From iconic foods to renowned museums and outdoor adventures, America’s heartland is rich with experiences, including some interesting dive opportunities. Launch a weekend from Chicago, Indianapolis or St. Louis to access three distinct quarries.

Haigh Quarry, Philips Quarry and Mermet Springs offer year-round shore diving unaffected by weather, and can be reached from the aforementioned nearby urban centers. They all feature paddlefish, an unusual freshwater species with a spoon-like rostrum, and offer full dive-equipment rental, gas fills and access to dive training.

Haigh Quarry is nearest Chicago and has been operating as the “Caribbean of the Midwest” since 1992. As the largest of the three quarries, Haigh is popular with divers but doesn’t feel crowded underwater. Notable events such as Diver Appreciation Day attract a large community of divers. The clearest water is found on the southeastern end of the quarry, farthest from where you enter, near a limestone wall where depths can reach 75 feet. The most unusual sunken attraction is an amphibious military cargo vehicle used during the Vietnam War.

Philips Quarry in Muncie, Indiana, has been accessible to divers since 1959, when the YMCA Scuba Program first operated. Under the same ownership, Tom Leaird manages access to the quarry through his dive shop, Philips Outdoor Center. The shop is known for Eagle Scout dive projects done right at the quarry.

Mermet Springs in southern Illinois is in close proximity to a number of other outdoor activities, including guided canoe tours of the Cache River, a wetland surrounded by cypress trees and habitat to more than 100 threatened and endangered species. This retired stone quarry is spring-fed, never freezes, and features the best visibility of the three quarries.

A series of docks leads to numerous sunken goodies, including a newly added houseboat in 60 feet of water and a truck bed sunk to 120 feet. All levels of divers, both technical and recreational, practice in this quarry. Of the three quarries, this one features the most freshwater fish and is the most likely place to find paddlefish.

Need To Know

Conditions: Viz 15 to 40 feet; water temps average 50°F in winter and 68°F in summer.

What To Wear: Drysuit or 7 mm wetsuit.

Dive Shops Recommended by PADI:

• Ray Scuba Diving, Brownsburg, Indiana
• Underwater Safaris, Chicago
• Y-Kiki Divers, St. Louis

Dive Sites

Mermet Springs
Numerous sunken attractions fill the quarry, including a Boeing 727 used in the 1998 action thriller U.S. Marshals as well as new acquisitions such as a police squad car and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 
A number of conveniences are maintained on site, such as hot showers, flush toilets, nitrox fills and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Philips Quarry
Schedule ahead with Philips Outdoor Center to access this recreational diving quarry year-round. Search out a geocache hidden underwater, then take a hike around the quarry. A number of freshwater fish, including paddlefish, live in the quarry and are protected from fishing.

Haigh Quarry
Diver Appreciation Day, an annual dive event with food and activities each August, draws divers from Illinois and nearby states. The quarry is popular among dive shops as a training site, and with recreational divers looking to navigate attractions like the firetruck located outside the training area.

Trip Tips

1. Chicago


Start from this Midwestern metropolis to be closest to Haigh Quarry and enjoy the food scene and museum experiences in the city. Explore the U-505 submarine on exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry and finish with a slice of deep dish from where it all started at Lou Malnati’s. Visit Shedd Aquarium to learn more about local ecology.

2. Indianapolis


From fine dining to breweries, Indiana’s capital offers more than just the Indianapolis 500 and is near both Philips Quarry and Haigh Quarry. White River State Park connects many of the city’s cultural attractions, inclining the Indianapolis Zoo.

3. St. Louis

Visit the iconic Gateway Arch in Missouri’s second-largest city before heading to the Soulard neighborhood, renowned for its blues clubs and some of America’s best barbecue. The city is closest
to Mermet Springs. Make your way to nearby Garden of the Gods Wilderness for an impressive hike.