Day trip dive near Charleston?

[frontiernurse]

Hello SC! I'm going to a wedding in Charleston in May and was wondering if there is good diving nearby? I've done a little research and haven't seen anything obvious but thought I'd give this a shot. I'd only have a day, and would have to rent gear. And I have no transportation. Realistic? Thanks!

 

[diversteve]

Try Charleston Scuba - they start diving in May. All the diving there (except the Cooper River Blackwater fossil dives) is offshore - mostly wrecks and ledges. Their boat is 1/2 mi. away from the shop and they'll shuttle you over. The shop itself is just over the bridge from downtown - maybe a mile? Bring a knife or they'll sell you one - it's required. (lots of netting on the wrecks) An interesting advanced dive they do is the Train Wreck, SC bought a load of subway cars from NYC and created an artificial reef with them.

- Charleston Scuba - Full Service PADI 5-Star IDC

If you can't get out, the Aquarium is worth a visit. South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor

 

[frontiernurse]

Wow, being from NY originally, seeing a subway reef could be great!! A knife? Wow, I've never needed a knife before. Always open to new experiences! I'll give Charleston scuba a call for the details, as i'll need to rent everything. In your experience... is it worth the effort/expense? Or do you reckon time better spent touring above ground?

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . . In your experience... is it worth the effort/expense? Or do you reckon time better spent touring above ground?

Interesting question, since it could be asked of any dive, and you'd never get a concensus. Some people think it's worth spending money to dive in cold low-vis water to see almost nothing. Others think it's a waste of money to dive anything other than a pristine 200'-vis coral reef. And every opinion in between.

I haven't dived in Charleston, but I visit the city fairly often, and the subway reef has been on my radar--I just haven't had a chance. That said, last Spring I found myself in the FL panhandle for an event and decided to take a day trip on a boat out of Destin. For me, it turned out to me a total waste of money, with cold (~76F) low-vis water and a bottom resembling a featureless moonscape, nearly devoid of discernible marine life. Yet I've seen others on SB post about the good diving out of Destin. The experience cemented in my mind that whether a dive is "worth it" is very subjective.

But I'd still give the subway reef a try. Heck, fossil hunting in the murky Cooper River doesn't sound bad, either.

If you've never been to Charleston, there is plenty to see on land. Beautiful, historic city.