Shore Dives??

[Diver294]

Does anyone know of ANY spots near Swansboro, NC where i could do a few shore dives? Ocean or Sound side....

I'm not ready to wreck dive but REALLY need to dive soon. Thanks for any help.

 

[cornfed]

Have you tried calling any of the dive shops nearby? I'm I now of some shore dives up near Nags Head and the shops there have always been helpful finding them.

 

[BradfordNC]

Nags Head is hours away from Swansboro, unless your flying.
its only about 40 miles as the crow flies. but road distance is another story.

you can always do a shore dive in the sound or the ocean, as long as your only interested in looking at sand.

about the only shore dive i've heard anyone doing is in the channel off Radio Island between Morehead City and Beaufort.

depending on the tide, max depth is about 30 ft and vis is maybe 10 ft if your lucky. because its a dredged channel it might be considered a wall dive, lol.

NC has excellent wrecks to dive, and most of the charters leave out of the Morehead City area, a short drive from Swansboro. The only other option is to get your own boat, or find a dive buddy with one.

 

[Diver294]

I didn't think there was much to see close to shore anywhere nearby. Bummer... The soundside near here seems really murky or "tea stained" if you know what I mean.

Coming from coastal Massachusetts I was spoiled to be able to swim out 75 yards from shore and dive on a rocky/sandy bottom in 20'-30', loaded with Lobster, Flounder, Stripers, and tons of other fish.

I've fished an artificial reef about 3 miles from the beach in Emerald Isle. Maybe that would be a good place to start. Any problems with large toothy predators in this area? What am I likely to encounter?

Thanks for your help.

 

[BradfordNC]

I've fished an artificial reef about 3 miles from the beach in Emerald Isle. Maybe that would be a good place to start. Any problems with large toothy predators in this area? What am I likely to encounter?

That would prolly be a good place to start, sounds like you have a boat to get out there (would hate to do a 3 mile surface swim).
there is an NC fisheries website which lists the materials used to make the different artificial reefs. it might help to narrow down which ones you might want to skip. some were made from old boxcars, others tugboats, and many out of old concrete or tires.

as for large toothy predators, if your lucky, you'll see some sand tigers. they get to be about 6-8 feet long and look like one mean shark, but they will leave you alone. some of the offshore wrecks are favorite places for the sharks, not sure about the rubble piles. otherwise, there isn't anything in NC that will mistake you for lunch.