Frying Pan

[Quetzal]

Anyone been there? I would like to go there. It is on a pinacle in 40' - 50' water sourounded by much deeper water I here. 55 miles off of Wilmington. But I here its only 25 miles off land somewhere. Anyway its scheduled to be torn down. Who's up to going?
This is a link to the weather station on it. By the way its unmanned. http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=fpsn7
This a buoy that will replace it allready in place.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41013
Also who knows where he closest point to put in would be?

 

[Jason B]

Do you know when it's suppose to be torn down (frying pan tower)? When are you planning on going?

Jason

 

[flounderer]

QUETZAL,
How's it going, I was working on the Aquatic boat last week when you guys went out to the 23 and Gill. Frying Pan is an incredible dive. It holds some tropical life that is not supposed to be this far north which makes for some interesting viewing. It is an awesome place for spearfishing, the tower itself holds a good amount of pelagic species, kings, african pompano, and jacks while the ledges have a good amount of grouper, hogfish, and lobster, so tell you're buddy to pack his gun. Aquatic Safaris boats run out there on the nice days. They went there 3 weeks ago and had great dives, lots of grouper pompano and lobster. Its about a 2.75 hour ride out from the dock but it is well worth it. After diving the tower we usually find a ledge around a mile off (usually in 70' or shallower) to do a second dive. The last I heard they are still trying to find a company to tear it down at a reasonable price. Once it is down they are going to drop it in some deeper water for an artificail reef (at a divable depth). Once a trip to the tower is booked it usually gets enough people to go, it's one of our most popular and best dives.

 

[Jason B]

Flounderer,
What are the temps running?

Jason

 

[flounderer]

Based on the buoys water temp it is about 65 which jives with what we have been seeing offshore lately. From past experience the water in the tower/offshore waters should drop just a few more degrees ~62 or so for the winter. I just got a drysuit so bring on the cold water. Let me know if you guys are going to start a charter, I'm always in for that dive.

Pat

 

[Charlie J]

Pat- great photos! what camera/flash were you using.

Jason - looks like a good dive....

 

[flounderer]

Thanks NCDiver2004. It is an Olympus Stylus 400 with the Olympus PT-016 housing. I don't have a strobe yet but it still takes good pics. It's a good inexpensive setup and I've been pretty happy so far.

QUETZAL, check out my buddies site www.wilmingtonspearfishing.com to see some of the stuff we have pulled off the tower and some other sites. If you have some pics of the fish from your 23 and Gill dive send them to Greg (the Capt that day) and he'll get them on the site.

Pat

 

[CapeFear]

I'm up for the Tower anytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have dove around the Tower many times (well over 25) and the surrounding ledges. Its only around 40' under it and it's a decent dive to do once. I would recommend diving the ledges that surround it more than the Tower it's self. Just a LOT more to see out on the ledges. It's not far from Baldhead island.
Are you asking for the closest spot to launch a boat(put in)? That would be Southport just inside the mouth of the Cape Fear river or Long beach. It is a LONG ride but you could put in at Carolina beach or Wrightsville.
If you have a private boat I have some numbers for some STUFF in that area. I had rather they remain private if you now what I mean.

If you go with a charter boat make sure they do it as a drift dive. Anchoring in confines you to a small area. The ledge area is so big if you stay fairly shallow you can go well over 1/4 mile on a drift. The shoal drops off so you can get to around 90' or so on the deeper ledges and pick up some nice bugs.
There are also some real good wrecks near by.

One of THE BEST dives I have ever had off NC was on the ledges surrounding the tower just about 200 yards north. It was June 5, 1999 on a drift dive, it was 81 degrees and a solid 100' foot of vis, depth was 55' to 75'. Run time was 78 minutes. The ocean was as slick as a mill pond. As long as we live my wife and I have agreed that it will allways be at the top. It is so vivid in my memory I dont have to look in a log book for the stats on this one!!! We did the City of Houston on the first dive.

If your interested let me know and I'll be there!
Mike

 

[Quetzal]

Ok I've got 4 persons for the trip, who else is in? Dates are flexable. But sometime in Jan '05 probably. I'm not sure if we'll use Aquatics Safaris or Tom Collins on Spearit, or someone else whata are y'alls suggestions. Gotta do someone who will let us do 3 dives. To far to go for only 2 dives.

I'm up for the Tower anytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have dove around the Tower many times (well over 25) and the surrounding ledges. Its only around 40' under it and it's a decent dive to do once. I would recommend diving the ledges that surround it more than the Tower it's self. Just a LOT more to see out on the ledges. It's not far from Baldhead island.
Are you asking for the closest spot to launch a boat(put in)? That would be Southport just inside the mouth of the Cape Fear river or Long beach. It is a LONG ride but you could put in at Carolina beach or Wrightsville.
If you have a private boat I have some numbers for some STUFF in that area. I had rather they remain private if you now what I mean.

If you go with a charter boat make sure they do it as a drift dive. Anchoring in confines you to a small area. The ledge area is so big if you stay fairly shallow you can go well over 1/4 mile on a drift. The shoal drops off so you can get to around 90' or so on the deeper ledges and pick up some nice bugs.
There are also some real good wrecks near by.

One of THE BEST dives I have ever had off NC was on the ledges surrounding the tower just about 200 yards north. It was June 5, 1999 on a drift dive, it was 81 degrees and a solid 100' foot of vis, depth was 55' to 75'. Run time was 78 minutes. The ocean was as slick as a mill pond. As long as we live my wife and I have agreed that it will allways be at the top. It is so vivid in my memory I dont have to look in a log book for the stats on this one!!! We did the City of Houston on the first dive.

If your interested let me know and I'll be there!
Mike

 

[Quetzal]

Thanks. I'll send them to him.Here is a link where Brian posted them already. The 2 at the end. http://www.scubadownunder.com/Default.aspx?tabid=390

Thanks NCDiver2004. It is an Olympus Stylus 400 with the Olympus PT-016 housing. I don't have a strobe yet but it still takes good pics. It's a good inexpensive setup and I've been pretty happy so far.

QUETZAL, check out my buddies site www.wilmingtonspearfishing.com to see some of the stuff we have pulled off the tower and some other sites. If you have some pics of the fish from your 23 and Gill dive send them to Greg (the Capt that day) and he'll get them on the site.

Pat