Trip Planning - Info Please

[rickydazla]

So, my wife, a friend and I are planning to hire an RV and take a 10 day/2 week road trip from Savannah to Virginia Beach.. Any info on rental companies in the area and any other relevant info obviously greatly appreciated but more pertinently: if we were planning to do a day's diving where should we do it from, what wrecks should we look out for and who should we go with? My wife and I are both instructors and our friend is a DM. We'd love to see some sand tigers (and maybe a great white!).

 

[herman]

Your best bets are either the Morehead City area or the Wilmington area. Most of the camp gounds I use to go to are gone, the only one I am still aware of is near Carolina Beach. This CG would work well if you book a trip on Cape Fear Divers. They are in a marina maybe 4 miles from the CG. For sand tigers the Hyde and Marcum wrecks are a possibility. I would suggest you plan more than 1 day of diving. Diving on our coast is a gamble most of the time and it's not uncommon for 1/2 of our scheduled dives to be cancled due to rough water. It varies with the captain but "rough water" means greater than 6 to 8 ft seas. We do get glass slick days with gin clear water but you can't count on them. I highly recommend seas sick meds unless you are positive you don't get seasick....even then it's not a bad idea.

Morehead City dive ops:Olympus and Discovery
Wilmington : Aquatic Safaris
Carolina Beach: Cape Fear Divers

 

[fireflock]

For the best chance at getting a day of diving, shoot for a weekend (weekday charters are harder to find this time of year) and try to be available both days (weather....).

The campground at Carolina Beach State Park keeps the gate closed until 8am I think, which can limit you depending on when the boat leaves. Carolina Beach Family campground in also close, and does not have that restriction, AKAIK.

In the Morehead/Beaufort area you can try http://www.ncpines.com/, or the Croatan National Forest at Cedar Point - http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southern/crocmp.htm

If you have a campground guidebook or something, be careful to double-check the listings. Like Herman said, quite a few are not campgrounds any more.

Ditto what Herman says on the dive ops. Tell the staff you want to see sharks and if sharks are still around they will take you to the regular shark wrecks.

Rich

 

[rickydazla]

Are there any shore diving options anywhere up the coast? Doesn't have to be fantastic - just want to get wet...

 

[fireflock]

There are a couple of options, but none compare favorably to boat diving offshore. Radio Island, between Morehead City and Beaufort is the most popular. There are also a number of shore dives in the Nags Head area, and people dive the inlet jetty at Wrightsville beach. You have to watch your timing for most NC shore dives, and try to hit high slack tide.

Rich

 

[jscott099]

Wilmington and Beaufort/MC are great. But since you have a camper and are going up to VB, be sure to trek up to Ocracoke and then one more ferry to Cape Hatteras. There is RV camping there. Also you can score with DiveHatteras.com - NC Shipwreck Diving At It's Best. Fantastic wrecks in that area as well. You can also go up just a little more to Nag Head and check out the shops there also. Not sure when you are going, but the weather is starting to cool off. On the Outer Banks you should consider a 5mm or dry suit. Day temps are warm but its cooling off during the evening. Have fun!!

 

[rickydazla]

Have just booked RV and flights - will be there from the 1st to 10th of December. Am getting really excited now. Thanks for all the info so far people, love your work. Where should I go if I wanted to dredge myself up a megladon tooth?!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I've been to Morehead City and Beaufort a number of times, and on a good day the diving is world class. You will want to check water temps and the location of the gulf stream. These two organizations offer excellent service and diving - I recommend you call them to inquire into availability of charter slots during the time you will be there. They may also be able to provide the phone number of the campground near their location - there is one down there.

Discovery Diving Co., Inc. - North Carolina Wreck Diving in the Graveyard of the Atlantic

Leroy Crater runs a six-pack out of there which is reliable, they also have larger boats as well. Discovery at (252) 728-2265

Atlantis Charters - Diving and Fishing Adventures in North Carolina

Call Bobby Edwards or his partner Renate at (252) 728-6244


Also Olympus is considered top notch, but I've never used them.
Olympus Dive Center - Local Information

 

[rickydazla]

From most of the links posted it seems that charter boats stop running, or at least stop running scheduled trips, in November - is this because the conditions become unfavourable or because it's low season and there's a lack of punters?

 

[Doc Intrepid]

weather conditions become less predictable.

Nevertheless, the absolute best day of diving I ever had off Morehead City was December 5, 2004. The temps at the surface were 80 degrees F, the seas were flat, and the vis was awesome. And that was diving with Leroy Crator off the "Captain's Lady".

You need to call the captains and see what they have to say. They're in the business of trying to please divers, and weather permitting they will do their best to get you out to the wrecks.

BTW - the trips are ~ 3 hours out and 3 hours back. You are some 60-70 miles offshore in the North Atlantic. Currents can be problematic. Use of jon lines is highly recommended. Ensure you can go down and come back up the anchor line - if you've never used Carolina rigging you should discuss with the Captain prior to dropping. Drink lots of water and consider using Triptone or Bonine if you've not been that far offshore previously. Ensure you have a SMB and reel, in case you get blown off the wreck. Boats are NOT live. You may drift for awhile...

It's the real deal.

dive safe,

Doc