Is New England the toughest place to SCUBA for recreational divers?

[JimJam]

At the risk of joining in the "my-local-diving-is-tougher-and-colder-and-darker-so-my-phallus-is-larger-than-yours" rhetoric, I will say this:

There are certainly places around the globe that are as difficult and some more so, but I would bet my gear on the notion that if you dive New England year-round, you're pretty much prepared to face the challenges anywhere.

I agree. I've dove year round in Mass, RI, NH, CT, NY, FL, CA and Aruba and I would have to say that by far New England diving is the most difficult on this relatively short list.

The best is late December/early January, -20 wind chill, 30 degree water (salt) drysuit undergarments that make you look like the little kid from A Christmas Story ("I can't move my arms, I can't move my arms...RALHIE!!!!!") and a hike down icy rocks to get to the water.

No doubt that New England breeds some of the heartiest divers in the world...but like PD says, there certainly are places that have their fare share of challenges too.

 

[AlaskaDiver]

Cold?! Come up to Alaska diving in February. That's brutal. I did some absolutely spectacular dives this past weekend in Seward. Water taemp was the warmest I've ever felt it here. Over 4 sites we had temps ranging from 55 -59. It was very cool seeing salmon whizz by in front of me. A sea lion buzzed us a few times at one location.

Seriously, I'm trying to recruit some Maine divers to dive with me over the next two weeks. I have been trolling for divers in the mid-coast maine regian and it seems there are not many divers in the area. I found only a few willing people from Brunswick and Portland. Both are far south and are a long drive.

 

[matt_unique]

No question cold water/low vis diving is the most difficult. You can definitely dive anywhere else if you are comfortable diving in NE and other cold water/low vis areas.

--MAtt

 

[ScubaThor]

ScubaThor......I dive Haigh alot as well, but you cant compare Haigh Quarry to some of the diving done on the East/West coasts, and Canada. Rougher entries, hazardous marine life, big waves, currents, not so easy exits, water just as cold and murky and deeper.

On the flip side, there are people who look at Haigh as extreme diving because of the thermal requirements, but anyone diving on the coasts..especially the Northern coast lines...is probably smurking at diving some mudhole in the Midwest.

Couldn't agree with you more. Just thought I'd show off how "tough" we are. I wish I had some rocky coast to dive on, rather than our midwest mudholes.

 

[JimJam]

Cold?! Come up to Alaska diving in February. That's brutal. I did some absolutely spectacular dives this past weekend in Seward. Water taemp was the warmest I've ever felt it here. Over 4 sites we had temps ranging from 55 -59. It was very cool seeing salmon whizz by in front of me. A sea lion buzzed us a few times at one location.

Seriously, I'm trying to recruit some Maine divers to dive with me over the next two weeks. I have been trolling for divers in the mid-coast maine regian and it seems there are not many divers in the area. I found only a few willing people from Brunswick and Portland. Both are far south and are a long drive.

Remember, water can only get so cold, regardless of where you are! But tell me, what is your avatar a picture of? I've been going crosseyed to figure it out, but I just can't make it out!

 

[gfisher4792]

Remember, water can only get so cold, regardless of where you are! But tell me, what is your avatar a picture of? I've been going crosseyed to figure it out, but I just can't make it out!

Aurora Borealis?

 

[Uncle Pug]

What I would say is that if you are an active New England diver then you can dive anywhere.

I wouldn't hesitate to take an active New England diver out to most of our dive sites.

 

[Spectre]

What I would say is that if you are an active New England diver then you can dive anywhere.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. I do definately agree that your average recreational dive in New England is more challenging then warm clear water diving. But every environment has it's own set of challenges. For example, your average new england diver may be able to handle silty conditions in a wreck better than a florida diver... but the gulf stream currents can kick the crap out of a new england diver, where it's a piece of cake to a floridian diver.

 

[Scuba65]

Hey, Matt haven't seen you out there yet? summer will be over before you know it and no more boating!

 

[AlaskaDiver]

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). They are spectacular on crisp clear nights even from Anchroage area depending on intensity. Check them out....

http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Curtis/aurora/aurora.html

It is finally getting dark ovvernight and this website may need to be updated...

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/predict.php3