Think you need to head to the coasts to experience world-class scuba diving? WRONG! Missourians, you’ve got a great option much, much closer to home: The Bonne Terre Mine.
The mine opened in 1860 and was one of the first deep-earth lead mines. It closed in 1962, but before that, it was the largest producer of lead ore on the planet!
Now, it’s a highly rated dive site you’ve got to see to believe.
Called Billion Dollar Lake Resort, the mine has been transformed into a 17-mile lake with, you guessed it, one billion gallons of water.
This makes it the largest freshwater scuba diving venue in the WORLD.
Its location in an abandoned mine means the environment can be carefully controlled to offer the best diving experience possible.
There’s more than 100 feet of visibility at all times, thanks to the 500,000 watts of lighting, and the water is always 58 degrees.
Experienced guides take groups through the mine’s 24 dive trails, where you can see mammoth archways, calcium falls and a variety of mining artifacts, including the elevator shaft.
If you’re not a certified diver, walking and boat tours of the mine also are available.
This year, USA Today’s Readers’ Choice awards named it America’s Best Underwater Attraction, and it’s also been named one of the top 10 adventures in America by National Geographic Adventure.
Famous marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau even visited once in the ‘80s!
To see more of the mine, check out this video:
For more unexpected Missouri, check out these castles sprinkled throughout the state!
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