Need RI infos...

[Scuba-QC]

We're planning to go diving the Isle of Shoals but we were thinking maybe to give a try in RI also...

We would dive RI then stop at Rye NH on our way back...as I'm trying to find infos about RI...It seems that RI is only shore diving or charter fot the Teti or U853. Besides those wrecks is there any other spot that charters are going?

I heard that you can see tropical fish in RI..is that right?
is visibility good in RI ?
My girlfriend wants to dive with sea lions...is it possible in RI or only at the Isle of Shoals..?

Any infos will be apreciated, thanks for helping...

 

[RIOceanographer]

The tropicals don't appear until late summer, so whether you see any will depend on when you are coming. If you come in July or early August you won't have much luck. As for the question about diving with seals or seal lions in RI, we never get sea lions and the seals are only here in the winter.

The visibility here varies a lot. Off shore the visibility can be 25-30ft on a good day. On the other hand, on a bad day the visibility can be practically 0. The further into Narragansett Bay you get, the worse the visibility tends to be. Water temps here in the summer will be between 60 and 70 degrees F, so much warmer than the Isle of Shoals.

As for charters, there are a bunch of charter operations. Ocean State Scuba runs to a bunch of other wrecks, as does Ninigret Divers. Newport Diving Center and Pier Dive Shop both seem pretty focused on doing the U853 but I think Newport Diving Center will do other sites if people ask for it. The U853 is the most famous wreck in RI, not necessarily because it is a spectacular wreck, but more just due to the mystique of it being a u-boat. Some other wrecks you might want to look into if you can find someone that will go to them are the Neptune and the Idene. Those two are Rhode Island's "Hollywood" wrecks.

As for shore dives, there are some great ones. Too many for me to get into in detail. Some of the ones you should ask about are Beavertail Point, Bull Pt and Ft Wetherill. My advice is to call Ocean State Scuba on Jamestown. They can tell you about those sites and others and what you need to know before you dive them. Also, every Saturday and Sunday that shop also does a free guided shore dive at 10 am and they will pretty much go wherever you ask as long as the conditions are good enough.

 

[Scuba-QC]

I've been looking on the net about RI hotels and found out, for what I've found, that they are quite expensive...nothing under $150 per night...ouch!

Since I don't like camping too much on a dive trip...Do you local guys have any hints about hotels in RI ??? is mid-august very busy usually ?

Thanks

 

[gstroupe]

I've been looking on the net about RI hotels and found out, for what I've found, that they are quite expensive...nothing under $150 per night...ouch!

Since I don't like camping too much on a dive trip...Do you local guys have any hints about hotels in RI ??? is mid-august very busy usually ?

Thanks

Yeah, this is peak time for RI especially if you are trying to get anything close to newport. You can look in providence or warwick which will give you about a 30-45 min drive down to newport.

 

[LobstaMan]

You can stay just about anywhere in RI...it takes 45 minutes to drive the entire length of Route 95 thru RI! LOL! Years ago wife and I stayed at the Courtyard in Middletown and the Hotel Viking in Newport. But, those are probably booked or out of your range. Try expedia.com or hotels.com if you haven't already.

LobstaMan

 

[ScubaSarus]

I live in Ct and always amuse at the expense of RI hotels in the summer. Good look finding a decent rate anywhere. Ide suggest staying in a CT hotel and daytripping to RI.

Isle of shoals is a nice dive, be prepared though the water is around 50 deg year round and many divers go unprepared and end up not diving.

Cape Anne is awsome and here is a link for more info

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_East/index.htm

http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_/Rhode_Island_/

Chris

 

[Diesel298]

i agree that if ya dont mind a little drive. warwick might provide a slightly cheaper rate..
there are alot of "six pack" charter boats out there.
you might wanna call around and talk to them and make a decision
i think most of them have comparable rates.
heres my suggestion
http://underseaexploration.com/