how about Shore diving on Hatteras?

[Mad_diver]

Hey all.....
it's been a while since I've browsed through here. The new look is NICE!

Anyway....... I just rented a house in Cape Hatteras (right in Hatteras Village) for June. I was hoping to take my son and a friend to do some diving while we're there. Since my son is 14 (Yes we're both OW cert.), I don't want to get into anything too serious like a deep dive charter.
I'm thinking it would be cool to do some shore diving. Does anyone here know anything about doing that there? Is it even worth it? (Since we're in Ohio, I'm hoping for a little better vis than the super-clear 3-5 inches we get in the lake here.....lol)
I'm open for suggestions????

Thanks
MAD_Diver

 

[Don Burke]

Hey all.....
it's been a while since I've browsed through here. The new look is NICE!

Anyway....... I just rented a house in Cape Hatteras (right in Hatteras Village) for June. I was hoping to take my son and a friend to do some diving while we're there. Since my son is 14 (Yes we're both OW cert.), I don't want to get into anything too serious like a deep dive charter.
I'm thinking it would be cool to do some shore diving. Does anyone here know anything about doing that there? Is it even worth it? (Since we're in Ohio, I'm hoping for a little better vis than the super-clear 3-5 inches we get in the lake here.....lol)
I'm open for suggestions????

Thanks
MAD_Diver

I have talked to both of these outfits and they seem to be good people.

http://www.obxdive.com/

http://www.wreck-dive.com/join.html

 

[Mad_diver]

Thanks Don,
Looks like I'll be giving them a call.
I've talked to some other divers around here about it. They've had mixed reviews on shore diving at Hatteras but I'm still gonna give it a try anyway. Considering we don't usually have ANY visibility here.....lol Even what they think is poor vis. should still be better than what we're used to....lol

Thanks again for the input.
Mad_diver

 

[Don Burke]

I live about 60 miles north of Nags Head and would like to get an opportunity to dive at least the Triangle Wrecks.

I have walked the beach near the Triangle Wrecks, the Boiler Wreck, and the Huron. The weather and lack of buddies have conspired against me so far.

 

[mike_s]

I don't know of any shore diving near Hatteras, but the Boiler Wreck and the Tri-Wrecks (Triangle wrecks) are very popular shore dives. The Boiler wreck though I'm told by my friend who I dive with up there is subject to strong currents even though it's close to shore. People shore dive it, but he preferes not to because of the currents.

I have been to the Tri Wrecks though. They are right offshore in "central" Nags Head. I think they are right near the 2nd street beach access. Call one of the dive shops above for better directions, but I think it's directly about 100 yards offshore from about the 5 or 6th beach house south of the 2nd street beach access. You can park at the access, but there are only a few parking spaces, so I would guess early would guarentee the best spot. Sometimes there is a float tied to the wreck making it slightly easier to find. A warm saturday will most likely find a few other divers there also.

 

[Don Burke]

Here is my report of a trip to the Outer Banks I made in August 2003.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I made a little road trip and found:

Sea-Scan in Nag's Head
http://www.wreck-dive.com/beach_dives.htm
35 57.577
75 38.405
252 480 3476

I talked to Jim Bunch, who owns the place. He says they are open year round, but their hours are somewhat random after Labor Day, so call ahead.

Jim has finished a new book about the U-85:
Germany's U-85 - Shadow in the Sea: A Diver's Reflections
ISBN: 0939591006
He is expecting a shipment soon and it will available through the website.

Outer Banks Dive Center
http://www.obxdive.com/NagsHead.htm
35 57.577
75 37.557
252 449 8349

I had a really nice talk with a couple of guys in the shop.

Both shops agreed there is only one shore site worth a dive right now, the triangle wrecks. I went to the walkway to the beach and could see the buoy from 36 01.951 75 40.021.

I went up to Curritck, got a position on the light and went looking for the Metropolis. Gentile's book says three miles south of the light and 2.76 nautical miles (3.19 statute miles) south of the light there was a buoy.
The swimmers and fishermen were avoiding it, so I'll go out on a limb and say there is some sort of snag there.
The buoy was near 36 20.003 75 48.685.
The nearest parking lot was at 36 20.314 75 48.938.

I didn't go to Huron since it is so easy to find. I didn't go to Oriental since I wanted to have a lot of time to look for some sign of Metropolis.
I'll have to scrounge up a sea kayak before I try Oriental due to wicked currents several people have warned me about.

 

[aue-mike]

There is a wreck and the remains of an old fort on Hatteras south of the ferry terminal on the sound side in shallow water. It is near where the ferry takes a hook, and you could access it from the beach. Lots of boat traffic in the near vicinity though.