Regular NC Visitor - Dive sites?

[willo]

I've yet to dive in NC. Should I start down south where the water's warmer, or up higher near Jockey's ridge/Nags Head?
My wife is hopefully getting her basic cert before we go.
I'll have my basic and hopefully my advanced open water before summer.
I need some suggestions on dive shops/boats and wrecks!
I REALLY need info on temps/exposure protection needed.
I'm normally there around the 1st or 2nd week of june.
Right now all I've got is a shorty.
How thick should I go for a full suit?
What kind of visibility? How heavy of dive light should I pack?

THANKS!

We're considering moving out to NC when she gets out of school.....

Will
http://www.starfighter.org

 

[O-ring]

willo once bubbled...
I've yet to dive in NC. Should I start down south where the water's warmer, or up higher near Jockey's ridge/Nags Head?
My wife is hopefully getting her basic cert before we go.
I'll have my basic and hopefully my advanced open water before summer.
I need some suggestions on dive shops/boats and wrecks!
I REALLY need info on temps/exposure protection needed.
I'm normally there around the 1st or 2nd week of june.
Right now all I've got is a shorty.
How thick should I go for a full suit?
What kind of visibility? How heavy of dive light should I pack?

THANKS!

We're considering moving out to NC when she gets out of school.....

Will
http://www.starfighter.org

There are a lot of great places to dive down there...I personally like Morehead City and Hatteras the best, but have also dove out of Wilmington and Carolina Beach. Olympus is probably the largest op in Morehead and they can be reached at www.olympusdiving.com . In the summer, expect temps to be around 80 top to bottom. I dive a 5mm down there in the summer, but I get cold pretty easily...I have seen people dive it with no wetsuit at all and I have seen a lot of 3mm shorties. Vis should be anywhere from 80-100 feet and the light is up to you. Since you will not be doing any wreck penetration, you could probably get by with no light at all...you will probably be able to see the hull of the dive boat from the bottom (yes, the vis is that good)..

 

[RICHinNC]

If you decide to go to Wilmington give Aquatic Safaris a try. They have a web site too under the same name. I have found them very responsible and a good crew to go out with. If you're on a budget the Motel 6 is the least expensive motel in the area and about a 10 to 15 min drive to the marina depending on traffic.

I normally dive a 3/2 mill suit...not because of cold water...but as protection against the wrecks should I inadvertently rub up against it...current bang me...or some other diver get goofy. I also wear kevlar gloves. Most divers in the area dont...I have just had some nasty experience with monofiliment (fishing line) and other divers not being vigilint of divers around them and have them shove me into something...its nice to have a glove meet the hull or whatever other than skin. The water is pretty warm and the vis not too bad....60 ft or so...often better. I would recommend you take some cut up oranges out with you to suck on in between and after the last dive to take the salt water taste out of your mouth.

I always carry a very small dive lite as merely an emergency....bad vis...check the gauge on my way up precaution. The lights get bigger and more powerful if I plan a penetration. If you dont have the proper training.....dont even think about entering a wreck.

Most of the dives off Wilmington are better than 60 ft...so...if you actually follow most cert agency suggestions...and not go that deep without an AOW c card....she (or you) wont be able to dive with you. There is, I am told...a shore dive near Nags Head that isnt deep.

I would really recommend doing a number of "quarry dives" or even just pool work before going out if you are new at this. You should know your equipment backwards and forwards. Just a thought. Good luck...let us know how it goes.

 

[willo]

I took an awesome advanced ow around 5 years ago.
It's a semester long with 3 hours of class instruction a week
and 3+ hours of pool work a week. I never went on the check out dive trip and didn't have the time or funds to dive.
I'm retaking it this semester since I have the opportunity. I'm also taking a basic through the dive shop to make sure it's good enough for my wife for this summer.
I plan on making her take the advanced course in the fall.
I'm hoping to get several dives logged before the summer with any luck.

That shore dive near Nags Head is so close to the break that visibilty isn't very good. I considered snorkeling it one year until I checked out the water.

 

[herman]

I agree with all that has been said so far. I will add these bits. First the farther south you go, in general, the warmer the water is but the vis can suffer at times. Above Cape Hatt, there is a southerly current which keeps the water a lot cooler.

I am not sure you want to take your wife on any NC dives until she has some experience. NC diving can be a bit much for a novice. IF the weather and seas co-operate, the diving is wonderful. On the other hand, if the seas are a little rough, it gets hard core out there pretty fast. Our dives on average are 1 to 2 hrs out and seas are anywhere from flat to 6 ft. Flat seas are rare with 3-5 the norm. I can guarantee you she will take a dim view of diving if her first experience is puking for 5 hrs. Take her to the Keys, do some easy shallow dives and get her hooked on diving before subjecting her to a NC ladder ride. After 24 yrs of marrage and a diving wife, I do have some experience in this matter. As a bare minimum, get in 10 -12 quarry dives and then do some close inshore dives to gain some experience.

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

first I agree with number of dives my self at least 20 or more, why because of the inability to control mother nature , the current sometimes, the waves ect can be very nasty but other times there are a peace of cake .
no matter what 99% of the dive boats will not let you dive anything future out than few miles unless you have at least advance open water cert.
also recommend telling the dive master of your lack of inexperience at least on the first dive because most do two dive trips , with the first dive being the hardest and usually the deepest.
also would truly recommend a dive sausage /SMB and at least small light of some sort , another tip a signal device take two AOL CD's turn the shinny side out and past them together this allows for a emergency mirror or signal device that can be carried real easy .
as far what type of wet suit my personal recommendations is at least a 3mm prefer full wet suit to 5 mm suit
I have both in aug - sept I am usually I am in 3 mm but other times in 5 mm , as far as dive shop or boats most all i have been on are good two that wear mentioned earlier the olmpusdivng / aquatic safaris are both great along with the shop out of Myrtle beach SC coastal scuba hope this helps