Greetings from SW Missouri

[Jhayusmc]

Hello Divers,
I spent several years wanting to try scuba diving but never got around to doing it. Finally, a couple years ago, I got Open Water and Nitrox certified and I'M HOOKED! So far, I have dove at Beaver Lake in Arkansas and Mermet Springs quarry in Illinois. I look forward to diving in tropical waters in the near future. I'm currently working on sidemount, limited vis, navigation, and deep certifications. Being located in the middle of the US, I see a drysuit in my future as well.

 

[pdwh]

Definitely contact me some this summer - I'm new as well (last June) but try to get out at least once a week if I can. I've been diving in Table Rock, Beaver, Bull Shoals, the quarry in Rolla. Haven't made it to Mermet yet but it's on my list for the summer.

 

[Jhayusmc]

Mermet is a blast! I've been twice and have a trip scheduled to go back in June. I will also be hitting up Pennyroyal in Kentucky for one day on the same trip.

 

[Erik Anderson]

Hello from Central MO.

I've done Stockton Lake and Quail Run quarry in Rolla and have a trip scheduled to Mermet and Beaver Lake over the next few months. So far 75% of my divers are warm Caribbean water which I strongly prefer.

I've come to the realization that to stay current with my skills, I can no longer be an 80/80/80 diver as I can't afford to fly to the Caribbean every month.

What are the recommendations to Table Rock and Bull Shoals as far as locations to dive?

 

[Wheeler925]

Hello from Central MO.

I've done Stockton Lake and Quail Run quarry in Rolla and have a trip scheduled to Mermet and Beaver Lake over the next few months. So far 75% of my divers are warm Caribbean water which I strongly prefer.

I've come to the realization that to stay current with my skills, I can no longer be an 80/80/80 diver as I can't afford to fly to the Caribbean every month.

What are the recommendations to Table Rock and Bull Shoals as far as locations to dive?

I had no idea there was somewhere to dive in Rolla. How is that? I went to school there, and could use that as an excuse to visit.

 

[pdwh]

I had no idea there was somewhere to dive in Rolla. How is that? I went to school there, and could use that as an excuse to visit.

Eh, it's water. max depth around 45 feet. Lot of fish, no boats, very cloudy, easy to silt up. I got sometimes since my sister lives nearby.

 

[pdwh]

Hello from Central MO.

I've done Stockton Lake and Quail Run quarry in Rolla and have a trip scheduled to Mermet and Beaver Lake over the next few months. So far 75% of my divers are warm Caribbean water which I strongly prefer.

I've come to the realization that to stay current with my skills, I can no longer be an 80/80/80 diver as I can't afford to fly to the Caribbean every month.

What are the recommendations to Table Rock and Bull Shoals as far as locations to dive?

Bull Shoals is mostly from a boat, supposed to be great for spearfishing. I did my Search & Recovery class dives there and it was fun. Vis is usually decent for a lake, especially below the thermocline. The only shore spot I know of is Buck Creek Park and that place is flooded out right now (lake is over 30 feet higher than normal).

Table Rock has a few better shore spots but right now it's up 15 feet so they're also not accessible. Probably the easiest spot is Jake's Point. It's off of Indian Point which is past Silver Dollar City. You can park literally next to the water, except not right now because it's flooded out.

I also have dove by the dam. The visitor center shares an entrance with the Core of Engineers offices for the lake. if you park near the offices (left when you enter) there are hiking paths and sidewalk down to the gangway to the dock for a Ranger boat. it's a nice shore entry spot but you must be sure to set your dive flag far enough away from the dock that they can still use it without breaking the law.

There are some good boat dive spots as well. There's a wreck in the channel between duck island and the Branson Belle. There's a sailboat near Spoonbill Bluff. There's a passenger barge called The General at a location I have GPS coordinates for. That one's a deep dive. Right now it's probably at 100 feet. There a wreck near a small island visible from Jake's Point but it's a long swim.

Beaver Lake is the easiest option. There are many shore dive spots beyond the dive park. I'm hoping to dive Monte Ne this summer - it's a flooded town, or what's left of it.

 

[Erik Anderson]

I had no idea there was somewhere to dive in Rolla. How is that? I went to school there, and could use that as an excuse to visit.

I graduated way back when it was UMR. You?

Quail Run is ok. Vis is usually pretty poor (less than 8' when I've been) but if you need a place to work cold-ish green water skills, its fine. Not too many interesting things to look at.

Mermet is much better. Many more features to dive around and through and the staff is great. Vis got down to 6-8' on Saturday due to the constant rain they've had plus multiple schools of new students.

Between 50-85 it improved to 10-12'. Below 85 it worsened again. We measured 46F at depth and I was in a 7mm suit with 5mm hood and gloves. After about 6 minutes @ 103', I wasn't too mad that one of the other students hit the turn pressure.

 

[pdwh]

I graduated way back when it was UMR. You?

Quail Run is ok. Vis is usually pretty poor (less than 8' when I've been) but if you need a place to work cold-ish green water skills, its fine. Not too many interesting things to look at.

Mermet is much better. Many more features to dive around and through and the staff is great. Vis got down to 6-8' on Saturday due to the constant rain they've had plus multiple schools of new students.

Between 50-85 it improved to 10-12'. Below 85 it worsened again. We measured 46F at depth and I was in a 7mm suit with 5mm hood and gloves. After about 6 minutes @ 103', I wasn't too mad that one of the other students hit the turn pressure.

It's called Jones Quarry now, new owners. The rest of your description is still accurate.

 

[Wheeler925]

I graduated way back when it was UMR. You?

Quail Run is ok. Vis is usually pretty poor (less than 8' when I've been) but if you need a place to work cold-ish green water skills, its fine. Not too many interesting things to look at.

Mermet is much better. Many more features to dive around and through and the staff is great. Vis got down to 6-8' on Saturday due to the constant rain they've had plus multiple schools of new students.

Between 50-85 it improved to 10-12'. Below 85 it worsened again. We measured 46F at depth and I was in a 7mm suit with 5mm hood and gloves. After about 6 minutes @ 103', I wasn't too mad that one of the other students hit the turn pressure.

2014, so it was MST by then. UMR was a better name.