My Bonne Terre Experience

[ittyninja]

I have been wanting to do this dive too. I was wondering, if you go there during weekdays, would you be able to have a smaller cattle herd? This review was not encouraging and I thank SJ for it.

They are not open during the week. It's weekends only, which is a reason I think it tends to be busier.
I went in August and it was not as crowded as January. One of the guides said that January to March is some of the busiest time for them.

I'm sure the other trails are better because you are diving with people who are familiar with the mine and how it works along with less people.

It is some of the most beautiful water you can find in Missouri. And I think if you are more informed it can be a wonderful diving experience.

 

[Johnny Mojo]

Sorry to hear of your difficulties, but on the positive side it sounds like you and your friend got the wrong end of the cattle drive. I have (and still do) this on my bucket list, and the information is good to know so thanks for the report. I have read many reviews on the mine and what you describe is not atypical, yet others also glow about it. I do wonder if timing is everything...at least with the lower trails.

Kudos to both of you for sticking with it and glad you got some good (Opera Room) out of the trip. I was very disappointed to hear the part about the safety divers. It sure sounded to me like things could have gotten out of control.

Finally, I bet after you have had some time to decompress (pun intended) you will find that you overcame some bad circumstances and will be a more confident diver as a result.

Slightly off topic, but I guess we will probably do the Atlanta Aquarium before the mine. It's only money .

J.

 

[SoccerJeni]

Yes, I'm glad that some people still plan to go! I really don't want to discourage anyone from going, when they might have a much better experience than I did. The main thing that upset me was how crowded it was. It's good that in the summer it's not as bad! I do think everyone is different so I hope you don't take my review as the be all end all of Bonne Terre and that you also consider what others have said about it.

 

[SoccerJeni]

Sorry to hear of your difficulties, but on the positive side it sounds like you and your friend got the wrong end of the cattle drive. I have (and still do) this on my bucket list, and the information is good to know so thanks for the report. I have read many reviews on the mine and what you describe is not atypical, yet others also glow about it. I do wonder if timing is everything...at least with the lower trails.

Kudos to both of you for sticking with it and glad you got some good (Opera Room) out of the trip. I was very disappointed to hear the part about the safety divers. It sure sounded to me like things could have gotten out of control.

Finally, I bet after you have had some time to decompress (pun intended) you will find that you overcame some bad circumstances and will be a more confident diver as a result.

Slightly off topic, but I guess we will probably do the Atlanta Aquarium before the mine. It's only money .

J.

Thanks Johnny! I did actually feel a little better about progressing in diving. I'm planning to do advanced this Summer and rescue as well, so knowing that I went through some stress underwater and handled it alright makes me feel better about that.

 

[idocsteve]

If you feel like you're getting crowded and you're in constant fear of getting kicked by the diver in front of you, an appropriate way of handling the situation would be to slow down and get some space between you and the divers in front of you.

Same thing when you're driving a car and you find you're right up behind someone. If they stop suddenly you're right up their ass.

You can't control how fast they swim (or drive), but you can certainly control your own speed.

 

[SoccerJeni]

If you feel like you're getting crowded and you're in constant fear of getting kicked by the diver in front of you, an appropriate way of handling the situation would be to slow down and get some space between you and the divers in front of you.

Same thing when you're driving a car and you find you're right up behind someone. If they stop suddenly you're right up their ass.

You can't control how fast they swim (or drive), but you can certainly control your own speed.

I do totally agree with you. And that's the plan I had on Dive #2 & #3. Sometimes they group you up though to get your PSI reading, and sometimes then you can't stay away from everyone.

 

[noreastDIVER84]

That makes sense. If you do go back I'd love to hear about it. I was kind of bummed that it turned out so bad since it's the only place close to me I can dive in the winter. I wonder if they have any sites that do not have overheads? I got through them okay and I wasn't scared for my safety. But I guess it just kind of makes me think back to OW classes and that the certification I got was for areas with no overheads...so it just makes me question whether I should be there or not.



Well, I hope you consider others reviews too. I would hate to discourage you from going there in case it's something that you would like. But if you do go there I would recommend staying to the back of the group so you don't get in the crowded mess.

I would stay at the back of the group anyway. When I am doing a wreck I prefer to be on e of the first down, but for something like this I wouldn't mind being at the back of the group.

 

[ittyninja]

If you feel like you're getting crowded and you're in constant fear of getting kicked by the diver in front of you, an appropriate way of handling the situation would be to slow down and get some space between you and the divers in front of you.

Same thing when you're driving a car and you find you're right up behind someone. If they stop suddenly you're right up their ass.

You can't control how fast they swim (or drive), but you can certainly control your own speed.

This makes total sense.

However when you are trying to follow someone because you don't know your way around, you try to keep them in sight. In a situation when the guide is going around pillars and pointing out things of interest you want to get the most of the tour. The only way this can be done is by keeping up.

If it was a wide open space the amount of divers wouldn't be an issue because you could allow everyone their space.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

And this is why I have no desire to do this dive. Herd diving, pace set by others, the stress of having to keep up with a guide, them deciding your turn pressures, etc. BS way to dive for me. As for staying at the back of the pack, my understanding is that they have a diver back there to push you along and make sure you keep up. Also overhead environment that you are not allowed to take a light into? Screw that. I always carry a light no matter what. I'm not changing my configuration for anyone. And finally I don't care if they are all cave instructors, why are they taking such large groups of OW divers thru and pushing them to their limits. Naw, not worth it to me to drive that far and be herded like that and encounter the kinds of things Jenni talked about. I'd spend the whole time being pissed off.

 

[al248005]

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience there. I always thought diving was supposed to be fun and by your description this doesn't sound it was very fun and exciting. Constantly worried about being kicked in the face, over-crowded dives, and being put into uncomfortable situations is not my idea of a good time. Isn't diving stress-free and a time just to take it all in? IMHO there is nothing worse than being on an over-crowded dive and or dive boat. You mentioned they did air checks throughout the dive; when you said you didn't pass your 2nd air check did anyone escort you back out or were you still close to where you entered? I would have thought the dive leaders wouldn't of led divers who didn't have a cave cert into an area with an overhead environment and let alone cramp everyone into it. I understand you are technically in an overhead environment everywhere inside the mine but I would think that they would have a more "open" environment tour for the less experienced divers. Just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.