td275
Registered
Safety second may sound strange to folks who have been pumped full of “safety first” statements in the past. In a dangerous sport, like scuba diving, if safety was “first” we would never go out in the first place (pun intended). Everything is dangerous. Of course this is not the motto, nor policy at Olympus Dive Center. They strive to give you the best experience possible, keeping your safety in mind. Because just off the shores in North Carolina the waters have been nicknamed The Graveyard of the Atlantic.
For good reason it was named this because of the weather, colliding currents, etc. Over 5,000 wrecks off the coast and Olympus wants to show them all to you, but never join their fate. They want to take you to the best experience possible, keeping in mind how to safely get to the site and back. So if you are looking to book with them and desire some weather guarantee, you are better off asking the same of your hometown weatherman. If you really want a 100% positive shark show, head to your closest aquarium. Olympus wants to take you to the big cool wrecks way off shore to see and share your experience. But if there is heavy weather on the radar, they may have to take you to something closer to shore. Remember those wrecks are out there because of careless people.
The care FULL people at Olympus are hard at work right now working on making your trip as fantastic as it can be. That way you can return to your loved ones and tell them your amazing stories.
Returning safe from my trip, I would like to share with you my experiences and emphasize how Olympus is the type of dive shop you want to look for in booking your next trip. Four of us tech buddies put together this trip about 6 months ago over dinner at our last dive trip in Key Largo. We wanted to explore the Graveyard of the Atlantic, so we knew Morehead City, NC was the place to go. The possibilities of diving U-357 and seeing Sand Tiger sharks was exciting to think about. We all knew that weather would be a huge factor. Which it was. Even two days before arrival our first paid for and booked day was cancelled.
When trips are cancelled that means the sea can be very bad for small vessels. Most of these wrecks, at least the good ones, are 3+ hours off shore. That means if you get into trouble you are in a deep mess. So no worries, my account was credited back to me. Thus I used the funds as a “discount” on a new camera lens. This is just the beginning of how well oiled of a machine the Olympus staff is. They have a nice large section of equipment and merchandise. Not a lot of tech gear, or CCR items. But I am sure if you called ahead for specifics they can assist you. I am a camera guy kind of diver, so I am very impressed when a shop has a wide selection of camera equipment to sell.
They have many items for the beginner and lots of various upgrade options available for those with more expensive set ups. Many of the staff are involved in photography, so if you are interested in starting this hobby out they can point you in the right direction. Additionally in this area with darker waters and overcast skies, I always see a much better lighting in photos and videos. Harsh sun rays, even down under water can be a little powerful. Thus putting the light behind you will be the order of the day. On our weekend with softer light I was able to get good lighting with more angle choices. Maintaining the topic of equipment, the staff are extremely supportive in dive gear issues. For example I purchased a short hose for my AI. Installing it the next morning as we are boarding I detected a leak. I knew this meant I would need a spindle, but not sure what type or size. As I walked back to the shop to search out the part, an employee I hadn’t met yet called my name and escorted me into the work shop where only employees are allowed. Tim was fantastic and searched through to find what I needed and sent me on the way. I highlight this story, but there are others like it in our group or other patrons who were taken care of quickly so their dive was “saved”. Care for knowing who you are and ensuring you have everything you need to make a safe and enjoyable dive is what this staff strives for.
Your day begins the night before getting your tanks filled, analyzed and placed on the boat. Olympus likes to “zero out” your account every day so you do not have some outstanding balance. This time the day before also allows you to orientate yourself on where you and your equipment will be on the vessel. Thus you can stow anything you need ahead of time. There is a nice ample section under your seat that they lock up every night. The boat and dive shop are all located right there at their own harbor. There is plenty of parking yards away from the entrance. With ramps available for hauling the big heavy stuff instead of using the very wide stairs. If you select to stay at the hotel across the street you have a short walk, and slightly further away is the dive lounge available for the more budgeted selection. All within easy walking distance. Our team utilized my folding cart wagon for hauling our gear daily.
In the morning your day begins at 0600 for check in. Walk up to the register to give them your name and receive a card with a number on it. This will be your number when roll call is made on the boat. Take that number to the dive master already on board so he can check you onto the vessel. Now is your time to set up your dive equipment and store anything you have. You should have plenty of time, as they will depart around 0700. Once departing the new folks will receive a detailed briefing of the safety equipment on board, various emergency procedures as well as diving and recovery plan of action. This really is informative, not your typical fast coast guard check the block briefing. I was impressed to hear they have a defibrillator on board. After the briefing you and your buddy can find your spot for the rest of the trip.
There are a few nice choices based on the boat layout. Because she was built in the 80s as a transport vessel for oil rig workers, there is a large aft end for scuba operations. Then midship is a dry area with large comfy bench seats. One large banquette booth seating area that is perfect for a large group or even to work on equipment. Another choice is topside seating. This is limited to 8, due to vessel stability, however with the beanbags and nice sun you can warm up there and enjoy the sea to its full capacity. My suggestion is wherever you hang out, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. The ride out to your dive site will be long and you have every opportunity to fully prevent the number one injury in all sports, dehydration. So when you feel that you have accomplished that and need to relieve yourself there is an ample size head midship in the lounge area. This area is also very nice for donning swimsuits and such. As I mentioned the ride out is long, so go back to hydrating. Also feel free to observe the radar, depth gauge and GPS displayed in the lounge. Olympus has a nice monitor that they mirrored to the Captain’s view, so you can see many of the things he is looking at.
Depending on the weather he is headed for the outer wreck sites, or the closer ones. Yes you came here for the big wrecks out far, but if the weather is bad the wrecks closer in are very nice. They are between 60-80 feet in depth. Visibility can be 30-150 feet (depending). Lots of sea life on them, and a ton of history you can learn by exploring them. So enjoy your time no matter what site you visit. To help you enjoy your time the crew does some other nice touches. When you arrive at the site you are not rushed to go straight into your dive. A DM goes down first with full face mask and radio to the surface. This way he can report conditions and you can know exactly what is going on at depth. Where they tie into the wreck. Where the DM ran a line for navigation on the wreck. Even the different species he spotted and where while he is down. During your surface interval they offer you fresh pineapple. I failed to mention chocolates are offered as you head out to sea. For the return to shore icy pops are offered. A very nice touch of class that sets them above all others.
Your return to harbor is long, so another chance to hydrate. This time is also great to tie your wetsuit or other items to the various ropes they have overhead. These ropes are great hand holds in rough seas. There is no dunk tank for gear, but there is a large water container for cameras. They have a hot water rinse area aft that is nice for your hair and body wash off. Once arriving to shore enjoy the show as Captain Bobby takes this massive vessel in one quick easy move into the dock. A very impressive show, every time. Then on dock there are plenty of dunk tanks available, fresh water hoses and hangers to dry your equipment overnight. You can let them sit out in the sun for a while and even come back later to put them behind the cage or in a provided storage bin. They do not close shop until 2000, so you have time for a shower and restaurant stop before returning. Remember there is lots of space under your seat on board they will lock up every night. Additionally they have 24/7 video surveillance of the place.
As I have mentioned before the staff at Olympus is there to help you have the best trip possible. They have many of the items we are accustomed to in diving, but with nice additions that set the bar higher. I hope this review has been helpful and you will decide to visit them one day. If you do tell Bobby, John, Travis, Tim, Dottie, Katie, Claire or anyone else working there that Tex says HOWDY!
For good reason it was named this because of the weather, colliding currents, etc. Over 5,000 wrecks off the coast and Olympus wants to show them all to you, but never join their fate. They want to take you to the best experience possible, keeping in mind how to safely get to the site and back. So if you are looking to book with them and desire some weather guarantee, you are better off asking the same of your hometown weatherman. If you really want a 100% positive shark show, head to your closest aquarium. Olympus wants to take you to the big cool wrecks way off shore to see and share your experience. But if there is heavy weather on the radar, they may have to take you to something closer to shore. Remember those wrecks are out there because of careless people.
The care FULL people at Olympus are hard at work right now working on making your trip as fantastic as it can be. That way you can return to your loved ones and tell them your amazing stories.
Returning safe from my trip, I would like to share with you my experiences and emphasize how Olympus is the type of dive shop you want to look for in booking your next trip. Four of us tech buddies put together this trip about 6 months ago over dinner at our last dive trip in Key Largo. We wanted to explore the Graveyard of the Atlantic, so we knew Morehead City, NC was the place to go. The possibilities of diving U-357 and seeing Sand Tiger sharks was exciting to think about. We all knew that weather would be a huge factor. Which it was. Even two days before arrival our first paid for and booked day was cancelled.
When trips are cancelled that means the sea can be very bad for small vessels. Most of these wrecks, at least the good ones, are 3+ hours off shore. That means if you get into trouble you are in a deep mess. So no worries, my account was credited back to me. Thus I used the funds as a “discount” on a new camera lens. This is just the beginning of how well oiled of a machine the Olympus staff is. They have a nice large section of equipment and merchandise. Not a lot of tech gear, or CCR items. But I am sure if you called ahead for specifics they can assist you. I am a camera guy kind of diver, so I am very impressed when a shop has a wide selection of camera equipment to sell.
They have many items for the beginner and lots of various upgrade options available for those with more expensive set ups. Many of the staff are involved in photography, so if you are interested in starting this hobby out they can point you in the right direction. Additionally in this area with darker waters and overcast skies, I always see a much better lighting in photos and videos. Harsh sun rays, even down under water can be a little powerful. Thus putting the light behind you will be the order of the day. On our weekend with softer light I was able to get good lighting with more angle choices. Maintaining the topic of equipment, the staff are extremely supportive in dive gear issues. For example I purchased a short hose for my AI. Installing it the next morning as we are boarding I detected a leak. I knew this meant I would need a spindle, but not sure what type or size. As I walked back to the shop to search out the part, an employee I hadn’t met yet called my name and escorted me into the work shop where only employees are allowed. Tim was fantastic and searched through to find what I needed and sent me on the way. I highlight this story, but there are others like it in our group or other patrons who were taken care of quickly so their dive was “saved”. Care for knowing who you are and ensuring you have everything you need to make a safe and enjoyable dive is what this staff strives for.
Your day begins the night before getting your tanks filled, analyzed and placed on the boat. Olympus likes to “zero out” your account every day so you do not have some outstanding balance. This time the day before also allows you to orientate yourself on where you and your equipment will be on the vessel. Thus you can stow anything you need ahead of time. There is a nice ample section under your seat that they lock up every night. The boat and dive shop are all located right there at their own harbor. There is plenty of parking yards away from the entrance. With ramps available for hauling the big heavy stuff instead of using the very wide stairs. If you select to stay at the hotel across the street you have a short walk, and slightly further away is the dive lounge available for the more budgeted selection. All within easy walking distance. Our team utilized my folding cart wagon for hauling our gear daily.
In the morning your day begins at 0600 for check in. Walk up to the register to give them your name and receive a card with a number on it. This will be your number when roll call is made on the boat. Take that number to the dive master already on board so he can check you onto the vessel. Now is your time to set up your dive equipment and store anything you have. You should have plenty of time, as they will depart around 0700. Once departing the new folks will receive a detailed briefing of the safety equipment on board, various emergency procedures as well as diving and recovery plan of action. This really is informative, not your typical fast coast guard check the block briefing. I was impressed to hear they have a defibrillator on board. After the briefing you and your buddy can find your spot for the rest of the trip.
There are a few nice choices based on the boat layout. Because she was built in the 80s as a transport vessel for oil rig workers, there is a large aft end for scuba operations. Then midship is a dry area with large comfy bench seats. One large banquette booth seating area that is perfect for a large group or even to work on equipment. Another choice is topside seating. This is limited to 8, due to vessel stability, however with the beanbags and nice sun you can warm up there and enjoy the sea to its full capacity. My suggestion is wherever you hang out, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. The ride out to your dive site will be long and you have every opportunity to fully prevent the number one injury in all sports, dehydration. So when you feel that you have accomplished that and need to relieve yourself there is an ample size head midship in the lounge area. This area is also very nice for donning swimsuits and such. As I mentioned the ride out is long, so go back to hydrating. Also feel free to observe the radar, depth gauge and GPS displayed in the lounge. Olympus has a nice monitor that they mirrored to the Captain’s view, so you can see many of the things he is looking at.
Depending on the weather he is headed for the outer wreck sites, or the closer ones. Yes you came here for the big wrecks out far, but if the weather is bad the wrecks closer in are very nice. They are between 60-80 feet in depth. Visibility can be 30-150 feet (depending). Lots of sea life on them, and a ton of history you can learn by exploring them. So enjoy your time no matter what site you visit. To help you enjoy your time the crew does some other nice touches. When you arrive at the site you are not rushed to go straight into your dive. A DM goes down first with full face mask and radio to the surface. This way he can report conditions and you can know exactly what is going on at depth. Where they tie into the wreck. Where the DM ran a line for navigation on the wreck. Even the different species he spotted and where while he is down. During your surface interval they offer you fresh pineapple. I failed to mention chocolates are offered as you head out to sea. For the return to shore icy pops are offered. A very nice touch of class that sets them above all others.
Your return to harbor is long, so another chance to hydrate. This time is also great to tie your wetsuit or other items to the various ropes they have overhead. These ropes are great hand holds in rough seas. There is no dunk tank for gear, but there is a large water container for cameras. They have a hot water rinse area aft that is nice for your hair and body wash off. Once arriving to shore enjoy the show as Captain Bobby takes this massive vessel in one quick easy move into the dock. A very impressive show, every time. Then on dock there are plenty of dunk tanks available, fresh water hoses and hangers to dry your equipment overnight. You can let them sit out in the sun for a while and even come back later to put them behind the cage or in a provided storage bin. They do not close shop until 2000, so you have time for a shower and restaurant stop before returning. Remember there is lots of space under your seat on board they will lock up every night. Additionally they have 24/7 video surveillance of the place.
As I have mentioned before the staff at Olympus is there to help you have the best trip possible. They have many of the items we are accustomed to in diving, but with nice additions that set the bar higher. I hope this review has been helpful and you will decide to visit them one day. If you do tell Bobby, John, Travis, Tim, Dottie, Katie, Claire or anyone else working there that Tex says HOWDY!
