Returning diver

[wrybosome]

This is my first post so hello! to all of you.

I was naui certified back in '93 and did about a dozen dives in the Carribean but fell out of the sport because I didn't know what to do up here on the east coast (NJ, DelMarVA).

My wife and I are going to St Maarten this July so we decided to get her certified. The LDS training guy convinced me that 16 years was long enough that I should retake the entire class myself, which I'm doing.

My favorite thing the LDS guy said was, "Divings changed a lot in 16 years!" <Points to a BCD> "Did you use those back then?". Damn, I'm not that old.

We're planning on a couple days diving St Maarten, then a daytrip to Saba after those. Can't wait! I am very very excited.

I always wanted to get back to diving but let a lot of time go by. Still, the few dives I did previously remain some of the most vivid memories I have. The eels, turtles, blacktips, rays and other critters on those dives are something I've been nattering on about to my coworkers for a while now

So, but when a novice diver gets back home from the Carribean, what's the gentlest/safest way to get into east coast Atlantic diving? I'll only have ~20 dives lifetime by then and really don't want to jump in over my head, so to speak. OTOH I want to keep going and not bore people for another 16 years!

Cheers,

Tim

 

[SteveTW]

Hi Tim and welcome to ScubaBoard.
If you want to "ease in" to scuba again, may I suggest taking a trip to Dutch Springs. It's a nice quarry dive with a lot of underwater objects to discover. Here's their web site: Dutch Springs Homepage

Take care and have fun diving again,
Steve

 

[kathydee]

Hi there,

Welcome back! Have a great vacation ;-)

 

[lowviz]

... So, but when a novice diver gets back home from the Carribean, what's the gentlest/safest way to get into east coast Atlantic diving?...

I agree with starting at Dutch. When you get comfortable with reduced visibility try the 80' or less, intact, upright, artificial reef ships through your LDS and any good dive boat. Bring a goodie bag, excellent blue mussels are almost everywhere. You can progress to lobstering, spearfishing, exploring wrecks, or just looking -lots to look at. A nitrox card and a drysuit are both useful. Take it slowly, much to learn.

-download some of the dive videos from Scuba Diving - New Jersey & Long Island New York - Wreck Valley to see if you might like this kind of diving.

Stay safe.

 

[wrybosome]

Thanks everyone. Dutch springs is where I did my original checkout dives!

When you say less than 80', upright wrecks, is there a particular wreck or dive operator I should check out?

 

[lowviz]

When you say less than 80', upright wrecks, is there a particular wreck or dive operator I should check out?

Not really, just an easy way to signal your intentions. Wrecks on a hard list are very disorienting, scattered wrecks are easy to get lost on without a line, and lowered visibility doesn't help either.

Digging wrecks usually don't have more than 10' of relief, you fan the sand looking for artifacts, very interesting when you are on something from the 1800's.

Lots of good boats to pick from, all different, all know local conditions. Most dive shops specialize: vacation, cave, local, etc. You will have a lot more chances to dive with "your crowd" if you find a shop that does a lot of local diving. I like to dive with different shops, -meet interesting characters.

Welcome to NJDive.com check the 'schedule' page to keep up on who is doing what. Have fun and stay safe. -Nice to think that there is another local diver in the making...

 

[RJP]

what's the gentlest/safest way to get into east coast Atlantic diving? I'll only have ~20 dives lifetime by then and really don't want to jump in over my head...

My first NJ wreck dive was dive #10 or so for me back in 2006 - and about half of the 300 or so dives I've done since then. I suggest you connect with your local dive shop and book an "Intro to NJ Wreck Diving Trip" which many of them run on one of the local boats. Great way to take the first step on an easier wreck, with an instructor/DM with you. You'll also get to meet some new people and find out whether NJ diving is for you.

Heading up to Dutch Springs to get aclimated to "cold and dark" is another good idea. An approach to that is to sign up for Advanced Open Water with a local shop. Maybe include Dry Suit as one of the specialty dives to give that a try, as you'll want to give that some serious consideration if you're thinking about diving locally.

Welcome to ScubaBoard and I look forward to diving with you out on "Lake Atlantic" some time this year!

 

[RJP]

Thanks everyone. Dutch springs is where I did my original checkout dives!

When you say less than 80', upright wrecks, is there a particular wreck or dive operator I should check out?

I'm partial to Gypsy Blood (Gypsyblood Dives: New Jersey's Premier Dive Charter Operation) since I crew on the boat, but there are many great operators in NJ.

Most boats will require AOW as well as a redundant air source (pony, sling bottle, doubles, etc) unless you are diving with a shop DM or Instructor. Also note that in NJ, the boats are merely "a ride" out to the wreck. You bring your own gear, tanks, weights, etc. You plan your dive and dive your plan, then we bring you back from the wreck. We don't "dive with you" or find you a buddy etc. Most boats are typically chartered by a dive shop and you book your spot with the shop.

My LDS (The Scuba Connection) does a great twist on the PADI "Boat Diver" specialty. Most people will tell you it's a useless specialty - and it probably would be if done at some resort location - but these guys do it specifically to diving on NJ boats, including lots of details on "how and why we do what we do here" that you might not pick up on just by going out on the boat on your own and seeing what folks do. Plus you get to do your first two NJ wreck dives with an instructor.