North Carolina Outer Banks

[DarinMartell]

Thanks again, I love this site! Few things:

1. I understand about gas planning and would never factor the 30cf as "usable" air. I have never used it except to practice on a safety stop.
2. I carry a UKSL6 hand held, my strobe is also a backup light. And I just picked up a little led hand held at our world underwater that I will try out soon.
3. My last Lake MI dive was at 43 degrees, I have a 7MM suit and while I don't love it, i'm ok with cold.
4. I understand you about the reel. I have one and was using it on a flag & float. It was my first time with a float, a reel, a new wetsuit that I didn't seal the legs enough and got COLD and a new back inflate BCD. It was a mistake, way too many new things at one time. I ended up calling the dive short because I was not comfortable. After a bit of shallow practice I got more comfortable.

While I would love to see the sand tigers, I would also like to see historic wrecks. Since I am between Hattaras and Nags Head, where do you think is the better area for my situation and skill level?

I can't thank you enough, Darin

[DarinMartell]

By the way, Your post had a ton of good points and things to consider. Maybe a mod could copy that one post, move it to "Mid Atlantic" and put a sticky on it. I am sure others would appreciate it in the future.

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Originally Posted by DarinMartell

Thanks again, I love this site! Few things:

1. I understand about gas planning and would never factor the 30cf as "usable" air. I have never used it except to practice on a safety stop.
2. I carry a UKSL6 hand held, my strobe is also a backup light. And I just picked up a little led hand held at our world underwater that I will try out soon.
3. My last Lake MI dive was at 43 degrees, I have a 7MM suit and while I don't love it, i'm ok with cold.
4. I understand you about the reel. I have one and was using it on a flag & float. It was my first time with a float, a reel, a new wetsuit that I didn't seal the legs enough and got COLD and a new back inflate BCD. It was a mistake, way too many new things at one time. I ended up calling the dive short because I was not comfortable. After a bit of shallow practice I got more comfortable.

While I would love to see the sand tigers, I would also like to see historic wrecks. Since I am between Hattaras and Nags Head, where do you think is the better area for my situation and skill level?


I can't thank you enough, Darin

Well, compared to Lake MI, this water will feel tropical. Likely upper 50s or even low 60s at depth. Can't say for sure, since I've only dived up that way a couple of times.

As far as adding equipment goes I would advise taking it slow, adding no more than one new thing at a time. Try to avoid the all too comon GAS syndrome (Gear As Solution). I had it, so I recognize the symptoms It's paradoxical that adding safety gear can actually decrease your safety.

The operators up there know the wrecks and their usual conditions way better than I do. As long as you are honest with them I see no reason not to trust their recommendations. It's not in their interest to take you somewhere that you can't handle and it is in there interest for everyone on the boat to have a good dive. If you're gonna be doing 2 days of diving, the U85 might be a good choice for the second day.

As far as which shop, I've only dealt with OBX Dive in Nags Head, but I wouldn't rule out someone in Hatteras just because of that. If you PM me the name of the shop you are have contacted I can ask a couple of people whether you should steer clear.


Found this dive report from June 22, 2008, I hope your conditions are as good.

Sunday 22nd: The U-85 was our destination today, We had 8 divers on board and we had slightly more seas than the previous day. On the surface we had a 3-5 foot swell every 9 seconds, with no current. The top temperature was a very comfortable 70 with a bottom temperature of 60. The visbility on the top was around 60 ft diminishing to 30-40ft on the bottom. The dives were great and there was planety of marine life to see. Today we had a very large number of Spade Fish, Amber Jacks and Triggers. On the wreck itself we spotted two Conger Eels.

[DarinMartell]

Ok, thanks. I will PM you a couple of shops I found on Saturday when I go back to work (I have the list there). Thanks again, Darin

[CamaroChick]

This is great info!! I go down to Avon almost every year with the fam, and every year I consider going diving there. I've talked to folks in both the Kitty Hawk and Hatteras dive shops, and between what they've told me and what I've read here, I know this kind of diving is not for me. Sadly its just too cold and rough for little me

BTW, I hear you can do a shore dive to a wreck off the beach in Kitty Hawk, although I have no idea how you can get into the water with all of those crazy waves and rips!

[BouzoukiJoe A.K.A. wrecker130 AKA Chuck Norris AKA joeforbroke (banned)]

Originally Posted by CamaroChick

This is great info!! I go down to Avon almost every year with the fam, and every year I consider going diving there. I've talked to folks in both the Kitty Hawk and Hatteras dive shops, and between what they've told me and what I've read here, I know this kind of diving is not for me. Sadly its just too cold and rough for little me

BTW, I hear you can do a shore dive to a wreck off the beach in Kitty Hawk, although I have no idea how you can get into the water with all of those crazy waves and rips!

I did the Kyzickes at Kill Devil Hills. It's the closest I ever came to drowning. And that during the entry in 4 feet of water, max. I didn't know jack about beach diving at the time. Once I finally made it out to the wreck, I was so winded and stressed that I just held on to the bouoy and rested. During the dive on the wreck my integrated weights fell out of one pocket and I had to flare and pop back to the surface. No more integrated weights for me. It was interesting to experience the surge during the dive. It makes you realize that you are no more than a fly in the soup of the ocean. If this dive had been filmed, it definitely could have been on America's funniest videos.

If you ever do any of these beach dives, make sure to go with someone who knows what they are doing. If you don't, it would be worth every penny to pay a local DM.

When I went, my buddy was an Advanced Nitrox Instructor with a gazillion dives, but no beach dives. He did make it into the water and through the dive without an event, but he got rolled on the way back in and had to crawl out on his hands and knees with his double 80s on his back. It looked like a big shiny turtle coming on shore.

We were going to dive the Gerhardt for the second dive, but both decided we'd had enough.

[Lulubelle]

Homeboy, this was too funny, but I'm quite sure it wasn't when you were going through it. You have cured me of any desire to dive north of Cape Lookout. I guess that is why I bought my condo/dive shack in Atlantic beach!

But I am a diver who got into diving for the warm tropical stuff. I only got into the water in NC to keep my skills up, and surprisingly, enjoyed it a LOT. I sure do like the sharks better when i can see them!

I miss not having good beach diving opportunities here. Radio Island doesn't count unless one just needs some skill practice. I have never done a beach dive. I am thinking about doing some when I am in Florida next.

Joe, do you LIKE beach diving compared to our offshore boat diving? It sounds like it is an exercise in frustration just getting in and out of the water! And no, I cannot imagine doing it in NC unless it just happened to be one of those strange days where Mother ocean is very calm.

And Darrin, do check out the NC divers site. Lots of comments about the different ops there. Also, let us know how it goes for you. One of my best friends has a monster house in Hatteras Village, we usually do boating stuff, but I might noodle on diving when I am there too dependant on your feedback.

Dive safely.

L

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

I did the Kyzickes at Kill Devil Hills. It's the closest I ever came to drowning. And that during the entry in 4 feet of water, max. I didn't know jack about beach diving at the time. Once I finally made it out to the wreck, I was so winded and stressed that I just held on to the bouoy and rested. During the dive on the wreck my integrated weights fell out of one pocket and I had to flare and pop back to the surface. No more integrated weights for me. It was interesting to experience the surge during the dive. It makes you realize that you are no more than a fly in the soup of the ocean. If this dive had been filmed, it definitely could have been on America's funniest videos.

If you ever do any of these beach dives, make sure to go with someone who knows what they are doing. If you don't, it would be worth every penny to pay a local DM.

When I went, my buddy was an Advanced Nitrox Instructor with a gazillion dives, but no beach dives. He did make it into the water and through the dive without an event, but he got rolled on the way back in and had to crawl out on his hands and knees with his double 80s on his back. It looked like a big shiny turtle coming on shore.

We were going to dive the Gerhardt for the second dive, but both decided we'd had enough.

[DarinMartell]

One of the shops I found in Nags Head offers guided beach dives for $30. If I did a beach dive that is the way I would do it.
I will keep everyone updated on the progress of what I decide and will post a trip report after.
Joe's comment about being more experienced than alot of AOW divers after 2 days with a DM got me thinking. I think I will see if we can combine those two days of dives with a AOW cert. That way at least I have the card if I run into any OP's that require it in the future.
I'm sending in the deposit on our house this weekeend. Unless anyone knows of any home rentals that are close to the beach, has a pool / hot tub, and can sleep twelve that would rent in the $3K range for a week.

[CamaroChick]

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

It looked like a big shiny turtle coming on shore.

Yeah given that I got knocked on my a$$ by the waves several times while just standing in the surf with no gear, I know that OBX beach diving is not for me! I've gotten so used to the Caribbean that I seem to forget to respect the power of the Atlantic!

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by DarinMartell

One of the shops I found in Nags Head offers guided beach dives for $30. If I did a beach dive that is the way I would do it.
I will keep everyone updated on the progress of what I decide and will post a trip report after.
Joe's comment about being more experienced than alot of AOW divers after 2 days with a DM got me thinking. I think I will see if we can combine those two days of dives with a AOW cert. That way at least I have the card if I run into any OP's that require it in the future.
I'm sending in the deposit on our house this weekeend. Unless anyone knows of any home rentals that are close to the beach, has a pool / hot tub, and can sleep twelve that would rent in the $3K range for a week.

Darrin,

NC beach rentals are REALLY soft this year, so don't be afraid to negotiate! Interestingly, the biggest houses (sleep far more than 12) are doing better than others because folks are combining families and such to make the numbers right.

I don't know the prices in that neck of the woods, only further south.

When is your trip? If you are speaking of using the pool, I hope it is not too soon!

But then again, us southerners have thin blood.