Shore diving in GC justify investment in gear?

[mm2613]

I have been diving for three years now but have always rented gear.. I will be in gc for a week starting this Saturday and was wondering if the shore diving justifies a last minute investment in some dive gear. I live in NY so lugging the gear through airports is a concern... I will likely be diving for 3-4 days of the trip but have not made any arrangements just yet.

I'm always putting off an investment in gear but always thinking that the earlier i buy a set the sooner ill begin to save on rentals. Is there sufficient shore diving and given my 3-4 days only should i be considering shore dives in the first place? Or do i want to spend my time on dive sites further out? (always nice to dive cheap but who knows when ill be back in GC. / i would like to maximize my experience)

Somewhat unrelated i read about some divers whos stay overlaps with my week looking to organize a night dive who might have needed to recruit a couple more people - - i'd be happy to join.

I understand innvesting in gear is a personal deciion to make I'm more interested in advice as to the shore dive experience in gc vs boat sites.

 

[EastEndDiver]

I think the easiest way to answer your question about shore diving VS Boat diving is to say ....Shore diving is OK but Boat diving is Much better.I know that doesn't give you much to go on.

There are several shore diving sites on GC;

Eden Rock/Devils Grotto - somewhat worn due to lots of diving and snorkeling

Sunset House - OK ,you can see the mermaid and the sunken barge

Turtle Farm (Cracked Conch) - Good dive,mini wall turn left at the mini wall and see large schools of Tarpon amongst other critters

Dive Tech - About a 1/4 mile from Turtle Farm,ok dive lots of macro stuff.

Dive Tech - Wall diving with long swim.

 

[mm2613]

Thanks EastEndDiver. I'm thinking I'll stick to renting and try to do 2 days of boat diving with shore dives whenever I find the chance. Can't wait to get back underwater.

 

[boulderjohn]

I would not invest in purchasing gear for a single trip, but if you plan to dive regularly over the coming years it is a worthwhile investment. Taking stuff through airports is really not a problem. Before you purchase, take the time to get really good, independent advice.

 

[scubadada]

I think the easiest way to answer your question about shore diving VS Boat diving is to say ....Shore diving is OK but Boat diving is Much better.I know that doesn't give you much to go on.

There are several shore diving sites on GC;

Eden Rock/Devils Grotto - somewhat worn due to lots of diving and snorkeling

Sunset House - OK ,you can see the mermaid and the sunken barge

Turtle Farm (Cracked Conch) - Good dive,mini wall turn left at the mini wall and see large schools of Tarpon amongst other critters

Dive Tech - About a 1/4 mile from Turtle Farm,ok dive lots of macro stuff.

Dive Tech - Wall diving with long swim.

Best of both worlds, stay at Cobalt Coast, do 2 morning boat dives with DiveTech and then enjoy free, unlimited shore diving in the afternoons at Cobalt Coast and Lighthouse Point. Both are very good sites, have mini-walls closer in but are also within striking distance of the deep wall. You can rent DPVs from DiveTech to make the deep walls an easy destination. DiveTech also offers a great DPV excursion from Cobalt Coast to Lighthouse Point, covering a lot of territory that is rarely dived. My son and I also did the CCR experience once and it was exactly as advertised, a real experience.

Turtle Reef is also a very nice shore dive and a great night dive. It used to be operated by DiveTech but has been operated by Ollen Miller's Sun Divers for maybe five years. It's in a nice small facility below the Cracked Conch Restaruant, tank rentals are quick and easy. I actually like going to the right but often end the dive to the left with all the Tarpon as this is not far from the exit. This is not a bad place to end the day as there is a very nice outside bar with tasty food, Macabuca.

Keep in mind that the Winter generally has higher winds and rougher seas, making diving, especially farther North, much less predictable.

Good diving, Craig