Haigh Quarry

[CNTdiver]

Simply put, if anyone is looking for a great dive in Illinois, please visit Haigh Quarry. This summer, I have spent 5 weekends there and many are still planned for the future. Although the visibility is not Little Cayman, it is diving and great for learning. Let me tell you that if you can dive in the quarry, you can dive almost anywhere!!!!!

 

[diverbob]

I have heard a lot of good things about that place. I think there are some other threads talking about Haigh in the Midwest Muck Divers forum.

 

[CNTdiver]

I have heard a lot of good things about that place. I think there are some other threads talking about Haigh in the Midwest Muck Divers forum.

Definently look at their posts. They provide some excellent information on various locations. If you are looking for some general information on Haigh Quarry, try visiting their website at:
www.haighquarry.com

However, if you want some specifics on conditions, locations, or just some great dives in the quarry, I would be happy to supply you with some information.

Happy diving!

 

[jepuskar]

It is very easy to spend a whole day at this quarry. I've done it!

Plenty of experience to be gained, you want low viz situations...just hang around the shallow area on a Saturday morning..you'll get your low viz. You want to experience the cold at 75 feet? They have a platform at 75ft, temps around 45-50 degrees. You can even do a night dive during the day...in the fall...a sulfur layer builds up around 50 feet or so and anything below that is pitch black..I'm talking like a light switch..goes from day to night in a matter of feet. Pretty cool.

Plenty of stuff to navigate too, a small boat, dump truck, rock crusher, fish cribs, LARC military boat, and other various objects.

Ofcourse the website has all of this, but the top side features is what separate this diving location from any others in the area. Air fills, nitrox also at 36%, 4 changing rooms, porta-potties are well maintained, and good food on-site, (quarry is also very close to fast food chains etc).

The owner, Tina, is a very nice woman..I can not say enough good things about her.

In fact, I would be at Haigh this weekend, but I'm going to someplace called Bonaire..I heard the diving there is ok.

 

[CNTdiver]

I certainly will be there, however, Bonaire would not be too bad either!!!!!

 

[computerdiver]

It is a very good quarry for Diving up here. Tina had this quarry as a place to dump log stumps, I believe, and then a man named Doug-from my dive shop-suggested that she make it a diving quarry. Just watch out, If you're not wearing a hood, a bunch of bluegills bite your ears, looking for food.

 

[CNTdiver]

Just watch out, If you're not wearing a hood, a bunch of bluegills bite your ears, looking for food.

You are so right computerdiver. You wouldn't believe the marks on my ears the next day from those bluegills!!!!! :11: But anyways, I heard the same story about how diving came to be in Haigh Quarry.

 

[diverbob]

what kind of water temp is it there. I thought I read it was 75 foot at the deepest point. I am assuming it is spring fed, and therefor cold enough to warrant a hood anyway. I might check it out next weekend. I havent fully decided yet.

 

[CNTdiver]

what kind of water temp is it there. I thought I read it was 75 foot at the deepest point. I am assuming it is spring fed, and therefor cold enough to warrant a hood anyway. I might check it out next weekend. I havent fully decided yet.

Well, it kind of depends on the day you are there and who is there. Basically, if you decide to show up, show up early or dive later on after most of the people have left. Why? Well, that is when the silt has settled on the bottom of the quarry and the vis is MUCH better. Diving by one of the many walls has good vis, but not after someone has just kicked up 3 inches of settled silt. When it comes to temperature, you are looking at about 75 degrees on the surface until you hit the first thermocline at about 25 feet where the temperature drops to the upper 50s. Then when you go past about 60 feet, there is another thermocline making the temperature of the water in the upper 40s. Also, in the "hole" or the deepest part of the Quarry, the vis is pretty good. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me. Happy diving.

 

[CNTdiver]

And yes, a hood is MANDITORY at depths greater than 40 feet at least in my mind. I did not have a hood once and I had the worst headache from the extreme cold. Do yourself a favor and ensure you have a hood, gloves, and booties.