Diving With Express Water Sports

[LiveBait]

June 24.
The dive boat was full but, the size and layout left a lot of room I never felt cramped or crowded. All of the crew were friendly and ready to help. The dive master was through and gave a good amount of detail on the place, the boat and the procedures we were to follow. The boat provided a smooth ride and easy entry and exit from the water. We did a two tank trip with water temps around 76f perfect for me in a full 3mil. The visibility was good for me but only average for the area..I think it was around the 40-50ft range but that is just a guess. The first dive was very pleasant with a mild current. The second dive was the same except while going up the line to the boat the current changed direction and picked up a bit. Over all it was a great experience. The staff was very pleasant over the phone and in person. I would certainly recommend them and use them again next time I am in the area.

Only a couple things I would like better..
1 They changed the dive site without telling me. We were to dive the copper pots but they said since it was a full boat that dive site would not be big enough... OK but I would have liked a call.

2 Their website is very good but it could use a charter FAQ or something to give you a heads up on everything. Like don't bring a banana on their boat!! lol

Like I said small stuff.



Goldfinch Reef sorry for the amateur photos...









Bait

 

[The Chairman]

Where are they out of?

 

[LiveBait]

Hah sorry that might be helpful..

They are out of Murrells Inlet SC. A short drive from Myrtle Beach were I stayed..

 

[Steve_C]

I like express more than the one at the north end of Myrtle Beach.

I mostly dive in NC but the practice there, like most places, is that it is Captains Call. If they are going to an inshore site they can switch to a different inshore site without notifying you by a call. Change can be for several reasons. We arrived at a site once that had two boats already on it so we switched to a nearby site. I have gotten called when inshore dives were canceled or an offshore trip has been canceled for some reason and there is another closer in option at a different time.

 

[SC_Hoaty]

+1 for Express - good folks and easy to work with.

A few years ago they had an emergency on one of the trips - and the response was textbook. Not all the boats in the Myrtle Beach area can make that claim. You chose wisely.

 

[The Chairman]

What are the water temps like up that way?

 

[SC_Hoaty]

What are the water temps like up that way?

Here are some snapshots from my log

9/22/07 - 77 degrees BP25 Site
8/19/12 - 76 degrees Civil War Wreck Site
10/25/12 - 73 degrees Goldfinch Reef

The OP cited 76 on 6/24/13

I use a 3/2, no hood

Viz varies from 15-40 typically.

 

[Steve_C]

What are the water temps like up that way?

Did 4 dives off Wilmington, NC around the beginning of June. 80-100 ft of water off shore. Bottom temp was around 71-72. Will be a tad warmer now.

Viz ranged from 40 to 60 to 80 ft depending on the site.

 

[rlskill1]

What are the water temps like up that way?

Hey NetDoc,

Water temps offshore Beaufort, NC on 7/6 and 7/7 were 77-78 on the surface down to 65-70' then dropped to 68-70 depending on what wreck you were on.

 

[The Chairman]

I've always wanted to dive that area... just never found the right dive op to make me take the trek.