I've been quite a few times to Oranogo,but the last time was last year in October,its a little closer to Beaver and you don't have a $20 addmission fee.
Oronogo, Missouri
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cummings66
Contributor
Personally having dove there and witnessed the vis firsthand there's nothing to offer me to entice me to dive there over beaver lake, table rock, bull shoals etc. I'm not a fan of the fee he charges either, but there are some things in there to see beyond the water.
Of course if you dive Beaver Lake you'll find a heli, plane and other things there as well. Cheaper to boot and the vis is similar if not better on average. Joplin has a fairly nice dive shop from what I observed.
IMO dive it for the experience, like you'll dive Bonne Terre, then log it and forget it.
Of course if you dive Beaver Lake you'll find a heli, plane and other things there as well. Cheaper to boot and the vis is similar if not better on average. Joplin has a fairly nice dive shop from what I observed.
IMO dive it for the experience, like you'll dive Bonne Terre, then log it and forget it.
ScubaCatgirl
Contributor
Oronogo.........ICK :shakehead I'll dive Beaver over Oronogo any day, but then again, I'll never dive Oronogo again. Ickky
cummings66
Contributor
Curious choice of words, icky? What was icky about it? I myself just don't think it's worth paying the entrance fee for me and family who don't dive with me for the vis you get. You hear rumors of 30 to 50 feet of vis, yet no diver I've ever spoken to has seen vis of 50 feet. Basically it's the same as the cheaper as in free lakes nearby.
The long ramp down and back up in a drysuit sure if fun however, do it a couple times and you've got a good cardio workout going on. Not so good for a low SAC however.
The long ramp down and back up in a drysuit sure if fun however, do it a couple times and you've got a good cardio workout going on. Not so good for a low SAC however.
NSDiver
Contributor
Matthew-
I know one diver who has seen vis of 50+ feet at Oronogo... my dad. However, that was in 1977 when he got certified. When he visited it with me last month, he hadn't seen the lake since 1978 and his first words after the dive were "damn, it's really gotten murky down there." I wasn't alive in 1978 so I can't verify his claim.
Just seems like there is a lot of silt on the bottom of that lake, and I'd bet that there was a heck of a lot less when the quarry was "younger" and not so much dirt had eroded into it.
Think I might head down there on Sunday with dad for some practice. Have rescue checkouts next weekend. Oh, and it's over an hour closer to Kansas City over Beaver (I know I said I wasn't diving here anymore... oh well). That's kinda nice, even if the diving kinda sucks. Don't like the drysuit ramp of death either. Not fun.
-Nick
Edit: 100 posts!
I know one diver who has seen vis of 50+ feet at Oronogo... my dad. However, that was in 1977 when he got certified. When he visited it with me last month, he hadn't seen the lake since 1978 and his first words after the dive were "damn, it's really gotten murky down there." I wasn't alive in 1978 so I can't verify his claim.
Just seems like there is a lot of silt on the bottom of that lake, and I'd bet that there was a heck of a lot less when the quarry was "younger" and not so much dirt had eroded into it.
Think I might head down there on Sunday with dad for some practice. Have rescue checkouts next weekend. Oh, and it's over an hour closer to Kansas City over Beaver (I know I said I wasn't diving here anymore... oh well). That's kinda nice, even if the diving kinda sucks. Don't like the drysuit ramp of death either. Not fun.
-Nick
Edit: 100 posts!
cummings66
Contributor
I've dove a local quarry at Eugene that the vis only gets fairly good during the December to maybe February time frame, I've seen good vis then but vis is always better when the surface temps are in the upper 30's or low 40's. Best diving there is IMO. Like you I'll dive anywhere I can, sometimes I do the quarry's because it's faster and that's what I want. For quality I prefer the lakes. Not that the vis is always better but rather because there's more to see.
OP
Lakes, quarries,,,there ALL good,,,'fresh water'!!
ScubaCatgirl
Contributor
cummings66:
hehehe :lol: I was referring not only to the poor visability (less than a foot when I was there) but the water was Green! Yuck! I just felt all slimy when I dove there and your right about that looooooong ramp down & looooong ramp back up. Not a fun deal when your carrying loads of equipment. (of course now w/my bad back I can't do that at all).
Oronogo is fine for some people. I'm just spoiled with the clear turqoise waters of the Carribean, so Beaver Lake although not the carribean, I get much more visability & don't feel like I've been slimed after diving. :lol:
cummings66
Contributor
I believe it's green because of the minerals, but you're right in that I'd dive Beaver Lake first. If I lived a short drive from it I might dive there, but since I have to pass by Beaver Lake first to get there it's a no brainer for me. The lake.
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cummings66:
I suit up at the tables next to the water, so I do not have to make the trip in my drysuit.....
But I do walk up in the drysuit to get all my gear to the truck in one trip. This can be hot after a safety stop in 80 degree water!
I decided to get back in shape after my last trip to Blue Water Lake....
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