Just got back from a quick weekend of diving in NC with Tortuga Charters in Morehead and a boatload of Dive NYers. Many thought we were crazy to drive all that way (10 - 12 hrs each way) for two days of dives knowing the chance of getting blown out. We knew before getting on the road that NC diving was worth the crap shoot.
The first car of intrepid traveler drove down Friday morning, left our buddy's house in the Bronx at about 7:30AM and arrived at the Casa at 5:30PM. Dropped by Olympus to get nitrox for my tank, did a snacks, beer and water run at the supermarket before heading to the Ruddy Duck Tavern for dinner. The second car of intrepid travelers arrived shortly after our return to the Casa from dinner.
Saturday morning we saw a double rainbow outside of the Casa as we were taking some sunrise pics so we knew it would be a great day of diving. We observed a moment of silence for all the victims of September 11th just before departing for the Papoose. She is an intact tanker which was torpedoed and sunk in 1942, sits virtually upside down at about 120 ft.
Viz was the best I've ever experienced in NC, easily 60+ ft viz, blue water, water temps at depth was 80 degrees. As I descended I could see the entire wreck (did I mention the incredible viz???) and it was teeming with baitfish and barracudas. Saw a few sand tiger sharks. Many moments when I thought I was diving in the Carribeans during that dive. The previous day, viz was 10ft on the Papoose so many boats stayed away on Saturday and we were lucky to have the wreck to ourselves.
After a two hour SI, yes, DNY enjoys eating and chatting during SI, we suited up for our next dive, this time on the Spar, a coast guard cutter that sits about 110ft. Viz was about 40 ft but OMG, sharks galore. At one point my buddy and I descended on a school of sand tiger sharks and were surrounded by them, close enough to reach out and touch them, but we did not. We simply enjoyed floating among the sand tiger sharks and the baitfish, hundreds of silver-colored baitfish. Buddy saw an eel and we saw a ray.
The boat ride to and from sites were nothing like the rockin' & pitchin' during my first trip to NC, it was smooth boating for the long run out and back from the sites. We also did not see a humpback whale breach the surface 30 times like my previous NC wreck trip but it's safe to say I'm so spoiled that all I want either a double rainbow dive days or a breaching humpback whale when I return to NC!!!!
Sunday morning greeted us with pouring rain and strong winds. We pushed back the boat departure until 9:30AM and attempted to reach the in-shore wreck the Indra but the seas got very rough. We passed other boats returning to shore and signaling for us to turn around. If the winds picked up any more it would have gotten very snotty so Capt called the dive and the group agreed.
I want to wish everyone who dives NC wrecks a double rainbow day of diving or if that is not possible then as close to a double rainbow day as possible.
Many thanks to Capt James, his DM Reid of Tortuga Charters for keeping DNY safe and for running a great operation. And to all my DiveNY cohorts who will chime in if they want cause I am not naming names...the authorities are still looking for a few of them, I love diving and hanging with ya.
The first car of intrepid traveler drove down Friday morning, left our buddy's house in the Bronx at about 7:30AM and arrived at the Casa at 5:30PM. Dropped by Olympus to get nitrox for my tank, did a snacks, beer and water run at the supermarket before heading to the Ruddy Duck Tavern for dinner. The second car of intrepid travelers arrived shortly after our return to the Casa from dinner.
Saturday morning we saw a double rainbow outside of the Casa as we were taking some sunrise pics so we knew it would be a great day of diving. We observed a moment of silence for all the victims of September 11th just before departing for the Papoose. She is an intact tanker which was torpedoed and sunk in 1942, sits virtually upside down at about 120 ft.
Viz was the best I've ever experienced in NC, easily 60+ ft viz, blue water, water temps at depth was 80 degrees. As I descended I could see the entire wreck (did I mention the incredible viz???) and it was teeming with baitfish and barracudas. Saw a few sand tiger sharks. Many moments when I thought I was diving in the Carribeans during that dive. The previous day, viz was 10ft on the Papoose so many boats stayed away on Saturday and we were lucky to have the wreck to ourselves.
After a two hour SI, yes, DNY enjoys eating and chatting during SI, we suited up for our next dive, this time on the Spar, a coast guard cutter that sits about 110ft. Viz was about 40 ft but OMG, sharks galore. At one point my buddy and I descended on a school of sand tiger sharks and were surrounded by them, close enough to reach out and touch them, but we did not. We simply enjoyed floating among the sand tiger sharks and the baitfish, hundreds of silver-colored baitfish. Buddy saw an eel and we saw a ray.
The boat ride to and from sites were nothing like the rockin' & pitchin' during my first trip to NC, it was smooth boating for the long run out and back from the sites. We also did not see a humpback whale breach the surface 30 times like my previous NC wreck trip but it's safe to say I'm so spoiled that all I want either a double rainbow dive days or a breaching humpback whale when I return to NC!!!!
Sunday morning greeted us with pouring rain and strong winds. We pushed back the boat departure until 9:30AM and attempted to reach the in-shore wreck the Indra but the seas got very rough. We passed other boats returning to shore and signaling for us to turn around. If the winds picked up any more it would have gotten very snotty so Capt called the dive and the group agreed.
I want to wish everyone who dives NC wrecks a double rainbow day of diving or if that is not possible then as close to a double rainbow day as possible.
Many thanks to Capt James, his DM Reid of Tortuga Charters for keeping DNY safe and for running a great operation. And to all my DiveNY cohorts who will chime in if they want cause I am not naming names...the authorities are still looking for a few of them, I love diving and hanging with ya.
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OMG, I thought it was you.....
