diving in the DC area?

[Sheepdog]

Bikediver are you a member of the atlantisrangers? Someone gave me a link to the site in another thread, I going to try and attend the Sept meeting to see what its about.

 

[jamiep3]

Welcome to the area. I work just north of DC (Laurel), and live over on the Eastern Shore. There is some wreck diving off of Ocean City, but both Viginia Beach and North Carolina can be done in a long weekend. The North Carolina wreck diving is great.

If you where here this weekend I'd ask you to go up to Dutch Springs for the Hard Hat diving group that is doing an exhibition. Hoping to try out my round label RAM.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I appreciate the input on housing and commuting. It seems to be pretty consistent that living in MD and taking the metro is the preferred emthod of working in DC.

I am going to try to fly in to look at housing, etc toward the end of next week or the first couple days the week after. It would be nice to have an apartment lined up before I arrive with all my stuff dive gear etc around the last week of Sept.

After that, I will be bugging all those who have offerred to go diving.

If you where here this weekend I'd ask you to go up to Dutch Springs for the Hard Hat diving group that is doing an exhibition. Hoping to try out my round label RAM.

That would have been wonderful - and access to events like that are one of the reasons for my desire to change locations. Also, since the passing of my previous dive buddy last fall, I am both the only vintage and the only technical diver in the area so depending on the equipment of the day I either have people wondering about all the stuff or taking up a collection to help me replace my "old" gear. (Old apparently meaning my 1956/2007 fully rebuilt, rechromed, and rehosed DA Aquamaster with a PRAM upgrade.)

 

[jamiep3]

That would have been wonderful - and access to events like that are one of the reasons for my desire to change locations. Also, since the passing of my previous dive buddy last fall, I am both the only vintage and the only technical diver in the area so depending on the equipment of the day I either have people wondering about all the stuff or taking up a collection to help me replace my "old" gear. (Old apparently meaning my 1956/2007 fully rebuilt, rechromed, and rehosed DA Aquamaster with a PRAM upgrade.)

Just send me a message when you get here. Allways looking for dive buddies, particularly vintage.

 

[Sheepdog]

I am going to try to fly in to look at housing, etc toward the end of next week or the first couple days the week after. It would be nice to have an apartment lined up before I arrive with all my stuff dive gear etc around the last week of Sept.

I don't know what days your flying in or where your staying, but if you need some help getting around, drop me a line. Depending on my schedule and where your trying to go I will try to help if you need it.

 

[Ice9]

Keep in mind, the metro also goes to VA. I use to live at Colecroft Station and the access to DC was awesome. Another great place is Braddock Place.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I am planning to fly in to DCA on Thursday the 13th and will stay through Sunday afternoon with the goal of finding an apartment before I leave.

 

[The Logic Theorist]

On a non-diving note, I would never want to live in D.C.--terrible traffic at any time of week or day, no parking, no backyards. I work in D.C. and live about 45 minutes away in Sterling, VA. Nice Suburban area, plenty of parking everywhere you go, minimal traffic (although it gets worse every year) and the best of all, we live on 4.5 acres (which is a lot in this area). Not to mention it is probably at least twice if not three-times more expensive to live in D.C. then the surrounding areas. So you need to decide what you value more-lifestyle or commute.

One piece of advice-If you decide to move to the outskirts...do NOT live anywhere where you have to commute on I-95. It is the worst road ever. When I drive to work at 5:15 am I hear the same thing every day "all roads are open with no back up except for volume delays on 95 starting starting at Dale City and the Prince William Parkway." I always feel back for them-traffic at 5:00 am! No Thank You.

By contrast, I'd never ever want to live in Sterling. There's like, nothing out there, and suburbs make me twitch.

I live in NE near the Red Line (which would get you to the Air and Space Museum in about 10-15 min during rush hour), in a decent neighborhood. I pay less than $1k/mo, bills paid, in a secure building, for a large one bedroom with hardwood floors and 14' ceilings. A parking spot in my building, covered and secured access, would run me $50/mo. True, I don't have a back yard, but there are townhouses lining the street I live on and they all have backyards. I can walk to just about everything (including the metro and a gym), and downtown is an $8 cab ride from me (all the bars/clubs/museums/etc)

Traffic is also generally not very bad near me at all.

 

[NTSilver]

We have lots of friends who live in DC and love it. Personally I would not live there myself, but there is something to be said for not having to commute. Arlington / Crystal City are also good options with lots of housing choices very close to metro. Also, personally, MD would be my last choice. That being said, people in MD say they would never consider VA. I'm sure that being from SD you are used to traffic and high prices, so it should not be too much of a culture shock for you. Good luck!

 

[cmalinowski]

I appreciate the input on housing and commuting. It seems to be pretty consistent that living in MD and taking the metro is the preferred emthod of working in DC.

I am going to try to fly in to look at housing, etc toward the end of next week or the first couple days the week after. It would be nice to have an apartment lined up before I arrive with all my stuff dive gear etc around the last week of Sept.

After that, I will be bugging all those who have offerred to go diving.

That would have been wonderful - and access to events like that are one of the reasons for my desire to change locations. Also, since the passing of my previous dive buddy last fall, I am both the only vintage and the only technical diver in the area so depending on the equipment of the day I either have people wondering about all the stuff or taking up a collection to help me replace my "old" gear. (Old apparently meaning my 1956/2007 fully rebuilt, rechromed, and rehosed DA Aquamaster with a PRAM upgrade.)

I'm joining this thread late (I've been scubaboard deficient lately). Anyway, I live in Columbia, MD which is closer to Baltimore. But my wife commutes to the DC beltway and Rt50 every morning. Surprisingly, it doesn't bother her too much. Only takes her about 30mins. She passes the Greenbelt metro along the way at probably about 20 mins into her trip.

I used to take the MARC train into the city to Union Station and truly enjoyed that. That was about 17 years ago though. I am sure it hasn't changed too much. In the afternoon you grab a beer, climb on the train, and get off at your stop. Then drive 15 mins home. It's lengthy in time, but not too bad from a frustration standpoint.

Anyway, speaking of heading down there, I have to go load up the truck and head to the redskin's opener. That trip will be about an hour... about twice what it could be.

I am not sure what I'm doing on the 15th, but might be hitting millbrook early. My wife will let me know

Good luck on your quest for housing and welcome to the hood.

Chris