NJ shore dives?

[HPT3]

NJ has very poor clarity of water from what I understand. Unless, you go out a few miles. I've been told sometimes one can see 60 ft. I've read that there are several wrecks that are within 200 yards, or so, of the beach along the coast. Some still producing china and glassware. Has anyone here dove these wrecks, if so, which ones and what where the conditions?

 

[pronoman]

I have friends that are not from NJ, have dived around the world...and claim NJ diving is in their top 5 favorite dive spots. It's my understanding that among tons of other wrecks, a lot of prohibition smuggling ships, a WW2 radar platform(like a big oil-rig), and a German U-boat are off the coast. Don't know your location, but I know a lot of guys at MAR-VEL in Pennsauken dive NJ...give them a yell.

 

[Jersey]

Why does everyone bash us so much? Like everything else, it depends. Depending on the weather, the tides, the site, the time of year it could be 2 feet, it could be 40 feet. I can tell you I have jumped off the back of my boat into 30 feet of crystal clear teal water, right down to the white sands. I could have imaged I was in the Caribean instead of NJ. Recomended reading - call Marvel & get a copy of Dan (Berg's?) NJ Beach Diver & Gary Gentile NJ Wrecks (2 editions - North & South).

 

[mwilding]

Start here: http://njscuba.net

 

[MaresMan1]

I also live in the Hoboken JC area and interested in getting some shore diving in here. I have been diving for several years now, but never in water below 70deg (Caribbean). While I do have a semi-dry wetsuit, I have no experience with a drysuit. I am currently Padi OW and going for my AOW later this year with HDC. Is there any additional training; equipment that you recommend for NJ diving?

Thanks,

Dive Smart; Dive Safe
:cool1:

 

[docmartin]

well, just off the top of my head you will need a lift bag/safety sausage in case you get blown off a wreck. to go with that you might want a wreck reel plus a spool as backup. a second reg is probably a good idea as many boats require you to carry and independent redundant air source (i.e. doubles or a single tank plus pony). a good light is nice in the unforgiving depths of the north atlantic :eyecrazy: for shore dives a dive flag is needed.
as far as training, the wreck diver specialty is a good one to learn about using a pony and shooting a bag. nitrox is helpful to breathe that good jersey mix. some people will also recommend deep diver specialty. to me that's less important than wreck and nitrox. if you'll really get into it you will end up with a drysuit. so that's another class and a piece of equipment. there are a lot of us in the wreck valley club on scubaboard that have been or are going down this route without being very far ahead of you. they will be doing their first jersey boat dives this spring. you may want to look into joining the forum and doing some dives.
p.s. i almost forgot: don't forget the lobster gauge.

 

[MaresMan1]

Doc,

Thanks for all of the helpful info. Gives me the excuse to get that new Apeks reg for cold water. Didn't realize that all of that equipment would be required. I will have a tough time with the drysuit.

As far as the forum is concerned, thanks for the invite. I would love to join the forum. Just let me know if there is anythng that I need to do and away we go.

Thanks again,

Dive Smart;Dive Safe
:cool1:

 

[docmartin]

joining is easy. let xjae know you want to join. after that you become an official member as soon as you dive with another member. there will be plenty of opportunities.

 

[FreeFloat]

Start here: http://njscuba.net

This site sppears to be offline........

 

[ScubaK-Dawg]

http://www.njscuba.com

Try this one...