Is North Carolina Worth It?

[cmcdarris]

An additional thought that no one has mentioned is travel time to the different parts of the State. I live in Raleigh. To go to Wilmington, you travel I-40 all the way....2 hours. If you go to the OBX (Nags Head, Manteo, etc.) you travel both 4 lane and 2 lane and the trip is about 4 hours. I travel the OBX on business about 2x per year and I hate the drive compared to Wilmington (but I love the OBX once I get there).

I have not been diving off the OBX b/c I only go there w/ work, but I understand that the water is cooler and the viz is not as good. I have gone on several trips out of Wilmington through AquaticSafaris. It is a good dive operation.

If your daughter is a novice, I would not recommend the diving unless she is very comfortable with her diving skills. The trips are often long boat rides and can be deep. For example, I like going to the John Gill, but it is 23 miles off the coast and is in 90 feet of water. Also, I do not believe that AquaticSafaris will allow her to go unless she has an Adv. Open Water certification and a dive computer.

Just some additional thoughts.

Charlie

 

[diverkristi]

Just dove 2 NC wrecks last week on the annual beach trip. The Papoose and the Spar. This was after the week long Utila trip 2 weeks before. The NC diving was a little disappointing after Utila. 30-40 foot viz. And of course VERY deep with short bottom times. Currents were pretty strong on the Spar. (as in kick and you go no-where). I have 38 dives in (all in the last year, and in varied conditions), and I consider this the hardest diving I have done. I'd certainly do it again....but for the price , I'd rather put that toward another Utila-like trip. We dove with Olympus. They have a professional, and very safe operation.

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

well lets do this have your daughter to contact us and we see if we can get her in on some more fairly easy dives before summer ends we dive pretty much may through end of OCT , plenty dive charters.
also if she at unc, I have a friend teaching up there's a dive instructor who could hook her up even some quarries to dive in ect if interest PM me and we get her couple dives that will suit her and help her progress in her diving.

 

[Sue-ba]

Just dove 2 NC wrecks last week on the annual beach trip. The Papoose and the Spar. This was after the week long Utila trip 2 weeks before. The NC diving was a little disappointing after Utila. 30-40 foot viz. And of course VERY deep with short bottom times. Currents were pretty strong on the Spar. (as in kick and you go no-where). I have 38 dives in (all in the last year, and in varied conditions), and I consider this the hardest diving I have done. I'd certainly do it again....but for the price , I'd rather put that toward another Utila-like trip. We dove with Olympus. They have a professional, and very safe operation.

Coincidence!!! We were in Utila July 22-31. I love Utila. It was my 3rd trip just this year. My other daughter, the NC's twin did her DM on Utila Feb-Apr. She has about 150 dives. This NC twin has about 25-35 dives...cant remember. Anyway, thanks for the input.

 

[Sue-ba]

Ok, looks like I am coming to NC Sept 7-12. Better get busy. Lots of good advise. It really helps. Thank you.

 

[BabyDuck]

i hope you have a great time. begin sacrificing goats or chickens *now* to the weather gods in an effort to appease them into providing good seas/temps/viz/currents!

 

[diverkristi]

And No Hurricanes!

 

[Cape Fear Divers]

Thank you so much. Some really great info here. Things I would have never been able to learn without all your help. I would rather do the boat ride if it means better diving. The water temps sound doable to the South. Daughter has about 25 dives. She starts her master's program at UNC in June so want to do it before then. Looks like me have missed the best time opportunity, don't think we can squeeze it in before Feb because we have been on too many dive trips (according to the boss, never me) this year and need to get some work in...bummer.
Again, thanks so much, great help!!

Sue-ba--i'd echo some of the thoughts of others here. NC diving is world-class. Water temps, clarity, fish life, and the wrecks combine as no where else i know of.

Here in the southern corner of the state, our water temps this time of year are the same as the Caymans, Bahamas, Bonaire, etc. Check out the sea surface temp maps!

We try hard to be the best operator in our neck of the woods, running a 50 foot Newton dive boat, with a friendly, well qualified (our Captain is a dive instructor with over 5000 dives), and safety concious crew. But the others here are Bottom Time and Aquatic Safaris in Wilmington, Scuba South in Southport, and Wreck Tech in Snead's Ferry. Our area is easily accessible down I-40.

We have history, if you like that: The John D. Gill, a U.S. tanker sunk by a German U-boat in WWII, the City of Houston, an 1878 iron hulled steamer, and the Perterhoff, a civil war era wreck, for example.

Look forward to having you and your daughter diving with us in NC!

 

[Sue-ba]

Sue-ba--i'd echo some of the thoughts of others here. NC diving is world-class. Water temps, clarity, fish life, and the wrecks combine as no where else i know of.

Here in the southern corner of the state, our water temps this time of year are the same as the Caymans, Bahamas, Bonaire, etc. Check out the sea surface temp maps!

We try hard to be the best operator in our neck of the woods, running a 50 foot Newton dive boat, with a friendly, well qualified (our Captain is a dive instructor with over 5000 dives), and safety concious crew. But the others here are Bottom Time and Aquatic Safaris in Wilmington, Scuba South in Southport, and Wreck Tech in Snead's Ferry. Our area is easily accessible down I-40.

We have history, if you like that: The John D. Gill, a U.S. tanker sunk by a German U-boat in WWII, the City of Houston, an 1878 iron hulled steamer, and the Perterhoff, a civil war era wreck, for example.

Look forward to having you and your daughter diving with us in NC!

I emailed a couple of operations and asked for info. Not one has responded. Your post was more encouraging than my solicted responses. PM me and let's talk details like depths, boat times, prices etc. Thanks.

 

[RonFrank]

My daughter now lives in North Carolina. I have heard there is some great diving there but in my research, I wonder if it would be worth it to make a visit to my daughter and get some dives in. Two of us are advanced but daughter is a novice. 1 Should we book a trip?
2 What is the best time of year to go...can you dive Feb-May? ( I have heard conflicting stories. )
3 Where would you recommend we start if we do book a trip?
I would appreciate hearing from those of you who know. That is why Scubaboard is so great. We don't have to all learn the same lessons through experience. Thanks for sharing.

I lived in N. VA for a couple decades, and the Outer Banks are one of my favorite spots. This was before I started diving (silly me).

IMO, even if you do NOT plan a lot of diving, get out to the Outer Banks. I have not been there in a decade, and I'm sure progress has changed it some, but it's a GREAT area to enjoy and relax. Duck, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Avon, Hatteras, and Ocracoke, it's all good.