fleep
Contributor
Bredina Springs Dive Report - 5/22/11
DIRECTIONS:
1hr+ North of St. Louis
Google Maps: 39.451981, -90.506922 to White Hall, IL - Google Maps
Coordinates: N39.454210, W90.504152 Set your GPS to Hours format (e.g. ddd.ddddd°)
GPS: Program GPS to White Hall, Illinois. At the main town intersection follow sign left to Hillview after about 4miles you will cross a railroad track and Bredina is on your right.
Directions from STL: 170N > 270E > 367N towards Alton > Continue 67N Pass Jerseyville and on to White Hall > Left at the 4way stop follow the sign to Hillview > about 4 miles in you will cross the railroad tracks. The entrance is on your right, marked by a small cloth dive flag.
REPORT:
Bredina is a great new asset for the local dive community. With the closure of the "Dive-Stop", their opening is very timely for STL based divers. The owners are moving forward rapidly with development. Access is a breeze, they have nice gravel roads passable by any type of vehicle. There are covered setup areas with both picnic tables and dive gear tables. They have a compressor on site and offer air fills. The training building is well underway and will be equipped with 2 or 3 classrooms. There are running water bathrooms and hot showers. They have excellent step off docks and walk out stairs. Currently there are a few underwater attractions including a short schoolbus, cabin cruiser, small airplanes, truck, quarry shacks, training platforms, and the quarry boasts some nice wall dives and a deep section that goes to about 110'. This mine was abandoned only 7 years ago so there are many submerged trees along the western wall that are fun to navigate through. The visability, as expected, was not that great but it may improve once we are out of the rain season. Temperatures are posted on their site and will be similar to any lake or quarry in the midwest. They have a website, Bredina Springs | Bredina Springs is a beautiful 12 acre dive quarry in Hillview, Illinois. Central Illinois answer to diving!, which they update regularly with their calendar and the quarry conditions. Make sure to check the calendar as they are sometimes closed on weekends for special occasions. If the calendar says they are open - they will be open. Ultimately they plan to open up for camping and to host some special annual events. There are 2 contact phone numbers listed and they are great about getting back to you via telephone or messages sent through their online form so reach out to them if you have any questions.
In short, it is a great place for divers of all levels and especially for instructors who need a place to hold certification dives and classes. The owners, Jess and Christina, are great hosts and they have invested a lot of time and resources in this endeavor so go on out, show your support, and have a great dive!
DIRECTIONS:
1hr+ North of St. Louis
Google Maps: 39.451981, -90.506922 to White Hall, IL - Google Maps
Coordinates: N39.454210, W90.504152 Set your GPS to Hours format (e.g. ddd.ddddd°)
GPS: Program GPS to White Hall, Illinois. At the main town intersection follow sign left to Hillview after about 4miles you will cross a railroad track and Bredina is on your right.
Directions from STL: 170N > 270E > 367N towards Alton > Continue 67N Pass Jerseyville and on to White Hall > Left at the 4way stop follow the sign to Hillview > about 4 miles in you will cross the railroad tracks. The entrance is on your right, marked by a small cloth dive flag.
REPORT:
Bredina is a great new asset for the local dive community. With the closure of the "Dive-Stop", their opening is very timely for STL based divers. The owners are moving forward rapidly with development. Access is a breeze, they have nice gravel roads passable by any type of vehicle. There are covered setup areas with both picnic tables and dive gear tables. They have a compressor on site and offer air fills. The training building is well underway and will be equipped with 2 or 3 classrooms. There are running water bathrooms and hot showers. They have excellent step off docks and walk out stairs. Currently there are a few underwater attractions including a short schoolbus, cabin cruiser, small airplanes, truck, quarry shacks, training platforms, and the quarry boasts some nice wall dives and a deep section that goes to about 110'. This mine was abandoned only 7 years ago so there are many submerged trees along the western wall that are fun to navigate through. The visability, as expected, was not that great but it may improve once we are out of the rain season. Temperatures are posted on their site and will be similar to any lake or quarry in the midwest. They have a website, Bredina Springs | Bredina Springs is a beautiful 12 acre dive quarry in Hillview, Illinois. Central Illinois answer to diving!, which they update regularly with their calendar and the quarry conditions. Make sure to check the calendar as they are sometimes closed on weekends for special occasions. If the calendar says they are open - they will be open. Ultimately they plan to open up for camping and to host some special annual events. There are 2 contact phone numbers listed and they are great about getting back to you via telephone or messages sent through their online form so reach out to them if you have any questions.
In short, it is a great place for divers of all levels and especially for instructors who need a place to hold certification dives and classes. The owners, Jess and Christina, are great hosts and they have invested a lot of time and resources in this endeavor so go on out, show your support, and have a great dive!