First time in salt water

[wetman]

Is there anything else to think about when going into salt water other than needing more weights and rinsing the gear?

Heading down to north carolina next week and figured i'd ask just in case theres anything extra i should bring.

(oh ya, any good wreck suggestions?)

thanks,

steve

 

[Scubaroo]

Are you shore or boat diving? Shore entries and exits can be tricky if there's much more than a smidgen of surf about. Not sure what great lakes diving is like, but strong surge may be something new to you as well.

 

[jbd]

about the surge. If you're not used to it you can burn up energy un-necessarily. I finally figured out to relax and stop finning when the surge would pull me backwards. Then fin again during the forward motion.

If you have any current, its really fun to go with the flow while absolutely motionless.

 

[wetman]

well, i think we have 1 charter a day starting thursday to sunday. and as i understand it doing some night shore dives may be a bit challenging for those tital reasons you were mentioning.

One other question that i wouldnt typically have to deal with around here is: how do i tell if a shark is one thats likely to want to eat parts of me if i see one? The most viscious things we have in our waters are some of the larger crayfish that seem to be appearing now and zebra muscles!

steve

 

[redacted]

If you don't bite them, they probably will not bite you. But they might swim up your light. Just take your light off them & have faith. You'll learn what faith really is.

Enjoy

 

[crab]

I would recommend a bottle of fresh water to rinse your mouth out with. If you are diving from a boat this should be provided. If you are shore diving throw a 12 oz. bottle or two in your gear bag. It is sure refreshing after a salt water dive, plus you should have some around to keep yourself hydrated anyway.

 

[art.chick]

I have only been in fresh water once (if you can call a 50% solution of duck poop "fresh"). Everyone else made good points, but much will depend on your location. I have never tried a shore dive in NC & have no idea how wild the surf gets there (hopeful not wild at all.)

I would protect your car in the area where u store gear, putting waterproof stuff all over where the drippy salty bag goes. Salt water rusts cars. YOu willl need to hold your mask as you enter so a wave cant remove it. I never turn my back on the ocean when I enter or exit either. There are many pointers for that if you are beach diving. Please let us know if you would like these pointers. Otherwise, post the results when u get home & let us know how it went.

 

[Padipro]

Wetman,

You'll have a blast in the ocean. Several years ago I took a guy I had certified in a South Carolina lake to Ft. Lauderdale with me for his first ever ocean dive. When we got out of the water after the first dive he was completely quiet. I thought something was wrong and when I asked him if he was alright all he could say was "Unbleveable." Later he said that it was just so fantastic that he just didn't know what to say.

I've never dove off the North Carolina cost but I have off South Carolina and the only bad part is the boat ride. The contential shelf runs so far out that it's going to be a several hour boat ride to get to deep water. It took us about 2 hours to get to 60 feet. Make sure you take some sea sick meds about an hour before you get on the boat unless you're absolutely sure you don't get sea sick. It's the worst feeling in the world to be sick on a boat and know it's going to be 4 or 5 hours before you get back to shore. ut:

As far as the sharks go, IF you have the chance to see one count yourself lucky. It's not very often that divers see sharks unless you're doing a shark dive. I've got over 500 dives all over the world and I can count the number of times I've seen a real shark on one hand. Besides, sharks don't like divers, we make to much noise and aren't very gracefull underwater. They usually vacate the area as soon as we show up.

Have a great time and let us know how it went when you get back.

Scott

 

[MSP Rescue Diver]

Originally posted by Padipro
Besides, sharks don't like divers, we make to much noise and aren't very gracefull underwater. They usually vacate the area as soon as we show up.

Except at "The Nursery" off Pompano Beach. Even though it's illegal to feed the nurse sharks anymore, they still show up whenever a boat stops overhead. I guess all those years of training are hard to break.

It did freak me out a bit when they all showed up as we stepped off the boat for our last OW certification dive. I thought perhaps we had all failed and this was our punishment.

 

[Padipro]

Originally posted by FLL Diver


I thought perhaps we had all failed and this was our punishment.

LMAO I think I know the place. We call it the Sea Emperor. Lots of Rays, Eels, and a few Sharks. I've had some BAD students but never bad enough for that.

Are you going out for mini season next week? Lots of bugs around this year, should be a good season.

Scott