Diving Club

[idratherbedivin]

I am starting a diving club at my local highschool(well at least hoping too). I am looking for suggestions on places that would not be too hard to get to from where I live so that I could do trips pretty often. I just talked to my LDS about it and he said that during the fall and winter you really have to go all the way down to florida to find warm water. He didn't specify how warm and i was wondering if that meant that you really need a drysuit for any diving during that time period in virginia and north carolina. Does anyone know of any good places where I could take people of a wide range of skill levels during the fall and winter months? Also if you have any suggestions on the dive club in general they are welcome too.

 

[Don Burke]

I am starting a diving club at my local highschool(well at least hoping too). I am looking for suggestions on places that would not be too hard to get to from where I live so that I could do trips pretty often. I just talked to my LDS about it and he said that during the fall and winter you really have to go all the way down to florida to find warm water. He didn't specify how warm and i was wondering if that meant that you really need a drysuit for any diving during that time period in virginia and north carolina. Does anyone know of any good places where I could take people of a wide range of skill levels during the fall and winter months? Also if you have any suggestions on the dive club in general they are welcome too.

Down here in the Norfolk area, the ranks of wetsuit divers get pretty thin in November.

Past Cape Hatteras, things warm up quite a bit. Morehead City and Wilmington would be good places to start looking.

 

[Love diving]

It might be a long hike, but out in Missouri there is Bonne Terre Mines. Year round it is 78 degrees. They take all skill levels, offer courses, rentals, lodging etc. Here is an address to get to their website. www.2dive.com The click on Bonne Terre Mines.
It's far...but warm!

 

[Love diving]

It might be a long hike, but out in Missouri there is Bonne Terre Mines. Year round it is around 78 degrees or so. I'm planning a trip there over Spring Break. They take all skill levels, offer courses, rentals, lodging etc. Here is an address to get to their website. www.2dive.com Then click on Bonne Terre Mines.
It's far...but warm!!

 

[idratherbedivin]

Thanks for the tip. That might be a little long for a group trip unless it is on a plane. Maybe I'll personally check it out sometime it sounds like a really cool place to dive. I don't mind the long drive as long as I get to dive I just don't think that other people will want to make that trip.

 

[cornfed]

I just talked to my LDS about it and he said that during the fall and winter you really have to go all the way down to florida to find warm water. He didn't specify how warm and i was wondering if that meant that you really need a drysuit for any diving during that time period in virginia and north carolina.

Like Don said you could try anything south of Hatteras during the winter. Keep in mind that while the water might be warm the conditions can be rough. If you plan something then you need to be prepared for it to get blown out.

 

[WreckGoddess]

Hey.. I can probably help.. I help run the happy hour and some local trips for a single divers group in the NOVA/DC/MD area -- so you are welcome to come and join us for some diving. We will be hitting somewhere in FL/Bahamas/Looking for somewhere else Memorial Day Weekend, Rawlings, VA in June, Morehead City, NC in July, August and September. Or just pm me if you want to talk.
~Vanessa