PADI Cavern Course at Bonne Terre Mine

[txapacheguy]

I am looking to take the Cavern Course at Bonne Terre Mine in November with West End Diving.

http://www.westenddiving.com/caverncourse.htm

I will be driving from Colorado Springs, CO the day prior, and returning on the day after the course.

Since I have never been diving in the Bonne Terre Mine, and have never visited this area, I would like to get some feedback about the shop that puts on the course there, and the mine itself as it pertains to a setting for the cavern course. I would also like to chat with the instructor(s) that give the course there if possible and anyone that has been cavern trained at the mine.

Thanks in advance!!!

Will

[MRTdiver]

That place is a hyped up tourism event and I was very enthusiastic about the experience I was going encounter. But as it started out, before the dive I felt like I was back in OW cert class watching their required video. Then we walked down the tunnel to the water. After a wait we jumped in and I was led around with a group without a light, then another dive afterwards. Highlight: I got to see an old wet cart used for lead ore.

From what I understand you cannot go and dive there with a buddy or team, just with their guides. I payed a hundred and some, and afterwards was vowing never to do that again.
I would be inclined to find their instructors on scubaboard or simple just call them.

Will, I hope you enjoy the experience more than me, but I would much rather dive with a technical cave instructor with good credentials.

[txapacheguy]

Thanks for the feedback...

My only reason for making the trip out there is to take the cavern class and to get the experience, training, and certification. I had a feeling that a "tour" dive in the mine would be exactly as you described. My main concerns are that the mine does not have the necessary composition to act as a decent training venue for the cavern class, and just general apprehension about taking such a class from a shop/facility/instructor I know little about. Did you take the class there, or just go to do a guided dive?

[zdiver]

There is no cavern diving at Bonne Terre. The water starts in the underground mine, there is no sunlight, and therefore by definition there is no cavern diving. I have not been in that area for about 7 years, but unless it is a much different place run. Find a real cavern instructor; there are a few in that area.

Marvin Zaske

[MRTdiver]

Did you take the class there, or just go to do a guided dive?

Hi Will,
Yeah I only took the tour. But there are lots of guided routes that are lighted and overhead to see.

I was trying to convey the overall recreation experience vs. say a more technical one. Yes they do offer some limited tech. courses, but if you’re at all anticipating going full cave in the future than it seems preferable to find a good cave instructor. And it’s not hard to ask around and search one out.

For example in the Cavern course description you sent, it mentions: Masks & Fins with straps taped... Octopus second stage on 7' hose
Uhhh, I'm not familiar with that set up. I don't tape straps and what they call Octopus I call my primary long hose. I think only a recreational diver who hasn't gone over to The Dark Side would mention this.

Unfortunately the IANTD instructor search looks like it’s down for now?? George Watson (UTD) teaches some overhead. I would look him up. He’s from Boulder, CO. Steven Mortell (NACD) is from Broomfield, CO. That’s just a quick search in your neck of the woods.

[txapacheguy]

There is no cavern diving at Bonne Terre. The water starts in the underground mine, there is no sunlight, and therefore by definition there is no cavern diving. I have not been in that area for about 7 years, but unless it is a much different place run. Find a real cavern instructor; there are a few in that area.

Marvin Zaske

I was wondering how they planned to deal with the part about not having any sunlight down there. Will have to check around and see if someone local to that are can do the class in one of the "real" caverns in the area.

Thanks!!!

Hi Will,
Yeah I only took the tour. But there are lots of guided routes that are lighted and overhead to see.

I was trying to convey the overall recreation experience vs. say a more technical one. Yes they do offer some limited tech. courses, but if you’re at all anticipating going full cave in the future than it seems preferable to find a good cave instructor. And it’s not hard to ask around and search one out.

For example in the Cavern course description you sent, it mentions: Masks & Fins with straps taped... Octopus second stage on 7' hose
Uhhh, I'm not familiar with that set up. I don't tape straps and what they call Octopus I call my primary long hose. I think only a recreational diver who hasn't gone over to The Dark Side would mention this.

Unfortunately the IANTD instructor search looks like it’s down for now?? George Watson (UTD) teaches some overhead. I would look him up. He’s from Boulder, CO. Steven Mortell (NACD) is from Broomfield, CO. That’s just a quick search in your neck of the woods.

That certainly makes sense. I am familiar with Mr. Watson, although I do not know him personally. I have read that he conducts an overhead protocols class amongst others down at Rock Lake near Santa Rosa, NM, a site that I have dove a few times. Not sure if he does a cavern course. I definitely want to continue past the "Cavern" level of cave training as soon as I can get down to cave country for long enough. Some of the terminology used to describe the equipment requirements did seem a little strange to me, but I assumed that this was to cater to the crowd of people that will surely take this entry-level class wearing slightly modified recreational dive gear. I do not plan to be one of those people.

Thanks for the info and insight on this situation. Safe Diving!!!

Will

[RN]

If you want to continue beyond cavern training then you should really consider beginning your overhead somewhere like Florida or Mexico. A mine is not a cave and is not much like a cave either. You will miss out on quite a bit by not training in a true cavern environment. You may also find that your PADI cavern certification will not be accepted as a prerequisite for the next level and you'll end up having to take a cavern class from an NACD or NSS-CDS instructor.

[txapacheguy]

If you want to continue beyond cavern training then you should really consider beginning your overhead somewhere like Florida or Mexico. A mine is not a cave and is not much like a cave either. You will miss out on quite a bit by not training in a true cavern environment. You may also find that your PADI cavern certification will not be accepted as a prerequisite for the next level and you'll end up having to take a cavern class from an NACD or NSS-CDS instructor.

Ouch... I know that the outfit I was looking at to begin with uses the NSS or NACD book. Too bad they do not issue a card from one of those agencies. Another strike against my evil plan to get cavern certified by the end of the year.

Thanks for the info!!!

[PeterBuzzacott]

G'day Will

I think some of the crew at FlatIrons Scuba cave dive and they've always been very helpful to me.

Send me your e-mail address and I'll pass it on to my buddy in Denver. He knows who offers cavern and cave training within reach of CO. From memory he mentioned New Mexico the last time we went diving (in Jefferson Lake, near you I think).

Peter

[txapacheguy]

Thanks Peter!!! PM Sent!!!