Aquatic Safaris, Wilmington, NC

[b1gcountry]

I'm from the midwest, and do most of my diving ineither Arkansas Lakes, or the Great Lakes region, but we're coming down to Wilmington for a wedding on August 25, and would like to get a couple days of diving in the Thursday+Friday before the wedding. The only local diving I found was the charter called Aquatic Safaris. Has anybody had any expereince with them? They seem like a decent place, but I had a couple questions...

Are there any must do dives around there? I was thinking about doing the Hyde and Markham one day to see the wreck and sandtigers, but are there any other places that stand out?

What is the charter op like? Charters on the great lakes are pretty much a taxi ride to the site, then you're on you own. I'm not looking for too much handholding, but I wouldn't mind a local diving orientation.

Is there anywhere to go in case we can't get enough people signed up for the charter that day? It doesn't look like there's much near-shore stuff. Any other charters within 2 hours drive?

This will be my first time diving in the Atlantic. How does local diving compare to other places (ie, Lake Michigan)?

Thanks,
Tom

PS, I checked out www.wilmingtondiving.com, and it had a lot of great info. Thanks to whoever posted that link on the sticky.

 

[fireflock]

Aquatic Safaris has a very good reputation. The Hyde/Markham is a great pair of dives when the sharkies are around, and it's a great introduction to diving in the area. If you can get on a trip to someplace like the Normannia, Cassimir, or Rosin Wreck, don't hesitate to take it as long as you're comfortable with the depth. The J.D. Gill and Frying Pan Tower are also sites I never hesitate to visit. In general - longer boat rides = more spectacular sites.

You will get a boat ride and a pre-dive briefing. Unless you request and pay for a private guide you and your buddy will be on your own from the time you splash until you return to the boat. That's pretty much standard in NC. At the same time, the mates are very willing to help or answer questions if you ask.

Boat rides in NC are longer than some other dive locations. Expect 1-2hrs each way depending on the site. Nitrox is a big plus and 100cf tanks are available as rentals. Dive trips are sometimes canceled due to bad weather, but there is plenty to do in Wilmington to keep you entertained.

The diver behind wilmingtondiving.com works as a crew member on the Aquatic Safaris boats (and posts here).

As far as other ops within a 2hr drive - CapeFearDivers.com is close by, in Carolina Beach. You can reach the Morehead/Beaufort area in 2hrs I think, and there are a half dozen or so dive ops there. You can also reach the people in Myrtle Beach given 2hrs if you want to. My guess would be that you won't have trouble getting a charter to run during that time of year. If the weather turns bad (either a windy day or god-forbid a named storm), you can't really drive your way out of it in 2hrs.

Rich

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

Aquatic Safaris is a first rate operation. Here's a link to a trip report and some video from a charter I was on with them a few weeks ago.

http://www.ncdivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2814&start=0

 

[RAD Diver]

I also was on that charter & was the 1st time with Aquatic Safaries, but it wont be the last. Their boat is fast & we got to the site in less than 2 hours.The crew were very friendly & quick to give info on the site.
I also have been out with Cape Fear & although their boat is not so fast, we went out when no one else did. 6ft seas, we went to the Hyde, Markham sites, very close, but took 2 hours each way.
N.C. diving is an entity in itself & will ruin you for all time. Just kidding, but it is very nice with all the sealife of every shape & size, then there are the Sandtigers. You will continue to come back year after year.

 

[b1gcountry]

Thanks for all the comments.
Looks like wreck diving down there is more of a hands on sport than in the Great Lakes. You pretty much can't take anything from the lakes. They even have laws against taking the dang zebra mussells. I saw the video, and it looked pretty tough to navigate on the wreck. I'll have to hit up the crew for some pointers and do some research beforehand.

Sounds like it will be a good time.

Tom

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

Viz during the summer is typically much better than that. Check out some more video from these two guys:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=fpsndiver

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=diverpat000

 

[flounderer]

Howdy,

I work as a mate on Aquatic Safaris boats and run the wilmingtondiving.com site. PM me if you have any questions, I should be able to help ya.

Pat

 

[OCDinNC]

I second the recommendations for Aquatic Safaris. I don't get to Wilmington area too often, but dove 3 days with them about a year and a half ago. The first was a rough day, in a six pack boat, inshore dives. It was all you could have expected! Second day was better, a little further out (a couple of tugs). We did see sand tigers on that one. The 3rd was a trip I asked for: Cassimir and Normannia. The neat thing is you can request a site, and as long as they get enough people to go, you get it, provided you started the charted for that day.

I had already done some of the "better" wrecks out of Morehead City, and had heard good things about these two, so I started the charter for those two sites specifically, and got my wish. They were great.

The people are good to deal with, in every respect. Wish I could get down more often!

 

[JayJudge]

A.S. is the ones I'd suggest. Cape Fear's boat was built as a tour boat, it has seats facing each other, so you put your gear on the one infront of you and have to then slide out to get to an exit. It is also slow. However, both operations are geared toward the divers, I'd just say Aquatic Safaris is a better boat and crew. I was also on the dive in Jan, it wasn't such bad vis as too many stinking bait fish in a current.
-Jay

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

My husband and son went with Aquatic Safaris and had a really good time. No complaints from them.