Owner Glen Faith knew what he wanted in a dive site long before his first training platform was submerged. He discovered this abandoned quarry lake early in his days as a recreational diver to assemble a team of top quality dive professionals later on turning his dreams into a reality.
Since its establishment, Mermet Springs provides a full service a diver might need catering to dive shops, instructors, students, beginners and certified scuba divers. With seven submerged training platforms, four docks providing easy access to and from the water, dives from 15 to 120 feet in depth and numerous sunken treasures to explore and even handicapped access completed with a chairlift , Mermet Springs is one of the most popular dive facilities in the country.
Apart from many underwater attractions, in the quarry's cool waters you will also find a wide variety of species of local fish from Catfish to Paddlefish. The water visibility at Mermet Springs is exceptional and can range from 15 feet to over 60 feet. Water temperature varies with the Midwest seasons and ranges to the low 40s at depth during winter, and to the mid 80s above the thermo cline in the summer.
There are rope lines connecting all of the sites with underwater signs that tell you what the next item is that you are going to see when you take that path. You will run into an underwater petting zoo, a 15 feet suspended shark, motorcycle, full size school bus, two Cessna planes, cabin cruisers, airplanes, a full size train car, ambulance, fire truck and the famous full size 727 Boeing from the movie "U.S. Marshals".
"I bought the 727 from Warner Bros for one dollar and it was probably the best deal I've ever got"
Glen Faith
the famous 727 passenger jet
Mermet Spring's open Monday to Sunday all year long and if you have a C-Card and your own gear the entry fee is 20 bucks, the site offers nightdiving, rental equipment, suits and accessories, referral programs and various scuba classes and trainings. The area also offers airfill station with four compressors on site, scuba service, camping with RV sites with electricity and anything that a diver might need.
Mermet Springs is located on US 45 between Vienna and Metropolis at 6724 U.S. 45, Belknap, IL 62908. Adrex.com includes the site map with the main „wreck“ attractions and the depths. Adrex.com recommends Mermet Springs services as highly professional. Find the place on the map of Adrex.com Locations...
GPS Coordinates: N 37 17.067; W 088 51.466
Phones: (618) 527-3483 or (618) 524-9444
Photos: © Mermet Springs & YouTube, copyright applied.
Source: http://www.mermetsprings.com
