Maramec Spring

  Maramec Spring is located approximately 8 miles south of St. James in Phelps county, Missouri. The spring issues from within Maramec Spring Park and is privately owned by The James Foundation. The park is very popular and is known for, among many things, its museum, partially restored iron works, and excellent trout fishing.

  Maramec Spring is also the location of the Ozark Cave Diving Alliance's first official exploratory project. Continuing with the work of Roger Miller and Frank Fogarty's 1978 exploration, members of the OCDA were able to obtain park permission to explore Maramec Spring in late 1996. Since that time, the team has been able to explore several thousand feet of passage and provide the park with quality video, photographs, survey, and maps. Much of the information obtained may be viewed inside the Maramec Spring Park Museum.

  Flow and visibility inside Maramec Spring vary greatly and, because of higher flow, the OCDA decided underwater scooters would be necessary for further exploration in 1997. Spring temperatures here seem to stay in the low 50's, perfect for the trout hatchery, but rather chilling for long dives. Access for diving is by research permit only and is not open to the public.

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