Quail Run Quarry

[Topsailsun]

My fiance and I are wanting to dive somewhere close to mid-Missouri this weekend. I've been looking for information about Quail Run Quarry in Rolla, but I can't find a website or any recent information on hours, fees, facilities, etc. Has anyone been there recently? Is it still open? Thanks!

 

[Neoteric James]

I just did my open water cert there last weekend. They are still open and pretty much on the honor system, although the owner and family were around all weekend. Just fill out the liability form and there is a spot to put it along with the entry fee of $15 per person.

There are a few boats and statues sunk in the quarry, along with some training platforms, a helmet from a suit of armor, and a memorial for a dive buddy placed by my instructor. I decided not to say what it is since it's new, but I believe any diver will know. There is also a map tied to a wire spool underwater, but some things have moved.

I had a blast even though we got rained on and vis went bad, just had to be really good at navigation.

Contact Information:
For more information contact Mike & Kate Jones: 573-578-6271 or e-mail at: jonesquarry@hotmail.com

Here is some more info:
midwestmuckdiving.com/?p=527

 

[Topsailsun]

Thank you! I'm glad to know it's still open. When I kept seeing sites and info postings from several years ago with nothing recent, I started to get worried that maybe it had closed. What was the water temperature like? We have 3 mil suits, but we've also got hoods (and we could rent something heavier if necessary).

I'm excited to get back in the water. All we've been able to do this summer is pool time and I miss seeing the wildlife.

 

[Neoteric James]

Surface temps were mid 80's with a noticeable thermocline around 20-25 feet. Instructors wore 3mm shorty wetsuits on the first day, I wore a 7/5 with no hood and was very comfortable(I'm small build with no natural insulation), most other students had on anything from 3mm to 6mm. Second day the instructor wore a 3mm and the assistant instructors wore 3mm shortys again.

Watch out for the fish, they are truly too friendly. One bit my ear but wasn't bad, an asst. instructors ear was also bit and he bled a little, then a student swimming during a SI got his nipple nipped at. I caught one preying on my buddy's ear but we were able to swat it away before any attacks.

I'll be back there on the 20th with my LDS for some more bottom time before my trip to SW Missouri.

 

[Topsailsun]

Thank you so much for the information! We went last Sunday and had a great time. The water was a beautiful 78 degrees.....until you hit the thermocline. We'll definitely be heading back soon. It's so close, I imagine Quail Run will become a regular dive spot for us.

 

[Neoteric James]

Awesome, How was the vis? I'm hoping next weekend it will be twice what I had last time.

 

[Topsailsun]

Vis wasn't great. Less than 10 feet at the best point (which was 5 minutes into our first dive, the only other people there were half way through their surface interval so no one was in the water churning it up). At the worst, I lost my hand in front of me (and my dive buddy for a time), but we were able to get out of that area and group back up in slightly clearer water a minute or two later. We're hoping to go back in a couple weeks before it gets too cold for the year. It would be nice to have a year round diving spot (that's not so ridiculously expensive as Bonne Terre) close by somewhere.

 

[Neoteric James]

I went last Saturday and it did cool off quite a bit, I need a hood now. After the second dive I was cold and done for the day. I had about the same for vis, sometimes it was 0 but only in isolated spots, most the time it was about 10 ft.

---------- Post added September 25th, 2014 at 01:23 PM ----------

I hear you on the year round diving, which is why I plan on learning to dive dry. Even if Bonne Terre was more affordable I have read that most people that dive it wet finish up cold.

 

[wolfgangmob]

Me and my friend dove there a couple weeks ago, temps at the 40ft spot hit 60F and surface was 80F, vis has never been much past 6ft before only bright colors are visible. It is not a great spot to dive compared to some of the lakes down south but it is all of 10 miles from my apartment in Rolla to get out there to fill my log books and use my gear for about $30 between entry fee and air costs.

 

[Topsailsun]

Does anyone know when Quail Run gets warm enough to dive in the spring? Would May be an option, or is June a better bet? I've got a 5 mil, but my husband only has a 3 mil so we'd probably be looking for it to be at least 60 degrees above the thermocline.