrong way and in places the line runs through huge rooms where no wass is visable. That means that if you loose the line it could really be lost. The place is a real maze. Kind of interesting though.
The Bonne Terre Mines are owned by "West End Diving" shop in St. Louis. Im sure if you have questions, a quick call to there shop will answer them. Also, there is a redeuced "St. Louis" fee for those willing to do dives in the afternoon
The Bonne Terre Mines are owned by "West End Diving" shop in St. Louis. Im sure if you have questions, a quick call to there shop will answer them. Also, there is a redeuced "St. Louis" fee for those willing to do dives in the afternoon
Regardless of your experience level or level of cert EVERYONE must start on Trail #1 and must perform an air share and mask R&R drill before you are allowed to continue on the dive. This is after watching a safety video and extensive dive briefs. There are safety divers with each group in case anyone has "issues" along the way. They do several air checks throughout each dive and if you don't have enough gas for the next leg you are sent back to the dock either escorted by a safety diver u/w or on the surface by a safety kayaker.
Each trail gets progressively more challenging. Trails 9-12 and higher can get pretty deep (100ft) and fewer overhead lights so they can be a little dark for some. I was very uncomfortable last time there w/out my lights but I hadn't been there in 3 years and wasn't feeling well that weekend. I REALLY like my HID light, even in clear tropical waters it enables me to communicate immediately if I'm having "issues". That part I don't care for at BTM but the dive leader and safety leaders need to communicate via light signals and there's no way that can happen effectively if there are a bunch of sight-seers flinger theirs every which-way.
It's not very deep at all. The deepest spot I've found is about 70 ft although I now know where it dips below 100.
Most consider it an advanced cave dive though because of the poor vis near the entrances (good further in), the temp and the way the lines are run. There are lots of intersections that present the chance to go the wrong way and in places the line runs through huge rooms where no wass is visable. That means that if you loose the line it could really be lost. The place is a real maze. Kind of interesting though.
There is an OW area that's open for swimming and OW diving in addition to the underground areas. the place is called the Offsets. They have a web site but I don't remember the URL off the top of my head. If you want to cave dive you just show up pay a few bucks, flash your cave card and have at it. I'll look for the URL.
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