Local Diving Question

[2 Bar]

So far I dove at Dutch Springs and Cozumel. I know, I know...why do both since they are so similar? Falcos and I are planning to get dry and nitrox certs for local New Jersey and Long Island diving.

My question is, generally what is local diving like on a decent weather day? I know viz varies. But what is a great viz day? Is 80 feet unheard of? Are the currents normally very strong? Can we see cool animals around here, or is it just wreck diving? Stuff like that.

We plan on meeting and diving with the Wreck Valley gang this summer, and I am just wondering what the conditions are like generally. I understand it all varies.

I know people who dove for years and only dive in the caribbean. I know the water is much better there. But I thought if you like to dive and can't get on a plane every other week, you would get into local diving. But they decided to stay with the warm water.

Thus, my question.

 

[TTSkipper]

I only got certified this summer but I can comment on the diving I have done here. All of my dives have been shore dives either on Long Islands North or South Shores. I have seen visibility as low as 5 feet or as high as 20-25 feet all within about 20 feet of water 100 feet off of the beach. Water temps were from about 75 in August to about 55 last time I dove at the start of November. Af far as what there is to see, I have attached a picture of a Butterfly fish that I took at Beach 9th Street in Queens, NY on November 8th. I did get Nitrox certified, more for safety than extending dives as with the beach dives I rarely get close to NDL's.

Just my 2 cents

TTSkipper

 

[IzzyTahil]

NE diving is generally known to have poor viz and cold water, the complete opposite from warm water diving. 20-30 ft in these waters is considered pretty good

 

[NJDiveGirl]

NE diving is generally known to have poor viz and cold water, the complete opposite from warm water diving. 20-30 ft in these waters is considered pretty good

which makes a low vis day in the carribean (50 ft) stellar in comparison!!!

 

[wrekdiver2]

NE diving is generally known to have poor viz and cold water, the complete opposite from warm water diving. 20-30 ft in these waters is considered pretty good

I have been diving up here off NJ/NY for over 10 years.

10 years ago, the vis averaged 5-10'.

Then they stopped dumping...

5 years ago, the vis averaged 15-20'

This year was some of the best diving I have ever had up here. Vis averaged at least 30'....and there were days it reached 40-40'. Granted, the storms and sea conditions we have had recently have mucked the vis up considerable.

As for the water temp, it varies according to the weather, wind, currents, etc....The water was mid 50's until last week of July and then it jumped up about 10 degrees. After the hurricanes rolled through, the water temp was in the 60's top to bottom...no thermocline!

As for critters? various types of fish (obviously), lobsters, crabs, beautiful cold-water anemones, squid, skates, jelly fish and the occasional sunfish, turtle, shark and whale.

In the late summer, all sorts of stuff floats up from down south and gives us a caribbean show. We see lots of tropical fish, stingrays, etc. there were several nice triggerfish on the Oregon a few weeks back that were hanging with some of the local Blackfish.

Definitely give NE diving a try! There are many of us that enjoy diving up here on a regular basis.

 

[wrekdiver2]

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an amateur u/w photographer. Sometimes, I get bored diving the same old wrecks weekend after weekend. To break up the monotony, I take my camera down with me.

These pics are a couple of my better ones. I think I only have a couple good ones. You definitely don't want to see my bad ones (actually, you can't see some of my bad ones because of so much backscatter or lack of light/flash)

Enjoy!

p.s. Can you see what is hidden in the middle of the Northern Pacific shot? I didn't even see it when I took the pic and someone else pointed it out to me. Told you I was a crappy u/w photographer!

 

[NEWreckDiver]

Yes, please don't dismiss diving here in the NY/NJ area. You have some of the best diving anywhere in the world right in your back yard. During dive season (April - December) I spend almost every weekend in the ocean.

You are right, there isn't pretty reefs and the brightly colored fish to see. But if you want to find a 100 year old artifact that was on wreck site or come home with dinner (lobster, scallops, mussels and fish of course), this is the place.

I run about 5 or 6 charters of my own each year. Once you get your dry suit cert (you will need), let me know and I will be glad show you around.

Good Luck and Safe diving.

 

[2 Bar]

WreckDiver2, thanks for that post. That was the info I was looking for. Nice pics even though you;re not a good photog. Could have fooled me.

Newreckdiver, thanks for the offer. i will post when I am dry.