Virginia area diving????

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rsiegel

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Location
SoCal
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Hello anyone who reads this,

I am new to SB and living in Southern California right now. Currently diving at least once a week and loving it.

My wife and I are moving to Virginia this year, and I was wondering if anyone can enlighten me on diving in that area.

Just some background on me. I am a PADI DM with about 300 dives. I am a dry suit diver. Most of my dives have been local in SoCal, but I have been to Bonaire, Egypt, Belize, and Indonesia (Raja Ampat and Komodo). I am not a tech or wreck diver, but am interested in learning.

So what say you, East Coast Divers?

Randy
 
Welcome - where in VA are you moving?
I'm new to this so I've only been to Dutch Springs quarry in PA. It's about a 3.5 hour drive north from NoVA. Quite a few people dive dry - I've always used a 7mm.
Millbrook quarry is another popular place for training. It's closer to NoVA but I've heard it gets pretty murky.
I've heard Lake Rawlings is nice but it's another 3+ hour drive south from NoVA.
As for salt water - haven't heard much about whats close by. I'd prefer warm waters of FL over the cold waters up here :D

Julie
 
Lake Rawlings is pretty fun. I live in the Va Beach area and it is about a 2 hr drive from here. It's an old rock quarry that they have sunk cars, buses, boats, planes, basketball hoops, etc. in. You can camp there also if you are planning to stay the weekend. If you're not a camper there is a little motel nearby. There is also really great wreck diving in NC, which is not a far drive depending on where you will be in Virginia. Definitely a good weekend trip.
 
Welcome rsiegel! I'm in central Virginia and do all of my local diving at Rawlings. Otherwise, it's off to the NC coast which has fantastic wreck diving. Let us know more specifically where you'll be and I'm sure someone will point you to the right direction.

Cheers,
Lilla
 
Thanks for all of the great replies. It looks like we will be in the DC area, probably somewhere like Fairfax county.

I have actually dove in Dutch Springs. My wife and I are originally from NJ, and she did her cert dives there.

Randy
 
The other post have said it all for area diving. For the better diving you would have to go down to the Outer Banks for good blue water, it is all wreck diving, long boat ride and also unpredictable, but good when you get out there. Moorehead City is another place in NC that a lot of dive shops go to.
I work with Aquatic Adventures in Alexandria. That shop does alot of speciality training and one of the only course Instructors in the area if you are interested in moving up. Welcome to the area
 
No one really addressed you actual question I see..Being from California, you are used to cold water diving and usually decent Vis and nice marine life. Virginia coastal diving is there, plenty of wrecks to dive close to shore and offshore. However, the water tends to be murky green with a lot of sediment due to the heavy Navy and commercial shipping traffic. The temps tend to be in the 40's in the winter and 70's in the summer. The closer you gt to the Gulf Stream, the water will warm and water will be bluer with increased Viz. Marine life has its usual sharks, jacks, barracuda, etc, but not alot of corals. The further south you go to the NC area offers better diving with a huge amount of wrecks and great marine life and warmer temps and greater Viz, however, being in the Gulf stream , you have to get used to 3-5 Ft seas which is the norm, and changing weather constantly..but that is what makes NC diving fun..anyone can dive in flat seas... : )
Up in the NoVa area, as stated earlier, you will find a couple quarries that offers the chance to get wet if you cant get to the ocean, most from the NoVa will come down to Lake Rawlings, and during the summer..there are more divers than fish in the quarry which can be a problem..but then again..part of diving around here..have fun..and welcome to the area..
 
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