New diver from NC.

[bdejong11129]

Thanks for all the welcome messages. I will check out the NC Divers facebook page. As stated above I am going Sunday to the Hyde. Several of the local people here in Raleigh recommended it. Aquatic Safari offers a pay buddy and since I am a newbie I thought it was well worth the cost to go down with someone who knows the wreck and can keep a keen eye on me. Lol, I love being the new guy on the block(boat). I am super pumped to get back into the water. I have been watching youtube videos of the Hyde all evening. Sunday cant get here fast enough.

 

[GreggS]

Gregg, are you going on Sunday the 20th with Safari? I am signed up and will be there for the Hyde dive.

Yes, we are actually diving the 19th and 20th. Doing the Markham/Hyde on Saturday and the Gill/Hyde on Sunday.

 

[bdejong11129]

Then we are on the same boat! Imagine that. I wonder how it will work when they switch to the Markham? That one is at 85'.

 

[GreggS]

Well, if you are doing the Hyde/Markham on Sunday, then, unfortunately, we are not on the same boat. We are on the boat doing the Gill/Hyde.

As for the depth, the deck of the Markham is at around 65-70 feet so I suppose it will depend on how your guide feels with your abilities and comfort level as to whether he takes you deeper or not. That's something you should discuss with him before the dive.

Like I said earlier, there is a group of us from our LDS that is going this weekend. I would be surprised if there is anyone on our boat other than our group. I'm sure I would have enjoyed meeting you and perhaps we can get together at Fantasy Lake sometime. My wife and I will probably go one weekend in September. I'll let you know when we are heading down. Have fun on your dives this weekend. I know I'm looking forward to ours.

 

[Dan]

Thanks for all the welcome messages. I will check out the NC Divers facebook page. As stated above I am going Sunday to the Hyde. Several of the local people here in Raleigh recommended it. Aquatic Safari offers a pay buddy and since I am a newbie I thought it was well worth the cost to go down with someone who knows the wreck and can keep a keen eye on me. Lol, I love being the new guy on the block(boat). I am super pumped to get back into the water. I have been watching youtube videos of the Hyde all evening. Sunday cant get here fast enough.

I'll do the same on Sep 3, come alone & hire a dive guide / buddy. Hopefully the weather & vis are good. Like to see the sand-tiger shark.

Still haven't decided to bring 3 or 5 mm full wetsuit, yet. Let us know the water temperature then. Thanks.

 

[Steve_C]

Today's report from the Hyde. Viz was 30 ft, no current, lots of fishlife. Sand tigers were there and up close and personnel.

Hyde is upright and 85 to the sand. But decks at 60 ft or so.

Markham is big and lays on its side. Has slowly partially sunk in the ground. So half above ground level. The side rises up to probably 40 ft. If you are running along the upper part of the top you are say 50. Checked my profile from a dive earlier this year. Most of the time I was 45-65. Couple dips to 75 when I went down to look at the bottom of the big props and also to photograph a flounder and a sand tiger that were down by the sand midships.

Markham is very close to the Hyde but viz sometimes different than Hyde. Generally so far this year viz better if you stay off the bottom by 10 ft or so. But it changes.

Photos from Peggy Schnall's post on DUDC about Hyde dive

 

[Dan]

@Steve_C thanks for the trip report. What's the temperature at that 70' depth?

 

[Steve_C]

@Steve_C thanks for the trip report. What's the temperature at that 70' depth?

My last trip was in July 16, wife's knee surgey has kept me from coast for a couple months. On that trip it was 74 at 78ft and 80 at 35ft. Think we had a cool layer since in May I was showing 78 at that Depth on the Hyde.

You should see 80s in the top water and mid to high 70s at the bottom. I can check.

 

[Steve_C]

The photographer who is a normal build female said the lowest temp they saw was 79. She and husband dove in 3mm full wetsuits.

 

[bdejong11129]

Thanks for the info Steve. We are both in Raleigh! I hope to see you sometime.