CrazyScuba
Contributor
Welcome to the Crazy world of the scubaboard! If you ever need any advice or help, we're here for you.
Britt
CrazyScuba.com :fish:
Britt
CrazyScuba.com :fish:
Hello from Virginia - (re)bit by the bubble bug
- Thread starter KellyB
- Start date
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vablackwater
Contributor
Central VA here as well, about an hour west of you. Feel free to say hello, I dive this area regularly, but have a limited travel radius for a while (2 beautiful demons).
Welcome,
John
Welcome,
John
Hi. Welcome to the board.
mtg
Guest
hello fellow Richmonder! I am also new to the 'Board. Inre vis: My husband and I have had little luck in that area off VABch. Not sure if it was the number of storms last season (got blown out alot, too) and if that trend continues this year or not (anyone comment?
). Had only two clear dives. Have heard good things about Hatteras; had an excellent experience in Wilmington, NC with Aquatic Safaris; might be interested in checking out the town in the lake, but I thought that was really deep? - could be thinking of another dammed lake, tho'.
). Had only two clear dives. Have heard good things about Hatteras; had an excellent experience in Wilmington, NC with Aquatic Safaris; might be interested in checking out the town in the lake, but I thought that was really deep? - could be thinking of another dammed lake, tho'.
OBXDIVEGUY
Contributor
Welcome to the board to mtg and KellyB! I grew up in Richmond but didn't do much diving while I was there. I would recommend The Dive Shop (on Broad St. I think). I'm not a regular customer of thiers, but evertime I do go in there, they are always super helpful.
I lived in the OBX for the past 8 years and did tons of diving there. I now live in Florida and I can tell you it is 2 completely different sports. Bad viz here is the best viz there. Cold here is the warmest I ever was in NC.
Outer Banks Dive Center in Nags Head has great trips out to the wrecks. I've seen viz from 3' to 100'. Count on the bottom temps being around 70-75 late summer. There are even some great civil war wreck beach dives you can do. Diving is not like the "ooohhh, aaahhhh, pretty colors" stuff here in FL. It is more about the history and exploration of the wrecks.
The OBX is only about 3 hours from where you are. Make a weekend out of it. If you're a YMCA member, you can drop the kids off at the daycare in Nags Head, go accross the by-pass and do a beach dive. Not a bad deal!
I lived in the OBX for the past 8 years and did tons of diving there. I now live in Florida and I can tell you it is 2 completely different sports. Bad viz here is the best viz there. Cold here is the warmest I ever was in NC.
Outer Banks Dive Center in Nags Head has great trips out to the wrecks. I've seen viz from 3' to 100'. Count on the bottom temps being around 70-75 late summer. There are even some great civil war wreck beach dives you can do. Diving is not like the "ooohhh, aaahhhh, pretty colors" stuff here in FL. It is more about the history and exploration of the wrecks.
The OBX is only about 3 hours from where you are. Make a weekend out of it. If you're a YMCA member, you can drop the kids off at the daycare in Nags Head, go accross the by-pass and do a beach dive. Not a bad deal!
MagnaRyder2
Guest
I found a google hit on SCUBA and Smith Mountain Lake.
Check it out.
URL http://www.virginiasbestkeptsecret.com/scubadiving.html
From the looks of the (one) photo, it looks like vis about like you'd see at
Lake Rawlings. I'd also expect a colder dive than Lake Rawlings.
Interesting, though. I'd consider it.
I've dived out of Virginia Beach and Beaufort, NC. At 100 ft, viz was maybe
40 ft. At 50 ft, viz was easily half that or less. In my limited experience on the
Eastern Shore, I'd say this was normal. I have heard of times when the currents
are right, warm clear waters reach up to us making wonderful diving. I also seem to
recall that blow-outs are common on the Eastern Shore.
Gotta run.
Later.
JimC
Check it out.
URL http://www.virginiasbestkeptsecret.com/scubadiving.html
From the looks of the (one) photo, it looks like vis about like you'd see at
Lake Rawlings. I'd also expect a colder dive than Lake Rawlings.
Interesting, though. I'd consider it.
I've dived out of Virginia Beach and Beaufort, NC. At 100 ft, viz was maybe
40 ft. At 50 ft, viz was easily half that or less. In my limited experience on the
Eastern Shore, I'd say this was normal. I have heard of times when the currents
are right, warm clear waters reach up to us making wonderful diving. I also seem to
recall that blow-outs are common on the Eastern Shore.
Gotta run.
Later.
JimC
Smith Mountain Lake??!! OMG-NO!!!!!
I've dived both - and believe me, Lake Rawlings is FAR superior to Smith Mountain Lake. I live within an hour's drive to SML. Good vis there is 6-8 feet. If you are not in boat traffic and not in "high-season". maybe 10-15 feet. It's lovely if you live on top of the water, but it is no where to try to dive.
Welcome to Virginia, Kelly B! Our dive shop, Aquatrek Adventures, will be at Rawlings on July 28 & 29. If you are there, please come see us!
Meg
I've dived both - and believe me, Lake Rawlings is FAR superior to Smith Mountain Lake. I live within an hour's drive to SML. Good vis there is 6-8 feet. If you are not in boat traffic and not in "high-season". maybe 10-15 feet. It's lovely if you live on top of the water, but it is no where to try to dive.
Welcome to Virginia, Kelly B! Our dive shop, Aquatrek Adventures, will be at Rawlings on July 28 & 29. If you are there, please come see us!
Meg
abjonesiii
Registered
welcome and if you found Rawlings wellllllll ........ you already found the best we got inland. Head to the coast
Sasquatch
Contributor
A warm welcome to you from the chilly, orca infested waters of Puget Sound!
Sea ya!
Sea ya!
radio flyer
Registered
Hi there,
I also live in Richmond. Just dove in Lake Rawlings yesterday--a really nice quarry outfit. Have heard about Smith Mountain Lake--does anyone know how to dive there? I've researched on the web, but came up with very little. Apparently, it's fairly close to Richmond and has an underwater city??
Hope we'll see you at the Richmond Dive Club outings.
I also live in Richmond. Just dove in Lake Rawlings yesterday--a really nice quarry outfit. Have heard about Smith Mountain Lake--does anyone know how to dive there? I've researched on the web, but came up with very little. Apparently, it's fairly close to Richmond and has an underwater city??
Hope we'll see you at the Richmond Dive Club outings.
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