Keeping the Faith

Keeping the Faith

If you build it, they will scuba.

STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS BY DAVID ALLEN

Imagine diving into crystal-clear blue water, exploring 100-foot-deep underwater cliffs, swimming through sunken wrecks, and floating within a few feet of a school of exotic-colored and prehistoric-looking fish. Are you in Cancun? The Bahamas? Or on some isle in the Pacific?

Or could it be you're at a lake deep in southern Illinois? No, that is not a mistake. Clear-blue water, scenic diving spots and interesting finned creatures exist in a place known as Men-net Springs, located on U.S. Route 45 just north of Metropolis and south of Vienna.

The idea of a first-class diving facility in a place not historically known as a major diving destination was the brainchild of Glen Faith of Vienna. Faith is passionate about diving, and the chance to instruct others to appreciate the wonders of the underwater world inspired him to find a place to teach those wishing to swim with the fishes.

Faith found his jewel in an abandoned quarry lake during his early days as a recreational diver. He saw great potential in the litter-strewn property and worked out a long-term lease with the owner.

After he cleared tons of scrap and junk, Faith was determined to make what was once a roadside eyesore into a place where people across the country would come to dive. Faith wanted to set the standard for diving facilities in the Midwest by offering a first-class, professional facility with all the amenities.

"Most people hear about scuba diving in Illinois and think of stained water and poor visibility," he stated.

Faith kept this in mind and designed the drainage around Mermet Springs' 8.5-acre lake to slope away from the water. Controlling this inflow of runoff prevented the excess nutrients that promote the algal blooms which cloud the water of most lakes. With only cool, clean groundwater and natural springs entering the lake, the water quality is high, and visibility is excellent.

"Everything (monetary) that comes in is reinvested into the facility," Faith said, referring to updates to the site that include enlarged camping facilities, additional underwater attractions and a newly erected group of pavilions, complete with picnic tables, dry erase boards, lighting, electrical outlets and breezy ceiling fans.

Those visiting the site will discover a picturesque wooded backdrop and sheer cliff emerging across from the entrance. A trip to the main diving dock will reveal a school of monstrous, rainbow-hued

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(Lower left) Albino catfish swarm about seeking a handout. (Left and above) Divers enjoy excellent facilities at Mermet Springs.

bluegill swirling around the pier, many pushing more than a pound in weight. Although no fishing is allowed, it is okay to feed the fish.

Not far behind the giant bluegill are schools of albino channel catfish that hungrily smack the water surface after the fast-moving bluegills converge on a handful of fish food pellets.

Further beneath the water's surface, 200 spoonbill catfish or paddlefish, some longer than five feet, open their cavernous mouths and filter the water column with huge comb-like gill rakers for their microscopic meals. Even though they are harmless to everything except tiny plants and crustaceans, the thought of this large-mouthed, shark-like prehistoric remnant cruising the water only a few feet from you will guarantee a rise in your pulse rate.

Six, 200- to 312-square foot training platforms are suspended at various depths to allow instructors to teach new divers and certify the experienced ones. Sheer cliffs that beckon exploration plunge to 100-foot depths. Decompression stops are plainly marked for safe surfacing.

Underwater attractions such as the sunken bus and cabin cruiser boat, petting zoo, two Cessna airplanes, a semi-truck and the famous 22-ton Boeing 727 airplane used in the movie, "U.S. Marshals," rest at various depths throughout the quarry lake and are marked with buoys. Guide ropes are plainly visible and assist divers in safely navigating the underwater attractions.

Visitors also can rest assured that their safety is the number-one priority at Mermet Springs. Instructors are kept up to date and maintain all certifications in Scuba Schools International, International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers, first aid, AED Operators and CPR, and are rigorously trained by Faith to maintain a safe, controlled diving environment at all times.

Faith sets high professional standards for the people on his staff. Before anyone can begin work as a paid staff member, that person must work a year as a volunteer.

"This shows that they are dedicated to the sport and have invested time toward the facility," Faith said. Working divers earn the compressed air in their tanks and the opportunity to dive and hone their skills that will make them better divers and possibly future instructors for Mermet Springs.

Mermet Springs also features a fully stocked rental facility for

May 2002 17

Tips for photographing marine life

by David Allen

• First, develop good diving skills. Before carrying a camera, a diver must be experienced to the point of being at ease with all the diving equipment and the water. Mastering buoyancy control is critical. One must be capable of approaching delicate corals without damaging them and silty/sandy bottoms without stirring things up.

• Start with one camera, lens, strobe, and film. Buy the best equipment you can afford. Learn to shoot that combination successfully before expanding. It is important to understand the fundamentals of light, film, apertures and shutter speeds.

• Have a plan. Every diver is taught to "plan your dive and dive your plan." This applies to taking pictures underwater too. Time is limited underwater by your air supply and by the accumulation of nitrogen in your body, so it must be used very efficiently. Research the dive site before entering the water to gain a clearer sense of what to expect during the dive. This naturally leads to which lens and/or accessories to select for your camera set-up.

• Choose the right subject for your lens. Few underwater cameras allow interchanging of lenses, so you are typically limited to the set-up you submerge with. Use wide-angle lenses (15mm to 20mm) for scenic views and large subjects, medium lenses (24mm to 35mm) for moderate sized subjects and macro lenses or close-up accessories for small ones.

• Know your subject. Know what you are looking for during the dive, where it will most likely be found, and how it is likely to react as you attempt to approach it for photographs.

• Get close. This helps overcome three problems unique to underwater photography: 1) Loss of color, which diminishes rapidly due to absorption as distance increases. 2) Loss of image sharpness due to diffusion. 3) Turbidity from paniculate matter producing backscatter when lit by a strobe flash.

You are not close enough until your subject fills the frame. Even then, if the subject is large or the water is turbid, the distance may be too great to obtain a quality image.

• Work your subject. Your goal should be to obtain a few really good images rather than 36 mediocre ones. Vary exposures and composition of each subject to accomplish this. The same techniques that strengthen composition on land also work well underwater. Many aquatic subjects are so colorful or unusual that a well-composed portrait will hold the viewer's interest. Try shooting common subjects in uncommon ways, like emphasizing an eye or close-up patterns in the scales/skin.

Editor's note: Photographs accompanying this article were taken by David Allen, a certified scuba instructor who has practiced underwater photography since 1981. Images were taken using either a Nikonos V camera with a 15mm lens and single Ikelite strobe, or a Nikon N90 camera with a 20mm lens in a Sea & Sea housing and dual Ikelite strobes.

those who do not have their own equipment, an air tank filling station, Nitrox fills and custom air blends. A hydraulic underwater lift on the main dock accommodates divers with special needs and allows for easy water entry. Night diving and specialty diving certifications also are available.

Instructors lead students to one of the shallow diving platforms suspended just below the buoy in the foreground.

Professional diving instructors have an easy time teaching as the new pavilions provide places to develop dive plans, update logbooks and organize students' equipment.

Saralynn Turner, a master dive instructor from Memphis, Tennessee, commented on the facilities at Mermet Springs.

Cyber Diver
Mermet Springs can be found on the Internet at www.mermet springs.com. The site features an up-to-date water conditions report, an interactive map of attractions and information about the site, its amenities and local accommodations.

"Mermet Springs has done more for divers than any other facility. It's clean, well-organized and comfortable. The training platforms, well-marked lead lines and attractions ensure that my students don't get lost or bored. There are few places that allow so many levels of training from beginners to advanced divers."

Whether you are just interested in trying out scuba diving or are a seasoned veteran, Mermet Springs will easily accommodate your training needs and provide some interesting diving adventures.

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