For a few months of the year, Missouri's Bennett Spring offers diving among an incredible population of fish, as well as with some other intriguing creatures. Besides featuring gin clear water most of the time, there is also an amazing underwater cave system that is open to all certified open water divers. Grab your gear, and don't forget your camera; we're about to take a one of a kind adventure.
About Bennett Spring
Located in south central Missouri, near the town of Lebanon, Bennett Spring is open for diving between November and February. While entry is free, reservations are necessary, and if you're hoping to dive here, make your plans well in advance. Only six divers per day may enter the spring.
There is one way into the unique underwater tunnel, and one way out. While you'll see photos of fishermen standing up in waders in the middle of the spring's open area, the portion you'll be diving in features maximum depth at about 85 feet, although the spring itself is much deeper. There is a current; around 103 million gallons of cold, fresh water flow through the spring each day. Some days, the current can be too strong for divers to enter; authorities at the spring keep track of flow at a nearby stone building with gauging equipment.
Once inside, the passage features a relatively large room with walls sculpted by abrasion and water flow. The entire diveable length is a distance of only about 130 feet; you'll be spending more time watching fish and enjoying the spring's unique geology than you will spend traveling. In the room before the exit, the cave walls are highly polished; divers have recovered beautiful stones along with a lot of cans and other junk dropped by unscrupulous visitors.
Besides the numerous non-native trout, which are stocked for fly fishing between March and October, and there are minnows, suckerfish, and catfish. In addition, there are sculpins which can be quite aggressive when they are nesting; shine a light on them if they scare you and they will back off. There are also crayfish hiding in the rocks, and some lucky divers encounter muskrats, mink, otters, and even the occasional beaver.
The water is cold but not freezing; it averages 56-58 degrees Fahrenheit all year. While visibility is normally unlimited, mineral deposits can be disturbed after rain, leading to a chalky or milky cast to the water.
Amenities
While there are camping areas, including a few cabins here, and while there is a small convenience store and restrooms, amenities are limited during the diving season. Be sure to prepare carefully for the weather, and bring warm clothes to put on after your dive.
In order to dive at Bennett Spring, you'll need to contact the Bennett Spring Nature Center to reserve a dive slot. If you are interested in the spring for research purposes, you may be allowed to dive off-season; to find out more, contact the Nature Center. While Lebanon has a few hotels and plenty of restaurants, the nearest scuba shop is approximately 28 miles away, in the town of Waynesville. There are several other scuba shops in Missouri; stop at one along the way and you'll probably be able to talk with at least one other person who has been to Bennett Spring. With some advance preparation, you're sure to enjoy this incredible destination.