WSIL-TV 3 ABC
Top Stories
Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
New Years Day SCUBA Dive
Glen Faith, owner of Mermet Springs, said, "Whatever way you begin the first of the year sets the stage for the rest of the year. And we love to dive so it's an exciting and exhilarating way to start our new year."
30 divers from Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri came to dive the crystal clear, cold water.
Elijah Pulley dove with his father today and said he did because "there aren't a lot of people that can say they went diving on the first day of January."
Angelina Weller from St. Louis, MO said, "This is the coldest I've been in but I have like 3 layers under my dry suit so I think I'm good."
The plunge kicked off around noon when the air temperature was is in the low 20s.
The water was significantly warmer, where the surface was around 46 degrees and 50 feet down, the temperature was 49 degrees.
But with water temperatures this cold, most SCUBA divers wore dry suits.
Galen Hall, an instructor at Mermet Springs, said, "It thermally is a wonderful way to dive in cold water because you are protected and you're not getting wet."
Fairly comfortable and warm, divers explored sunken attractions, like a railcar, an ambulance and the famous 727 jet used in the movie U.S. Marshalls.
Swimming amongst the wreckage were different types of fish, including paddlefish, also known as spoonbill catfish.
Divers agreed the first dip of the year was a chilly success.
If you are interested in trying something new this year, Mermet Springs offers Try Scuba classes in both Carterville and Cape Girardeau.
A Try Scuba Event will be held at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL on Saturday, February 27th from 1:00-5:00pm and on Friday, March 26th from 6:30-8:00pm.
There will also be a Try Scuba class held at the Fitness Plus in St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO on Saturday, March 20th at 1:00pm.
For more information, you may contact Mermet Springs at (618) 527-DIVE.
By: Katie Walls
kwalls@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451958
