Revision 5/17/2012 1:19 PM
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Crosby Mine
 N 8th St & 2nd Ave E, Crosby, MN
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Max Depth: 101-110ft/31-34m
Average Viz: 16-20ft/5-6m
Bottom Composition: Clay/Muck
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Summer: 66-70°F/19-21°C
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Located near Crosby, MN - Ironton is the Cuyuna State Recreational area - home to some of the best diving in the Midwest. This beautiful park with its tree lined, crystal-clear water filled mines, shows no sign of it’s former self. From 1911 to the late 1970’s the area was scarred by heavy machinery that cut up the landscape and opened up some 55 open pits mines. Although there is still quite a bit of ore left in the area, soon after WWII the demand for steel dropped significantly and mining in the area eventually slowed to a stand still.
When the mining stopped so did the pumps that kept these huge holes dry. As the waters rose over the next decade the once empty holes became some of Minnesota’s newest lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Recourses stocked the waters with northern pike, walleye, crappie, bass, trout and sunfish. Visibility is usually around 20-50 feet and along with great fish life, divers can still find remnants of the rich mining past.
Several of the sites boast forgotten mine shafts, pipes that once pumped the mines dry, building foundations, power poles and old road beds. Also through the years other items have been added such as abandon vehicles and silly things that make us divers smile, like plastic skeletons and old playground equipment.
During the mining years, trees had time to grow tall around the edges of the mines as they continued to burrow deeper. As the mines closed these forests were soon engulfed. Divers now can have the surreal experience of swimming through trees. At times if seems as if the fish are more at home in these underwater trees than the birds are in their trees above the water.
Other wildlife have added their touch to this underwater paradise. Beavers have created several areas where submerged tree limbs have become new homes to thousands of fish. These spots make underwater photographers drool with the thought of being able to have so many willing subjects in one area. It’s also not uncommon to spot turtles and loons swimming by.