6 replies to this topic

[lv2dive70]

I am visiting family in Morehead City July 15-21 but unfortunately it's a 'working visit' where I will be tied to the computer/phone most of the day M-W. I hope to have the opportunity Th and Fr to fit at least one dive trip in before I fly home late Saturday afternoon.

I've gone out with Olympus (yes they are very good) a couple of times but I was wondering if anyone has any other recommendations (LDSs that cater more to locals) or any other thoughts/ideas.

I am very new to these boards - I guess for this thread I'm requesting a PM? Thanks in advance for any thoughts or ideas!


Kate (a 'Carolina girl' living in Atlanta)
PADI AOW, a bit rusty (it's been about a year, long overdue to get in the water!)

[WreckWench]

There are only 2 dive shops with Olympus being the best one in my experience. There are several other dive operators in the area including one that I've known for years. www.DiverDownScubaDiving.com

He was hit by a truck a couple of years ago and then took an unjustified DCS hit so was 'off' a bit for a year or so but he is back to his old awesome self and he is great to dive with when he is the 'ole' Bobby Cox.

I wish I could join you...I LOVE diving the Graveyard of the Atlantic! In fact I'm planning a group trip there next year...hopefully over the 4th of July! kamala

[VADiver]

From personal experience I'd stay away from Diver Down—since his chamber ride I have not heard anything good about that operation. I can tell you several stories from a while ago that have put a big red X on that operation for myself and my regular team buddies.

As for other operations, you have several choices…

Olympus Dive Center (http://www.olympusdiving.com/)
-- Good set up and they can do deco fills (50%) and tri-mix. The boats are bigger and professional, but can get crowded with lots of recreational divers. The crew is great, but some of the divers milling around the deck gets bothersome—but unless you rent the entire boat with a dive team that’s what you get.

Discovery diving (http://www.discoverydiving.com/)
-- Good set-up, but the store is smaller than Olympus. I just got back from 4 days in NC with Discovery and it was a good trip. The first two days were on the Captain’s Lady—I’d advise against her…small boat, dirty head, no ladder, minimal comforts. The second two days were on the Sea Quest II—much better. The crew was great and the boat had room; though it can get crowded below when the seas are rough. The shop rents tanks and fills to EAN 30. I’d go back again (we went with them last year too).

M/V Mutiny (http://www.atlanticb....com/index.html)
-- Good set-up and professional crew. Gave them another chance after an incident when they were associated with Bobby Cox and Diver Down—they have now split from that operation so we booked with them to see. Went out with the crew for some extended deco dives—no problems at all. I’d dive with them again—in fact I think we are headed down in August. The crew also reacted outstandingly when I had to make a free, drifting deco ascent after getting off the line.

Atlantis Dive Charters (http://www.atlantischarters.net/)
-- Simply the best operation in Morehead City. I dive with them whenever I can and each time it’s an effortless experience. Great people, great boat and great crew—you can’t ask for anything more. The one downside is that they are booked up with repeat customers and you have to find a trip through a dive shop. It’s well worth the effort though.

[WreckWench]

Vinny I can appreciate your opinion and your concerns were valid a while back however the Diver Down no longer suffers from the issues it once encountered. I know you will choose to disagree with me and we can leave it at that. However many people have dove with Bobby both before, during and after his unfortanate incident and I personally would no longer refrain from diving with him. I did refrain for several years but the issues have been worked out and it is not in our TOS to speak poorly about ANYONE on this site.

Thank you for your input. Kamala

[finGrabber]

Thank you, Vinny. I really appreciate the link to the other ops. Now I have to twist Kimmie's arm and see if she will go back up there for Seafood Festival.

OUCH!!!

ok, when is the Seafood Festival? Is it the weekend of the 2nd? I need to dive NC again!

[dive_sail_etc]

Hello Kate,

Did you manage to log some bottom time while in NC? I see you received advice and information regarding the local Dive Operators (DO's) but what really caught my attention was what I failed to see; a lack of SD fellow members, particularly in the SC/NC/VA/DC region, volunteering to tag along. As an active member of about a year I am comfortable proclaiming many of us will dive at the drop of a hat, and often as not we'll go find the hat to drop! I noticed you suggested PM responses to your initial inquiries, so perhaps you received other information and/or offers to join you via that channel.

I would like to dive NC myself but I am tucked into the extreme Southwest corner of Georgia, only 2 hours from Panama City FL but more like 12 hours to NC dive areas, too far for a couple of days' diving. It is clear from previous topics that NC is very popular with many of our members who've dived there, and as Kamala mentions in her post above, a trip is in the works for 2010 so I will stay tuned!

In any case, we hope your trip was successful and that you managed to find the time to blow some bubbles. Perhaps you've by now even met and dived with other SD'er's from the region. We encourage you to post a brief trip report here in this thread at your convenience and look forward to helping you get more out of diving on an upcoming SD trip or event soon.