This site was named after Bill Matthies owner of the Minnesota School of diving.  Bill's PADI instructor number is 79.  Currently instructors getting certified have numbers upward of  200,000. 

PADI #79 is most commonly used as a training site.  It's easy entry and shallow slope to the training platform at 22 feet make it ideal place for your first underwater experience.   The platform in on a submerged road bed that divides Mahnomen 3 from Mahnomen 2.  Since this site offers divers the possibility of  heading in four completely different directions from one gearing up location it is a great for a large group or multiple dives. 

Mahnomen III can be circled completely on a single tank for a diver with good air consumption.  On the east side of the mine be on the look out for Northern.  There are several nice size ones that like to lay in the grassy area over there.  A dive in the other direction will reveal some wonderful standing timber along with fallen timbers.

The Mahnomen II also offers two directions to head.  In one direction a short swim will reveal a secondary platform in about 12 feet of water.  This platform is frequented often by the our Inland Commercial Diving students practicing their underwater welding.  Further down you will encounters some great standing trees and fallen trees.  A dive in the opposite direction is also nice for trees. 

• Training Platform 22 feet
• Training platform 15 feet
• Standing and fallen trees
• Submerged road way