NC diving

[amascuba]

Howdy folks!

Some buddies and I are looking into the possibility of going to North Carolina to do some diving next summer. None of us are experienced wreck divers, but everybody that's looking to go next year are experienced divers. I'm looking for some information on charters, conditions, potential dive sites, etc. None of us are exactly technical divers, so dives within NDL limits would be a must, but I would like to have the possibility in renting doubles if possible. I'd appreciate any information that you guys could give me!

Thanks!

 

[outlaws]

Come over to NCDivers.com The link in my sig. There are several people that work on charters and a list of most of the operaters on the coast.

Butch

 

[BabyDuck]

yep, what butch said. lots o' info & chatter there!

nc should be a good place for advanced divers newer to wrecks to have a great time!

 

[herman]

What they said. I would add to make sure you have a plan B. Blowouts are common on our coast so be prepaired to scrap the diving and do something else. It's a bummer but a fact of life diving here.

 

[packman]

Finding wrecks that keep you within the NDLs is easy. Finding someone to rent doubles will be more difficult.

 

[Diveral]

Good choice. We took 12 divers to NC this summer. Some of the best diving we have ever done. Since you have never been to NC before I would suggest sticking to the Cape Lookout or Cape Fear areas. It's as close to G of M conditions that you will find. temps and visibility are comparable, currents and seas or more severe.

I posted 5 trip reports about our trip. The thread below links to all 5 reports.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=151605

Peruse the reports. I also included two links to web-sites where I got most of my NC information. The NC divers link in Butch's reply is a great place to start.

We dove with Discovery out of Beaufort, I would highly recommend them. You can rent 100's there. I've heard good things about the Morehead City operations, Olympus, Atlantic Beach Divers, Atlantis, and Sea Tales. Aquatic Safaris down around the Cape Fear area is a good op.

Since you are new to NC diving and are not experienced wreck divers I would stick to some easier shallower wrecks for the first day. The Indra, Carib Sea, Verbena are all good choices in the Cape Lookout area. You may want to consider taking a wreck diving class there. It is a great location for that. The Indra is a great wreck to learn wreck penetration diving on. The Spar would make a good graduation wreck dive.

Since the currents are more severe and trickier than we are used to in the Gulf, watch your turn pressures and dive the rule of thirds. I am a good example of what happens when you push a turn. Details in Trip Report II.

PM me with your e-mail address and I will send you some information and presentations we used to plan our trip.

Good divin,
AL