VA Beach Diving

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rogersab1223

Registered
Messages
41
Reaction score
2
Location
Alexandria, VA
# of dives
50 - 99
Hey guys -

We got blown out by Hurricane Leslie for a trip down to NC I had scheduled for this weekend, so I was looking at some closer options for the last few weeks of the season. I found a shop in Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven Dive Center) that looks like they've got a few interesting dives for the weekend of the 21-23. They're doing "Tower," "Gulf Hustler," and "Third Island."

Gulf Hustler is a wreck that sounds alright and I have no idea what Tower and Third Island are. Anyone know?

Any input on the shop?

I'm a new diver (AOW) and am trying to get some dives under my belt and gain some experience. Is it worth the 3.5-4 hours + room and board to spend a weekend in the VA Beach area?

Thanks,
Andy
 
Hey guys -

We got blown out by Hurricane Leslie for a trip down to NC I had scheduled for this weekend, so I was looking at some closer options for the last few weeks of the season. I found a shop in Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven Dive Center) that looks like they've got a few interesting dives for the weekend of the 21-23. They're doing "Tower," "Gulf Hustler," and "Third Island."

Gulf Hustler is a wreck that sounds alright and I have no idea what Tower and Third Island are. Anyone know?

Any input on the shop?

I'm a new diver (AOW) and am trying to get some dives under my belt and gain some experience. Is it worth the 3.5-4 hours + room and board to spend a weekend in the VA Beach area?

Thanks,
Andy

"The Tower" is the Chesapeake Light Tower 13nm off the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in the Atlantic. Viz is usually not so good because of the plume of water that comes out of the bay can affect it, depth is about 70' but average viz is probably 10' some days they say they can see the boat from the bottom but very rare. the tower has four legs with some fallen debris under it,not very exciting i hear. The boat takes a lot of OW classes to the tower for there dives.
The Gulf Hustler is about 35nm out in the Atlantic in an area called the Triangle Wrecks ,about 85' deep, they say one day can get 60' viz and the next can be 5' but it would be your best bet for a good dive.
The Third Island is one of the man made rock islands of four that are part of the Chesapeake Bay bridge Tunnel. On a REALLY good day you might get 15' viz but i think 5' or less is the norm. I fish the island a lot and have never seen a commercial dive boat there and didn't know Lynnhaven did any trips there, must be something new. Lots of fishing there and i would imagine there will be some Gear Wars.

---------- Post Merged at 09:13 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:29 PM ----------

Also, they may not let you dive the Gulf Hustler with an OW card.

---------- Post Merged at 09:14 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:29 PM ----------

They may not let you dive the Gulf Hustler without an AOW card.
 
We've dove with Lynnhaven -- good shop, quality outfit, good briefing by the DM after they have dive the site [i believe that the only time that I've seen their guides in the water other then setting & retrieving lines, was when a couple of divers hired them special as escorts].

We've always had good dives with them. Usually a wide mix of diver skills & qualifications on the boat.

If you need to get tanks or other gear, be sure to arrange to get them from the shop the night before unless you make other arrangements with them.

Note that their boat doesn't dock anywhere near to their shop. There are a couple of hotels on the end of Va Beach near to the boat's inlet though. Check into those to avoid morning traffic.
 
Keep an eye on the forecast. If winds are more than 5-10 with sea state over 2-3 they will not go out.

I dive with LDC regularly and they are a nice group of folks overall. Diving has been pretty sihtty overall this season here in VB with lots of cancellations due to weather/sea state or just bad vis once you are on the bottom.
 
I would wait for next weekend when they have the Eureka dive is planned.
I haven't been diving VB since May but hope to start again soon. We normally get better conditions during spring and fall.
Also check out capt-jt.com he runs out of VB and tends to dive better sites than the tower (which I have never seen the need to dive) and 3rd Island which unless you have a speargun would just be a low vis practice dive...
 
I dove with them while visiting in VA Bch last year. We dove a wreck call the the Brass Spike (?) kind of expensive for what I got but I was probably unfairly comparing it to Southern Calf boats/trips.
 
Brass Spike is NO where near one of our good dives, it is merely just on that line that most consider a deep wreck without the commitment of going to the good stuff like the Morgan or Luchenbach. Which can push the borderline diver over the edge, something the bigger boats have to consider with so many divers with different experience levels.
We have some very good wrecks that compare with Southern Cali. which by the way I would love to get out there to dive some time.
 
The actual dive and wreck was great it was more the logistics. The cost of the dive boat was kind of high and then we found out late that it didn't include tanks and weights. We had to go to a LDS and and rent, at an additional charge, tanks and weights and then transport them to and from the LDS and boat. Standard practiced in San Diego, the dive boat includes tanks (with air) and weights - on the boat ready to go included in the price. Additionally, the dive boat wanted proof of dive insurance. I have done many boat dives, although mostly in Southern California, and have never been asked about dive insurance. Luckily, they reluctantly accepted my active duty mititary Tricare but that was another last minute surprise. Its interesting how different locals have somewhat different practices. My limited experience in Florida was the same as in SoCal.
 
The wife, younger son and I are going back to Va. Beach for a family deal from 7/17 - 7/24, and even with the younger son being a Jr. AOWD and Nitrox certified it's proving to be really hard to find dives he can go on. Even down as far as Morehead, NC!!! Ugh!!

Anyway, it looks like LDC is going to be able to hook us up on the 7/18 with a Captain's Choice dive, then the possibility of diving nearly all day on 7/22 at 3rd Island. I hope the 7/18 dive ends up being super cool for the son.

So here are my questions:

In July, will a 3mm wet suit work off the coast and at the mouth of the bay?

Does anybody have any recent-years report for 3rd Island?
 

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