Missouri Cave Diving?

[Hodg]

Long time lurker, first time poster!

I just got my Intro to Cave cert and was wondering if there are any good options for cave diving in Missouri. Any recommendations for dive sites OR shops would be most welcome. I live in Chicago, so it'd be great if I could dive in the area instead of going all the way to Florida.

Thank you!

 

[dewdropsonrosa]

It's an older post, but it checks out:
Missouri Cave Diving

Anecdotally, friends of mine (also Chicago-area cavers) have indicated that the Missouri visibility and current conditions are often more challenging for newer divers than what one finds in northern Florida.

 

[grantctobin]

Send me a pm and I’ll give you the local sphiel. There’s some pretty stellar caves in MO.

 

[karstdvr]

Dewdropsonrosa may not have given you the recommendation you want to hear,but Missouri caves are going to be a lot more different than what you trained in, and depth can get very deep quickly, also conditions are very variable. I know it is a long drive to Florida,but you will get the type of dives and bottom time you need before moving into something a less entry level than what you see in Missouri. If you feel absolutely compelled, make sure to hook up with some with a lot of experience there, because there are many consideration from not only the caves themselves, exposure protection, weighting etc, that is so much different than Florida.