North Carolina Outer Banks

[DarinMartell]

We are going June 20th - 27th. I checked over 100's of houses and found about 20 in our price range or a little above with our needs. I only found one that would negotiate. Surprisingly from looking at the available dates on homes, things are booking up pretty well. Of course they where all the bigger homes so you are probably right about those going first.

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

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.

Combining might be a good way to go.

I know a boat captain in Morehead City who is offering an AOW special this summer on his boat. IIRC, for $399, all inclusive, you get: 3 inshore and 2 offshore dives, (dives are Boat, Nav, Wreck, Deep, Nitrox) and (assuming you pass) you get your AOW card and your Nitrox card. The dates are in July, though.

[Lulubelle]

Wow, that's a pretty good deal for the dives, AOW and Nitrox. Who is the op Joe? Olympus?

Darrin, if the shop you choose is going to get three days of diving dollars out of you, I bet you will have plenty of negotiating power to have your dive buddy be an instructor and knock out your AOW/Nitrox. I did that. The owner of a LDS had a charter and was an instructor. He had spots to sell. I paid the normal cost for my dives for three days. He did my AOW for free (I just got the materials separately) and Nitrox for 60 dollars (again, I just got my materials separately).

With that being said, I'm not sure that the Atlantic/wrecks where you will be is the best environment to hone your skills. Navigation for instance. My compass didn't work too well out there near the wrecks. So it was all about natural navigation. I had to learn better compass skills on my liveaboard. Still the Atlantic, but some of the dives were shallower and none were near wrecks. But I don't think AOW is really meant to be terribly advanced, just gets you comfortable with a wider variety of dive environments which is important here.

Good luck

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

Originally Posted by Lulubelle

Wow, that's a pretty good deal for the dives, AOW and Nitrox. Who is the op Joe?

It's a newish 6 pack: Tortuga Adventures.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

It's a newish 6 pack: Tortuga Adventures.

I've heard of it. My vision of a 2 hour boat ride in normal seas on a six pack is a barrier to me actually trying one. It isn't the diving part that gets me, it is the ride out and back.

Still, some people like to be able to pick their own sites and I'm sure it is a great option for some...I have found myself on the Spar way too many times because I was on a boat with a traveling bunch from out of state and that is where they wanted to go.

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

My favorite boat is The Captain's Lady (Discovery Diving 6 pack).

I've gone all the way out to the Naeco on the Lady. Great Dive!! But a thunderstorm started gathering while we were down. We splashed in 1 ft seas, and they built to 5 by the time we boarded. On the way back we encountered several sets that went over the boat. I remember humming the tune to Gilligan's Island. The instrument panel, with the radar, etc. came crashing down from the ceiling. We were supposed to drop on the wreck formerly known as the Pappoose but Capt. Leroy decided it wasn't a good idea in a storm. LOL. When we passed the site of the Spar we saw the Outrageous V still trying to retrieve divers in 8 ft seas. It took 5 hours to make it back to the dock. I would do it again. Leroy is an awesome driver and his boat, though small, handles very well. Only 1 of us lost our breakfast.

The next day we did the Shurz and Spar. Leroy beat Olympus to the Shurz so we got a good anchor set and were almost done before the army from the Olympus dropped in on us. Then during the ride to from the Shurz to the spar we had dolphins on the bow. He let us ride up on the bow and took it just the right speed. It was a great surface interval. When we dropped on the Spar it was magnificent with just 6 of us on the wreck. The sandies would swim right between us. When I went on the Seaquest 2, the 15+ divers storming the wreck spooked them and they stayed off in the shadows.

So, in my book, 6 packs are the way to go and Leroy is one of the best there is.

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

Originally Posted by 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

I think the worst part about it, looking back on it all is that my wife was watching it all from her beach chair. I really impressed her with my manly competence that day.

I made the mistake of entering the water with mask off and reg not in my mouth. At least my air was turned on. I bent over to put my fins on between wave sets and I missed one- I stuck my leg through the strap instead of into the fin- while I was trying to correct that a huge wave crashed on top of me. Without a tank and a bunch of weight it wouldn't have been a big deal. Every time I tried to stand another wave would hit me and roll me again. I finally had the bright idea to put my mask on and put the damn reg in my mouth. Doh! When I had air to breath, things started improving. I was able to fix the fin without standing up. I was already exhausted and I hadn't even started to swim out to the wreck. The right call would have been to pack it in. But I swam out to the wreck out of breath with eyes burning from the sea water and sand. If there had been a current running that day, I would have been in serious trouble. We were at least smart enough to watch the foam for signs of current. It was just very slight longshore that day.

I'm glad I did it. I usually learn at least one thing on every dive. I learned a seasons worth on that one dive. In NC I much prefer boat diving, in Bonaire it might be a different story.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by BouzoukiJoe

I think the worst part about it, looking back on it all is that my wife was watching it all from her beach chair. I really impressed her with my manly competence that day.

I made the mistake of entering the water with mask off and reg not in my mouth. At least my air was turned on. I bent over to put my fins on between wave sets and I missed one- I stuck my leg through the strap instead of into the fin- while I was trying to correct that a huge wave crashed on top of me. Without a tank and a bunch of weight it wouldn't have been a big deal. Every time I tried to stand another wave would hit me and roll me again. I finally had the bright idea to put my mask on and put the damn reg in my mouth. Doh! When I had air to breath, things started improving. I was able to fix the fin without standing up. I was already exhausted and I hadn't even started to swim out to the wreck. The right call would have been to pack it in. But I swam out to the wreck out of breath with eyes burning from the sea water and sand. If there had been a current running that day, I would have been in serious trouble. We were at least smart enough to watch the foam for signs of current. It was just very slight longshore that day.

I'm glad I did it. I usually learn at least one thing on every dive. I learned a seasons worth on that one dive. In NC I much prefer boat diving, in Bonaire it might be a different story.

Stop already homeboy I am downtown here with tears of laughter going down my face.

I'm now officially scared of beach diving. Who knew? I thought I was supposed to be scared of deep diving in current.

Just wait until some of these non Atlantic ocean folks visit Hatteras and try this themselves thinking that surely they won't have such troubles. I'm telling you folks, Mother Ocean is in charge here.

[DarinMartell]

Shore diving was not on my list this trip, now it's REALLY not on the list! I LOVE the Atlantic! I have been going to Daytona, Cocoa & Jensen beaches my whole life (just never dove it). I would never underestimate the ocean.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by DarinMartell

Shore diving was not on my list this trip, now it's REALLY not on the list! I LOVE the Atlantic! I have been going to Daytona, Cocoa & Jensen beaches my whole life (just never dove it). I would never underestimate the ocean.

Ah, yes, I love it too. I find it to have a very different personality here in NC though.

Have fun!