Haigh Quarry, Illinois

2003 will be the ninth year Haigh Quarry has been open to divers, says owner Tina Haigh. She and her late husband acquired the former limestone mining site in 1978. The 12-acre quarry, 60 miles (96 km) south of Chicago, is just outside Kankakee. It offers divers seven training platforms at 25 feet (7.5 m), and an eighth one at 65 feet (20 m). Underwater features include a large stone crusher, several drills and a conveyor belt, all left from the site’s mining days. Other features are a 33-foot cabin cruiser, which is easily penetrable, and a Marine dump truck. An amphibious vehicle, a LARC 5, will be sunk there this spring, Haigh said.

Depths to: 90 feet (27 m)

Visibility: Ranges from 35 feet (10.6 m) in the spring and late fall to 15 feet (4.5 m) in August.

Water temperature: Ranges from the mid-30s Fahrenheit (1-2 degrees Celsius) in the winter to the low 80s F (26-28 C) in the summer.

Marine life: Bass, crappie, bluegill, perch,
catfish and paddlefish.

Fees: For divers, $20 per day.
For nondivers, who must be 12 or older, the fee is $10.

On-site amenities: Concession stand, dive store with air facilities, barbecue grills, picnic tables, a beach building with a fireplace, dressing rooms, rinse-off station, two covered docks for access to deep water, and a beach walk-in area for shallow entry. A classroom is available, too.
Hotel accommodations are nearby.

More info: Call Tina Haigh at (815) 939-7797,
e-mail ehead@keynet.net, visit www.haighquarry.com or write to 2738 E. 2000 North Road, Kankakee, IL 60901.

Open: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, from March through November. Reservations are encouraged.

Getting there: From Chicago, drive Interstate 57 south to Exit 315. Take Route 50 south to North Street and turn left. Continue east one-quarter mile to the quarry sign.