Any CT divers here?

[Caseyjones]

Hi my name is Casey. I know there are plent of divers in CT. How does diving around here work? Are there boat trips? Do I just rent equipment and head out? I've only had the chance to dive a few times but those were scheduled dive trips while on vacations. How do I get my feet wet, no pun intended?

Thanks
Casey

 

[martinguitar]

Hi Casey -- welcome to diving. The way it works around here is...pretty much however you want it to. Probably the best place to start is a dive shop near where you live/work. They'll have regular divers who will be going out on weekends or other excursions. I'd go talk to them about who is diving regularly in the area. And there is a LOT of great diving in New England. If your dive shop doesn't hook you up with others, then this is probably a good place to look for buddies. My wife and I and several friends dive throughout the spring/summer/early Fall at sites throughout New England. (And travel for diving as well, of course...) Depending on where you live, and what kind of diving you want to do (including what kind of gear you have), I might be able to recommend several locations. Drop a line back.

 

[Caseyjones]

Thanks for the response. I don't have any of my own equipment yet but plan on starting to piece some stuff together. I live right outside New Haven. I will check out my nearest dive shop, I think it is in Wallingford. Are there any in the state that you would recommend? I'd like to take some classes to learn about wreck diving and cave diving but those are future goals. For now I would like to get some more dives under my belt so that things can become more second nature.

 

[Gilldiver]

Thanks for the response. I don't have any of my own equipment yet but plan on starting to piece some stuff together. I live right outside New Haven. I will check out my nearest dive shop, I think it is in Wallingford. Are there any in the state that you would recommend? I'd like to take some classes to learn about wreck diving and cave diving but those are future goals. For now I would like to get some more dives under my belt so that things can become more second nature.

New England Divers is up in Wallingford and is a bit of a wreck diving shop. But are good people. SCUBA SHACK in RockyHill is the local GUE/DIR shop, and Ed at Divers Cove/Seawolf II in Essex is also very good.

All will run trips both local and travel and most have shop bassed clubs. There are also some good independent clubs in CT. Start with these three:
Fairfield County Diving Association Fairfield County Diving Association
Innerspace up in East Hartford Innerspace Explorers
and SECONN SECONN Skin Divers

 

[Starcruiser]

Welcome Casey - I'd second Gilldivers opinion of Ed at Divers Cove/Seawolf II in Essex. Excellent shop, great attitude. If you're coming up to the New London / Mystic area drop a note out here. Plenty of decent beach dives up this way.

 

[Caseyjones]

Gilldiver- Thanks for links, I will be sure to check those out. I will also be checking out Diver’s cove. I see that you are a Maine Historian/researcher. I’ve seen pictures of items that people have found while diving. What are the laws and regulations as far as collecting found items?

Starcruiser- I will keep that in mind as the New London/Mystic area seems to be the closest are for me when it comes to saltwater. I’ve never done a freshwater dive aside from a pool. I’m looking forward to it.

 

[Gilldiver]

I see that you are a Maine Historian/researcher. I’ve seen pictures of items that people have found while diving. What are the laws and regulations as far as collecting found items? .

Good question - long answer, which depends on where you are.

 

[Caseyjones]

I suppose I am referring to items found here in the CT/MA area or is that still too general? I understand that certain historically important items would be an issue but I'm mostly talking about small knick knack type items.

 

[Gilldiver]

It depends on the State you are in. For Long Island Sound all of the bottom is State lands. On the NY half anything over 50 years old is NY property. The CT side is not as clear, CT says that anything “embedded in State Lands” is State property. So, as long as you didn’t dig it up you can technically take it. That said, no one really cares about bottles and there is no enforcement in the Sound, neither NY or CT has the funds to be chasing dive boats and the Coast Guard doesn’t enforce State laws.

Up in Lake George and Champlain and all of the Great Lakes it is a no take area.

Mass is similar to NY but does have some wrecks designated as open take for artifacts.

 

[Caseyjones]

Thank you Gilldiver.