The Dilemma with Lake Diving
I posted on Facebook seeking dive buddies and locations for Labor Day. The consensus was clear: diving on major holiday weekends at lakes is risky due to boat traffic. Some boaters ignore diver flags, making it unsafe. One diver even commented about personal watercraft using the flags as slalom courses above the dive park.
Finding an Alternative: Jones Quarry
With lakes out of the question, I turned to Jones Quarry in Rolla, MO, formerly known as Quail Run Quarry. After confirming details with the new owners, we planned our dive. Jason, an experienced diver, agreed to join us. The quarry was a safe spot as the only allowed activities are fishing, diving, and kayaks or paddle boats. They don’t even allow swimmers.
We arrived around 9 AM. Jason was already there, handling paperwork. We filled out liability forms and paid the $20 fee. This was all done on the honor system, with payments accepted by cash or Venmo.
Setting Up for the Dive
We parked within a few feet of the shore. The quarry provided convenient shore entry points, gear setup tables, and some picnic tables. They even had bungy straps for securing tanks on the tables.
This dive was my debut with a Scubapro Luna 2.0 AI dive computer (pre-owned). Despite not having the air integration transmitter yet, the computer worked well. Water temperatures ranged from 77.4 to 81.7°F. The computer didn’t pick up the temperature of the water close to the spring because we felt that on a descent with our feet and didn’t go further since none of us were in wetsuits and it was COLD!
Challenges with Visibility
Recent heavy rain had muddied the water, reducing visibility to about 5 feet. Jason tested new gear, while I experimented with an old Olympus camera. The settings were off, but I managed a few shots, including one of a model Dollar General store underwater.
I did not have great success with my photos. I later learned I had it set to an equivalent of 100 iso, a setting intended for bright light. My limited successes are shown below.
Dollar General Opens Everywhere
Yes, if you look closely at that last photo, you will see a Dollar General Store, open for business (or at least a model of one). I got a good laugh out of that and appreciated the joke. For anyone outside the US, it’s a running joke that a Dollar General store will open immediately as soon as there are humans around.
Watch the Wildlife
We had one small injury as well. Gabe complained that a fish bit his ear. We could see the redness. I learned from other divers that Bluegill are known to be a bit aggressive, and it was likely one of them that bit him. My reading indicates that it’s not really aggression but rather being territorial and curious that results in this behavior.
Exploring Further
Our last dive was more enjoyable as we navigated around rocks and the quarry wall. Improved familiarity with the layout helped us maintain visibility of each other.
Conclusion and Future Plans
Despite the poor visibility leading to shorter dives, Jones Quarry proved to be a good spot. I’d like to return when conditions are clearer. Since it’s close to my sister’s house, it also encourages a visit and Labor Day was a perfect example, as we left the water to fill up on grilled chicken, baked beans, chips, and potato salad.
