Going to Norfolk on business, want to dive also.

[Daryl Morse]

I go to Norfolk on business quite often and I'm wondering about getting in a few weekend or evening dives while I'm there. What is the diving like? What is there to see?

I'm a new diver with OW/AOW. I've done around 15 dives. Thus far all of them have been shore dives in a drysuit in the local Vancouver, BC waters which are cold. Most of the dives I'm doing lately are to 75 or 85 feet. I have personal gear, but I'll need to rent a BCD, reg, suit and computer.

I'd appreciate pointers on where to dive locally in the Norfolk area and where to rent equipment. What is the water temperature? Do people dive dry or wet there? I presume the diving is from boats, not shore. If so, please recommend a good boat operator.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cornfed]

You might want to give Lynnhaven Dive Center (http://www.ldcscuba.com) a try. You can dive wet here but many people dive dry. Surface temps are around 70 right now but bottom temps are genererally in mid 50's.

 

[Don Burke]

I go to Norfolk on business quite often and I'm wondering about getting in a few weekend or evening dives while I'm there. What is the diving like? What is there to see?

I'm a new diver with OW/AOW. I've done around 15 dives. Thus far all of them have been shore dives in a drysuit in the local Vancouver, BC waters which are cold. Most of the dives I'm doing lately are to 75 or 85 feet. I have personal gear, but I'll need to rent a BCD, reg, suit and computer.

I'd appreciate pointers on where to dive locally in the Norfolk area and where to rent equipment. What is the water temperature? Do people dive dry or wet there? I presume the diving is from boats, not shore. If so, please recommend a good boat operator.

Thanks in advance.

Lynnhaven runs a good operation, as does Divers Unlimited, which I run the boat for.

Everyone I have taken out over the last couple of months has been in a wetsuit, including me. I was on the Gulf Hustler a couple of weeks ago and my computer reported 71 degrees at about 70 feet.

People have been dropping stuff in the water here for centuries. We have many the result of marine casualty, some from war, and a substantial artificial reef near Chesapeake Light.

There are many wrecks in fairly close that few boats go to. I am trying to spread our trips out since there is no point in our little boat going to the same places the big boats are going to.

 

[cornfed]

Everyone I have taken out over the last couple of months has been in a wetsuit, including me. I was on the Gulf Hustler a couple of weeks ago and my computer reported 71 degrees at about 70 feet.

A couple weeks ago I got 68 on the Spike and 67 the next day on the Morgan. It sure was nice but I don't think it's typical for the area.

 

[Don Burke]

A couple weeks ago I got 68 on the Spike and 67 the next day on the Morgan. It sure was nice but I don't think it's typical for the area.

Actually, at this time of year, it is. Depending on what Charley did to us, it could be colder or warmer. My guess is a bit colder.

I normally dive wet into November here.

 

[Daryl Morse]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I'm going to check out the links you suggested. Not sure when I'll be in Norfolk next, but I'd like to dive there to get a different experience than here on the west coast.

 

[Khedrach]

Actually, at this time of year, it is. Depending on what Charley did to us, it could be colder or warmer. My guess is a bit colder.

I normally dive wet into November here.

Why do you think it will be colder? Because the hurricane was more inland?

 

[Don Burke]

Why do you think it will be colder? Because the hurricane was more inland?

There is more cold water in the ocean than warm water and my guess is that any change would be to cold.

I am not an oceanographer and do not play one on the web, so I suppose it could have dumped some extra Gulf Stream water in here. I doubt it.

 

[Don Burke]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I'm going to check out the links you suggested. Not sure when I'll be in Norfolk next, but I'd like to dive there to get a different experience than here on the west coast.

In addition to the Lynnhaven boats ("Miss Lindsey" and "Miss Lauren") and the Divers Unlimited boat ("Sho-Nuff"), there is "Wreckmaster" out of Wreckmaster Divers and "Flyingfish" through several shops.

Divers Unlimited just changed owners, so the website may not be updated yet. You can reach the shop at 757 362 3660.

 

[mcmag21]

Greetings all,

A good buddy just dove with WreckMasters this weekend and had a very good trip. Also sove with LDC the next day and I usually dive wwith LDC up here. Would recommend either.

The web link for Wreckmasters is http://www.wmdivers.com/index.html

Good luck and fun diving.