Water In Silo?
As you will see, the Atlas Missile took a mighty big hole to house it and the maintenance, fueling and elevator mechanisms. These, of course are gone now, allowing us unrestricted access to the surface from the bottom while diving.
The Atlas Missile the first generation of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) designed by General Dynamics. It was ten feet in diameter, 82 feet long, weighed 260,000 lbs and capable of traveling 11,500 miles at 15,000 miles per hour. The three engines, two boosters and a sustainer were fueled by liquid oxygen and RP-1 fuel., generating 389,000 pounds of thrust.
In order to build this site, they moved 37,500 cubic yards of earth and poured 7,847 cubic yards of concrete around 1,288 tons of steel reinforcements. The reasoning behind the solid construction (4-10' thick concrete with 1' rebar on 9' centers) and earth sheltering was to allow this site to withstand a nearby nuclear strike and still be able to fire its missile at an enemy.
This Missile silo was only occupied for a little over 2 years before being decommissioned. The advent of M.I.R.V. (Multiple Independently Targeted, Re-entry Vehicles) missile technology placed fixed base deterrent forces at considerable risk, so these missiles were removed and other, mobile systems were employed, primarily submarine-based Polaris missiles and minuteman missiles on mobile launchers. The Atlas missiles were modified and subsequently used to launch the Mercury Astronauts and over 175 other payloads into space over the next 10-20 years.
Several recurring questions are frequently asked by many of our guests:
'How did you fill the silo up?', 'How long did it take you to fill the silo?', 'Where did you get the water to fill the silo?'
We did not 'put' the water in the silo; over the last 35 years, it gradually seeped through the 4' thick concrete walls until it reached the level of the surrounding groundwater. The water is fresh, clear and cool. Visibility is 130', however there is very little available light underwater, so be sure and bring your own dive light, backup dive light and marker light*.
This is 'adventure diving'
To really make this a fun and enjoyable dive site, we recommend that you:
Already have some prior deep diving experience, or be in an advanced or master class with this as your deep dive.
Be correctly weighted using all of the gear you will be wearing to dive (get with your instructor to arrange a pool night so you can perfect your buoyancy in your cold water gear)
Make prior dives in cool water (your instructor or local dive shop probably conduct these dives at sites close to you)
Be in moderately good physical shape to carry your dive gear to the dressing area and to climb down the stairs to get to and from the water (use the stairs instead of the elevator for a few weeks before you come)
The efforts you make to gain additional skill and experience in diving will enhance your experience with us at Dive Valhalla.
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