14 replies to this topic

[Sharklover]

Opened our NC Wreck Diving warm water wuss season this past weekend, chartering my favorite boat/crew Diver Down out of Atlantic Beach, NC. Although my favorite crew member was missing.

Our boat was awesome. We had a bunch of folks from DAN (great divers and nice people), a couple of hunky guys with rebreathers, a couple of cutie pie marine snipers, 1/3 women (unheard of here), and a few of my friends from Raleigh/Durham. Conditions were perfect, vis between 40-60 feet, and I couldn't have asked for a better season opener.

We dove the Naeco stern (a deep one, sand is 145) which was completely covered in Lionfish. It is closer to the Gulfstream than some of the others, and boy do they like NC waters. I wonder how long the other marine life will stay diverse and plentiful in this context.

Then we headed to the Spar. The Spar is an artificial wreck, a former coast guard cutter, and was turned onto it's ?starboard side by Irene. The Sand Tigers still love it. My dive buddy got a great shot of me which looks like one of those shots that you photoshop a shark into, except this one wasn't photoshopped. It's not on a web album, so I don't know how to post it here. Help?

Sunday the hunky rebreather divers joined us. Made for some nice surface interval ogling. We headed to the Schurz. The marine life was plentiful, and the wreck was covered in baitfish so thick that we had to really orient to the wreck to keep our bearings. Saw tons of everything (spadefish, queen angels, filefish, triggers, jacks, barracuda, grouper, snapper, flounder, and a few more Sand Tigers).

Next and last dive was on the Aeolus bow. My first and favorite mask was sent to a watery grave right after tying in. RIP my friend. And if I spot any guys wearing a lavender TUSA Serene, you will be outed. Lots of life on this one too, I was the eel finder. The way the bow sits, on it's ?port side, and the fact that it was pretty intact, it was really easy to spot particular types of fish. Vis was really remarkable on this one.

There is talk of an all girl boat later in the summer. It was funny. Usually I am the only woman. If there are any others, chances are they were dragged out with a guy. ALL of the women on this boat (6) were there because they love wreck diving, and only one was accompanied by her man. In fact, my dive buddy left her diving hubby at the beach watching the kids, he's not that into wreck diving and she is.

Hopefully SD will plan a trip up here soon!

Sharklover

PS-Hunky rebreather guys have invited me to join their trip next summer. What to DO?!

[ScubaSis]

Sounds like a great trip!!

Sorry to hear about your Serene mask....I love mine as well.

I still haven't been able to try the FREE one we both won.

[Sharklover]

Sounds like a great trip!!

Sorry to hear about your Serene mask....I love mine as well.

I still haven't been able to try the FREE one we both won.

Yeah, the free one that I won was my backup that day so it was put into action. So far, I don't like it as much as the Serene, but I have only been in the water with it twice. It has a very low profile which is nice. And the softness of the skirt does tolerate more facial movement. I think I will prefer it after I get used to it.

[TCdamsel]

Leslie, Thanks for the awesome trip report!!!

The NC wrecks are on my bucket list and I've been bugging the Wench to do a trip there soon. I've not been particularly crazy about wrecks, but the thought of diving with all the sand tigers is irresistible!

[Sharklover]

Leslie, Thanks for the awesome trip report!!!

The NC wrecks are on my bucket list and I've been bugging the Wench to do a trip there soon. I've not been particularly crazy about wrecks, but the thought of diving with all the sand tigers is irresistible!

I'm not particularly crazy about the wrecks either Ellen, but I am crazy about the marine life that live on them. Particularly the Sand Tigers. Did you see my shark shot on FB? Pretty funny. I had no idea that big guy was behind me!

If you find yourself heading this way this summer, let me know. We dive a lot in the summer months!

[WreckWench]

SD WILL be doing a trip in 2012...its been on the calendar! Probably for the 4th of July weekend... its uber cool to dive on history while making history celebrating history!

Leslie it sounds like you had a blast.... not thrilled about the chilly bottom temps but I also know that the water should warm up 5-8 degrees over the next month so it won't be too bad soon!

Thanks for the great report and hopefully you'll plan to join our trip next summer. You can post any pics in your personal gallery and then load them. Or send to me and I'll post it!

[Sharklover]

SD WILL be doing a trip in 2012...its been on the calendar! Probably for the 4th of July weekend... its uber cool to dive on history while making history celebrating history!

Leslie it sounds like you had a blast.... not thrilled about the chilly bottom temps but I also know that the water should warm up 5-8 degrees over the next month so it won't be too bad soon!

Thanks for the great report and hopefully you'll plan to join our trip next summer. You can post any pics in your personal gallery and then load them. Or send to me and I'll post it!

We did have a great time!

Of course I will join the SD group next summer (sans lodgings of course)! 4th of July weekend 2013 would be great timing (already doing one of those weekends this year). I don't like traveling OUS in the summer as those are the prime months for me to enjoy my home coast. Got lucky last year, 8 of 8 trips went and we had great conditions.

Bottom temps were nice, though I kind of wish I had worn my 5mm.

[Diver Ed]

Hello Leslie,

I am scheduled to be diving in the area this weekend myself. What bottom temps did you have? Thanks. Ed

SD WILL be doing a trip in 2012...its been on the calendar! Probably for the 4th of July weekend... its uber cool to dive on history while making history celebrating history!

Leslie it sounds like you had a blast.... not thrilled about the chilly bottom temps but I also know that the water should warm up 5-8 degrees over the next month so it won't be too bad soon!

Thanks for the great report and hopefully you'll plan to join our trip next summer. You can post any pics in your personal gallery and then load them. Or send to me and I'll post it!

We did have a great time!

Of course I will join the SD group next summer (sans lodgings of course)! 4th of July weekend 2013 would be great timing (already doing one of those weekends this year). I don't like traveling OUS in the summer as those are the prime months for me to enjoy my home coast. Got lucky last year, 8 of 8 trips went and we had great conditions.

Bottom temps were nice, though I kind of wish I had worn my 5mm.

[Sharklover]

Ed, my computers are at the dive shack, but I am pretty sure they were 71/72. I wore a 3 and wished I had worn a 5 by the second dive. Check the forecast, it is looking a bit iffy this weekend. Hope your dives go and that they are good ones!

[Diver Ed]

Hello Leslie,

Thank you for the temps. If we dive, I will use the 5mil. I have already heard that Saturday MAY be adjusted due to weather. It is never good when they say that two days before the trip. I will make my drive and hope for the best. Ed

[scubaclint]

My dive buddy got a great shot of me which looks like one of those shots that you photoshop a shark into, except this one wasn't photoshopped. It's not on a web album, so I don't know how to post it here. Help?

Hi Leslie,

To place thumbnail of the photo in your post you would browse and attach file underneath the text box when posting. If you want to add it to an existing post, you would click to edit the post, click use full editor and then again browse and attach file.

Clint

[WreckWench]

Hello Leslie,

Thank you for the temps. If we dive, I will use the 5mil. I have already heard that Saturday MAY be adjusted due to weather. It is never good when they say that two days before the trip. I will make my drive and hope for the best. Ed

Winds/Weather can look eminent right up to departure and you are just fine. Winds/weather can look fine and then depart and have that go south. Weather is ALWAYS dicey in NC...if it weren't there wouldn't be so many wrecks!

So don't sweat the weather... that is what separates the locals from the visitors... the former know this insider's secret. I'll go out on a limb an say that at this time of year you'll be fine. It might be a bit choppy but they won't go if it not safe. Comfort has various degrees depending on your skills and in your case your back. Being bounced around may not be too wise for you and your back.

[Diver Ed]

We are supposed to be doing the fossil ledge out of the Wilmington area. As of yesterday, the shop is saying that we will probably leave a few hours later, and go to a closer ledge. Sunday is supposed to be better. As you know, the concern for me is getting back up the ladder. Of course, the new added concern is a sinus infection that sprung up yesterday. Hopefully, I can get a few dives in anyway.

[WreckWench]

I hope so too... the water temps are different from Morehead to Wilmington...depends on where the gulf stream is at. It could be much warmer in Wilmington if you have more gulf stream or much cooler if less.

And the ladder is a bear in bouncy water for anyone... I hope you have calm waters. Let us know what you find you meg addict you!

[Sharklover]

We are supposed to be doing the fossil ledge out of the Wilmington area. As of yesterday, the shop is saying that we will probably leave a few hours later, and go to a closer ledge. Sunday is supposed to be better. As you know, the concern for me is getting back up the ladder. Of course, the new added concern is a sinus infection that sprung up yesterday. Hopefully, I can get a few dives in anyway.

Seems that dives out of the Morehead area have been called off for tomorrow. Sunday looks like it will be better. I'd call before you leave and ask your Wilmington op what their plans are.

You can expect a couple of degrees warmer in Wilmington due to the closer proximity of the gulf stream as Kamala said.

Good luck! Be safe! Carry a nice big reel and a big SMB!