8 May - Mermet Springs and Scuba Diving

8 May - Happy Mother's Day!
Today we traveled from Scott Air Force Base campgrounds near Shiloh IL to Mermet Springs Scuba Diving destination in southern Illinois, location #4 below.  We got on the road about 9:19 am and arrived about 12:12 pm, 139 miles.  The drive was easy and we just stopped once at a rest area so Liberty could get out of her kennel for a minute.  The weather was clear and warmed quickly to the 80's.  We will be here until Wednesday 11 May and then to Pennyrile State Park in Kentucky.

When I made our reservation for Mermet Springs a few months ago, they advised the park would be closed for diving on Mother's Day (today) and the gate would be closed but we would be able to get in.  Yeah, right!  So there we are, the pickup and the "condominium on wheels" parked outside the gate which of course was locked, and no answer on their phone...  So we stepped over the gate and walked about the place.  No one to be found.  Later, the owner showed up to pick up some items and we explained our situation.  he was very accommodating and apologetic.  He made sure we go in and park, offered up some free fire wood, and could not have been more helpful!

I deployed to Iraq in 2006 and was selected as Wing Command Chief while there.  When I returned from Iraq, Doreen and I both put many things on hold and poured our hearts and soles into the responsibilities of that position and supporting our Airmen.  One of my passions is scuba diving but there was just no time for it as it usually involved travel..  The Wing Command Chief position led to the State Command Chief position, so other than a dive here or there, I have done very little diving in the last 8+ years.  Now that I am retired and Doreen and I have started our various journeys across America, I wanted to get back under water" again!

So why Mermet Springs?  I have wanted to scuba dive Mermet Springs ever since I learned of it.  The lake (quarry) has many sunked objects for divers to find and explore such as vehicles, boats, a railroad coal car and airplanes!  Believe it or not there is a Boeing 727 which was used in the movie US Marshals was sunk here. This is a map of the quarry and a list of the object we will be exploring.

Mermet Springs is set up to accommodate small and large groups of divers from all over the Midwest.  They have covered areas with benches for diver's gear and even white boards for the instructors to use while teaching their students.

It is very convenient they have RV sites right here, but they are pretty basic with 30 amp electric only - no water or sewer.  We will use on-board water supply and sewer for the four days and three nights we are here - no problem!

We parked the trailer quickly and set-up went without a hitch.  Other than the owner's trailer (unoccupied), there is no one else here which is kind of nice.  The RV site they gave us has a clear view of the southwestern sky, so the satellite worked and we were able to pull in the Chicago Cubs game.  Doreen had purchased a beef roast and vegetables, so we fired up the Dutch Oven and enjoyed a nice Mother's Day meal.

Tomorrow I will register and will get in two or three dives with one of the instructors here since I am "buddyless" and I cannot dive by myself.  We will do that again on Tuesday and then depart Wednesday for our next destination in Kentucky.  Doreen plans to get some sewing done while I am exploring the abyss.