Missouri Diving at Mermet

[Tha Bizness]

Hi people. I am looking for a dive partner to go over some basics down in Mermet. I live in St. Louis and would like to do some diving there soon. I am a newly certified diver (last year I got my OW thru the community college) and want to practice buoyancy and general scuba skills before I take the AOW class in July. I was certified at Mermet so I know the quary a little bit. I just want to warn who ever dives that I am more interested in practicing skills then going deep and all that. Although I do want to go to the jet while Im there

Any one interested in furthering the skills of a newly certed diver?

Contact me at blashley@swbell.net if your interested or leave a message here.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Got a drysuit? Mermet is nasty cold this time of year.

 

[Tha Bizness]

No. I will probably rent or buy a wetsuit. I am looking to buy a wetsuit very soon. In not certed on Dry yet. I did my check out dives in a 6.5 at Mermet in early Nov last year and I was only cold during the SI's. I am probably looking to dive end of this month or early April. Just trying to find a buddy now cause I know no body who dives.

Im a noob just getting into this so educate me - Is it really that cold at Mermet this time? When should I start diving wet there?

Got a drysuit? Mermet is nasty cold this time of year.

 

[Mverick]

Depends on your view of cold.

Temp is
54 at the surface
48 at the 20ft platform
42 at 45 on down.

Think the Plane is around 45-60. Can't remember exactly.

And Yes, That is really cold. I use a Dry suit. With hood. And my lips get numb after about 10 min and I'm fine. At 42 degrees.

They just sunk an Ambulance. And I think this weekend they are sinking a Old Coal Rail Road car. I have some friends diving there this weekend. But I gotta work....

 

[crawford]

If you're not too sensitive to cold you can use a 1/4" wet suit, hood gloves, and be o.k., maybe not spend too much time below the thermocline and spend most of the dive above.

I'm looking to get down there maybe in a couple weeks. What size are you? I'm diving dry now but have a couple wet suits I could loan you depending on your size. One I just bought on ebay and was just a tad small on my son, so would be willing to sell for what I have in it.

There's usually plenty of people willing to dive with you at Mermet. I've usually been lucky enough to find really experienced divers who can really help your learning curve.

 

[Tha Bizness]

Thanks for the offer but I've been saving my pennies since i got certed and will be buying one before I go soon. Im just trying to figure out how to sneak it past my wife! Right now I really dont want to go deep and more or less just swim around and practice basic skills. buoyancy is the main thing i want to practice and I can hover above the training platforms for that. When I was getting certed I guzzled up my air supply and I want to work on breathing too.

When will you be going? Want to plan something if your interested in working with a newbie.

You said there are plenty of people willing to work with me at Mermet - you dive alone alot. Im kinda scared to go there with nothing prearranged cause I fear not finding a buddy and missing out on some bottom time.

If you're not too sensitive to cold you can use a 1/4" wet suit, hood gloves, and be o.k., maybe not spend too much time below the thermocline and spend most of the dive above.

I'm looking to get down there maybe in a couple weeks. What size are you? I'm diving dry now but have a couple wet suits I could loan you depending on your size. One I just bought on ebay and was just a tad small on my son, so would be willing to sell for what I have in it.

There's usually plenty of people willing to dive with you at Mermet. I've usually been lucky enough to find really experienced divers who can really help your learning curve.

 

[SDAnderson]

Check with your local shops and the folks at Mermet. This time of year many divers are looking for some skills time in the water, as we brush the winter dust off our gear. You'll probably be able to find someone that either needs a buddy or is willing to have a singleton tag along - practicing skills are pretty much the same for new divers and old.

 

[steve2281]

Check your mail. I'll dive with ya. steve

 

[MgicTwnger]

They just sunk an Ambulance. And I think this weekend they are sinking a Old Coal Rail Road car.QUOTE]
The car went in Saturday. Because of poor weather conditions (mostly winds blowing the wrong way) it took most of the day. I dove it on Sunday: WAY COOL!

 

[crawford]

When will you be going? Want to plan something if your interested in working with a newbie.

You said there are plenty of people willing to work with me at Mermet - you dive alone alot. Im kinda scared to go there with nothing prearranged cause I fear not finding a buddy and missing out on some bottom time.

Nah, what I meant was that there are plenty of people willing to dive with you at Mermet (maybe from St. Louis or wherever), who have lots of experience, not necessarily there at Mermet. If you call, they have offered to set me up with a dive buddy. I've only shown up once solo, met an instructor/Full Cave diver hanging out wanting to do a pleasure dive, so buddied up with him. That's probably the only time I've just shown up myself (wouldn't say I dive alone alot, actually never). I guess my point is if you ask around here on the board or elsewhere you shouldn't have a problem getting a dive buddy for Mermet, and you can usually find high quality buddies at that!

Actually, although I'm preparing for Intro to Cave in April, any diving I would want to do would be shallow to get use to some new gear and practice running reels. You'll be surprised at how many divers are willing to play shallow (as long as you don't mind them shooting a bag at the end of the dive, etc.) Those are the guys you learn so much from, and the really experienced divers usually have little interest in hitting 120 ffw at Mermet.

I'll dive with ya too, dude.