Trip Report Bonne Terre Mine Report 2024

[BabyLitigator]

Just finished a two day trip to Bonne Terre mine and figured I would share (first dive trip since 2004!)

It was a quiet weekend. 8 people Saturday, 3 Sunday. Pretty much all folks on the way to Thanksgiving or somewhat local.

Everyone got their gear and we briefed on the surface. We then walked all our gear down to the dock and got tanks and weights.

The first dive was about skills (they tested weight, flooded mask, and remove and replace regulator). Once cleared, each dive had two air checks (you actually showed your spg).

Dives 1 & 2 were quasi-quarry dives, no lights allowed.

After the first two dives, however, things loosened up. Overhead environments every dive, a tight squeeze on one, and a lot more things to see. Lights allowed at that point as well.

Be warned, it was cold. Website says 60, but my computer said 57. I was diving dry and was fine, but the folks in wetsuits were very cold.

First day was longish surface intervals all the way on the surface. Second day was closely packed turn and burn (3 dives by noon).

Would definitely come again for the upper trails. The trails got progressively more interesting as it went on.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

Thanks for the write-up. I hope your next dive trip will occur sooner than 20 years!

Were the dive operators actual sticklers to checking logbooks prior to diving the mines?

 

[BabyLitigator]

Thanks for the write-up. I hope your next dive trip will occur sooner than 20 years!

Were the dive operators actual sticklers to checking logbooks prior to diving the mines?

Got another one planned (ice diving!) for late January so hopefully not.

The dive operator glanced at my nitrox card, but that was about it (I had all my own gear). When I asked about future dives they said that they tracked everyone in their system, so there should be a record when I came back.

Overall, I found it MUCH looser, especially after dive 2, than previous posting on SB suggested.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

Got another one planned (ice diving!) for late January so hopefully not.

The dive operator glanced at my nitrox card, but that was about it (I had all my own gear). When I asked about future dives they said that they tracked everyone in their system, so there should be a record when I came back.

Overall, I found it MUCH looser, especially after dive 2, than previous posting on SB suggested.

I think I understand how the operators think. They check the log to verify which trails each diver has done and not for verifying a diver's experience or for safety reasons.