Help me plan this whacky scuba road trip ... plz?

[SeaHound]

i have been fantasizing about doing this for some time and now it is time to actually ponder over the actual logistics.

This road trip will start from Washington DC area and will attempt to cover as many dives in 2 weeks as possible. Meaning I would have to be back in DC on the 14th day. But its not just quantity that matters but quality of the dives as well. I wont be doing it again and again in my life so the dives I do would have to be somewhat memorable. No hotels as I plan on sleeping in my SUV.

Route 1: DIVE THE EAST COAST (South of DC)

DIVE 1: Beaufort NC
DIVE 2: Outer Banks NC
DIVE 3. Florida Caves
DIVE 4. Jupiter
DIVE 5 Fort Lauderdale
DIVE 6. Key Largo
DIVE 7: Key West (Vandenberg)

Am I missing any good dives along the East Coast?

 

[redacted]

well, don't forget the Speed Stick. Enjoy

 

[Hank49]

i have been fantasizing about doing this for some time and now it is time to actually ponder over the actual logistics.

This road trip will start from Washington DC area and will attempt to cover as many dives in 2 weeks as possible. Meaning I would have to be back in DC on the 14th day. But its not just quantity that matters but quality of the dives as well. I wont be doing it again and again in my life so the dives I do would have to be somewhat memorable. No hotels as I plan on sleeping in my SUV.

Route 1: DIVE THE EAST COAST (South of DC)

DIVE 1: Beaufort NC
DIVE 2: Outer Banks NC
DIVE 3. Florida Caves
DIVE 4. Jupiter
DIVE 5 Fort Lauderdale
DIVE 6. Key Largo
DIVE 7: Key West (Vandenberg)

Am I missing any good dives along the East Coast?

Does this mean you've bailed on your "best quarry in the USA" quest?

 

[RJP]

i have been fantasizing about doing this for some time and now it is time to actually ponder over the actual logistics.

This road trip will start from Washington DC area and will attempt to cover as many dives in 2 weeks as possible. Meaning I would have to be back in DC on the 14th day. But its not just quantity that matters but quality of the dives as well. I wont be doing it again and again in my life so the dives I do would have to be somewhat memorable. No hotels as I plan on sleeping in my SUV.

Route 1: DIVE THE EAST COAST (South of DC)

DIVE 1: Beaufort NC
DIVE 2: Outer Banks NC
DIVE 3. Florida Caves
DIVE 4. Jupiter
DIVE 5 Fort Lauderdale
DIVE 6. Key Largo
DIVE 7: Key West (Vandenberg)

Am I missing any good dives along the East Coast?

Nah, there's nothing to see north of DC. I think you've got everything covered.

 

[robint]

i have been fantasizing about doing this for some time and now it is time to actually ponder over the actual logistics.

This road trip will start from Washington DC area and will attempt to cover as many dives in 2 weeks as possible. Meaning I would have to be back in DC on the 14th day. But its not just quantity that matters but quality of the dives as well. I wont be doing it again and again in my life so the dives I do would have to be somewhat memorable. No hotels as I plan on sleeping in my SUV.

Route 1: DIVE THE EAST COAST (South of DC)

DIVE 1: Beaufort NC
DIVE 2: Outer Banks NC
DIVE 3. Florida Caves
DIVE 4. Jupiter
DIVE 5 Fort Lauderdale
DIVE 6. Key Largo
DIVE 7: Key West (Vandenberg)

Am I missing any good dives along the East Coast?

A few questions:

#1... you say you want quality, not necessarily quantity but it looks like you only plan to do one day of diving at each location. How is that quality? Don't you realize that each destination has multiple dive sites and also conditions change daily.... you may not be able to do the site you want each day and/or the conditions may not be best.

#2... what sites are you planning to do at each destination? Are you sure that there are spots for you on boats going to the site you want to dive? It sounds like you have one particular site at each destination you want to dive... good luck if you are only there for one day.

#3.... why don't you cut your road trip down to one state this trip - like NC coastline, or Florida springs and SE coast, or the Keys and not trying to do both on one trip. Or spend 2-3 days at several locations.... like 3 days on NC coast, move down to Florida springs for a few days, then down to Ft. Lauderdale for 3-4 days. YOu will get more quality diving done that way.

just my 2 cents.

robin

 

[vladimir]

No hotels as I plan on sleeping in my SUV.

Okay, you have a sleeping plan...what's the showering plan?

 

[goonsquad]

No time on FL's gulf coast?

 

[vladimir]

No time on FL's gulf coast?

I think he's soliciting suggestions. What would he be missing? The few dives I did off Florida's gulf coast were pretty disappointing, but I have no trouble believing I was in the wrong place.

 

[Big John]

It may be easier from DC to do the Outer Banks before Beaufort/Morehead City. This would avoid some backtracking.

 

[SeaHound]

Okay, you have a sleeping plan...what's the showering plan?

As a documentary journalist I have traveled for extended periods of time in far worse conditions. I have worked without things much more fundamental to human survival than a shower! I have eaten raw animals (with blood and all), chewed on Arctic snow (because formation of water was not scientifically possible that deep inside the Arctic circle), slept under trucks (during storms etc). My personal survival needs are not much greater than a stone-age cave man.

Having said that, shower is really not anything I believe I would have to deprive myself of on this trip. In the past I have done similar dive trips and after finishing the dive, I would shower ...

1) under the fresh water tap right on the dive boat,
2) at the camping sites where I park (they have water connection)
3) High pressure hose at the boat dock (This is so much fun!)

Do you know you can buy a lot of mineral water for 10 bucks, punch holes in the bottom of those plastic water bottles, hold them over your head and shower pretty much anywhere?

There are plenty of options but first you have to think like a cave man