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[ScubaPunk]

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DISCOVER THE NORTH CAROLINA EXPERIENCE

 

 

Date: July 2-7, 2020 (Diving days July 3-6, Arrive July 2, Depart July 7)

Location: Morehead City, NC for world class Wreck & Shark diving
Hotel: Fisherman's Inn is a classic NC beach town motel perfectly suited for divers.  Located at 200 Atlantic Beach Cswy; Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, (252) 726-2273

Dive operator: Land based dive operator Olympus Diving staying locally in Morehead City, NC - Boat - Midnight Express
Water Temp:  78 F
Air Temp: 88 F
Visibility: 80-100 ft
Experience Level: Advanced  

 
Pricing:
 
TRIP PKG PRICING: Starting approx. $950
  
*All prices are per person.
**Cash Discounted Price[/size] is given when you select e-check[/size] at final checkout.\

 

THE MV MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

• 18 Passengers
• 48-ft. aluminum hull
• Cruising speed: 19 knots
• Twin Turbo diesel engines
• Emergency Oxygen
• Dive platforms with fins-on ladders
• Hot/cold freshwater shower/marine head
• Spacious cabin with A/C and heat
• Microwave, TV/DVD, fridge
• Drinking fountain, toaster oven, Sundeck
• Gear storage lockers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's Included:
 

 
Options & Extras:

 

Olympus Dive Center provides divers with clean, oxygen compatible air fills. Our air fill system features a 30 cfm main compressor, backed-up with a smaller compressor and a large bank system. We can fill up to 15 tanks at one time to ensure a minimal waiting period for divers on the go. Our 'Haskel' booster ensures fills to the specified working pressure of high and low-pressure tanks alike. Are the inspections for your dive tanks up to date? If not, bring the tanks to our shop where we offer all the required services to get you and your tanks back into the water as soon as possible.

Our Nitrox system features nitrox dedicated compressors and a liquid Oxygen Auto-Blending system. We bank 25,000 cubic feet of EANx30 to meet the needs of our customers, minus the wait associated with partial pressure mixing systems.

For the technical diver, we have a custom mix station that can full-fill your trimix or decompression gas needs including rebreather fills.

 

Tank Fill Rates:

• Air up to 99 cubic ft - $6.00
• Air more than 100 cubic ft - $7.00
• Nitrox 30% up to 99 cubic ft - $12.00
• Nitrox 30% more than 100 cubic ft $14.00
• Decompression mixes up to 100% Oxygen available
• Custom Blends, Trimix and Rebreather fills available with advanced notice
• Aluminum 80 (Air) - $7.00
• Aluminum 100 (Air) - 11.00
• Aluminum or Steel 80 cf (EAN) - $16.00
• Aluminum or Steel 100+ cf (EAN) - $19.00
• Weights:  Included

​

Rental Gear:

• Regulator System w/ SPG                 $15.00
• BCD w/ Power Inflator                        $15.00
• Wetsuit 3mm or 5mm                         $15.00
• Nitrox Computer                                 $20.00
• GoPro Camera                                   $30.00
• SeaLife Camera                                 $30.00

 

Discounts & Rebates:

 

 

Accommodations:

Fisherman's Inn is located on the Atlantic Beach Causeway, 1.6 miles on the left, after the right turnoff of highway 70 East in Morehead City.

 

Grills and picnic tables are available for your use on our private dock, behind the motel and next to the boats. All rooms have a refrigerator, cable TV and microwaves. Free Wi-Fi is also available.

 

 

Room 1 - 2 Doubles

Room 2 - 1 Double, 1 Single

Room 3 - 1 Double, 1 Single

Room 4 - 2 Doubles

Room 5 - 1 Double, 1 Bunk Bed

Room 6 - 2 Doubles

Room 7 - 1 Double, 1 Bunk Bed

Bunk House - 6 Singles, 2 Baths

 

 

 
 

 

 

Diving & Itinerary:

 

 

Ship Wreck Diving

 

The Graveyard of the Atlantic gets its name from the estimated 2000 shipwrecks scattered along the North Carolina coastline. Consistently voted #1 Wreck Diving in North America by Scuba Diving magazine's Readers' Poll, many of these historic vessels are accessible to divers.

Some of the most impressive wrecks are the World War II casualties - vessels fallen prey to Hitler's U-boat fleet as they traversed the offshore waters. Tankers, cargo ships, British fishing trawlers and even German submarines, form impressive underwater monuments to this tumultuous segment of our maritime heritage. Among others, a World War I gunboat, a late 18th-century schooner, and an early 20th-century luxury liner exist in North Carolina's unparalleled collection of dive-able history.

 

Additionally, thanks to the continued efforts of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program, local fishing organizations and the Carteret County Artificial Reef Association, North Carolina is home to a plethora of vessels sunk purposefully as artificial reefs. Like their historical counterparts, these sites host a vast array of marine life making for thoroughly enjoyable diving experiences.

 

Hey gang! ONLY 18 TOTAL can do this trip!!! Diving on History in North Carolina is a once in a lifetime dive you have to do at LEAST once!!! But I'll warn you...when you find out that there is WARM Caribbean water (80 to 85 degrees F) with HUGE animal encounters and the most incredible wrecks that you can dive on or in...you may just get 'hooked' like some of us near and dear to you...ahem...me!

What You'll See:

REAL WWI and WWII shipwrecks. Sunk as early as 1918
The U-352...the second U-Boat sunk by the US in WWII and the ONLY U-Boat in warm, clear diveable waters! Numerous U-Boat victims (not bodies) who fought valiantly for our freedoms! Large animals such as Huge Southern Stingrays, Barracudas, Grouper, Amberjack, and yes SHARKS...SHARKS...SHARKS!!!

 

 

 

Ship Wreck - U-352

 

The U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast.  On May 9, 1942, it was sunk by the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus.  This site was discovered in 1974 by Olympus owner and Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends.  The history behind this site has been televised and featured on the history Channel and is one of North Carolina's best-known dive sites.  We visit this site on average 2-3 times per week so come check it out and become a part of history with us! 

 

Name: U-352

Date Sank: May 9, 1942

German Sub marine

Depth:  110 feet

Length: 218 feet

Penetration: No

Sharks: Yes, Sand Tigers

  

Ship Wreck - Aeolus

 

The shipwreck Aeolus was sunk in August 1988 as part of North Carolina's artificial reef program.  She was built in 1945 and served as an attach cargo ship named the "Turandot" in the US Navy until 1947.  The Aeolus was repurposed as a cable repair ship in 1955.  the aeolus is 409 feel long and lies at a dept of 110 feet.  As a reslt of hurricanes in 1996, the ship has been split into three portions and has also partially been turned into an ujpriht position--making it an excellent muli-level dive.  In recent years Aeolus has been a prime site for diving with sand tiger sharks.  T

 

Name: Aeolus

Date Sank: August, 1988

Type: Cable Laying Shyp

Depth:  110 feet

Length: 409 feet

Penetration: Limited

Sharks: Yes Sand Tigers

 

Ship Wreck - Ashkhabad

 

The Ashkhabad was a Russian freighter traveling from NY to Cuba running a zig-zag pattern to evade torpedo sightings and was struck on the starboard side by the U-402 on April 29, 1942.  The wreck of the Ashkhabad lies broken up in about 60 feet of water on the tip of Cape Lookout Shoals and is an excellent site for aquatic life.  During the summer, the water temperature ranges from the upper 70's to the low 80's.  Sheephead, triggerfish, sea bass and spadefish frequent this wreck.  Because it is cloose to the shoals, visibility averages 30 feet but can get up to 50+ feet.  

 

Name:  Ashkhabad

Date Sank: April 29, 1942

Type: Freighter

Depth: 60 feet

Length:  410 feet

Penetration: No

Sharks: No

 

Ship Wreck - Atlas

 

The Atlas build in 1916 was a gasoline tanker that found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time on April 9, 1942, With U-Boat activity very high in its surrounding water, this tanker was unarmed and in a very dangerous position.  It underwent attack on the evening of the 9th and was torpedoed by the U-552.  The ship took its final resting place 23 miles east/southeast of the Beaufort NC inlet.  The top of the tanker is at 90 feet depth and the maximum depth is 130 feet.

 

Name: Atlas

Date Sank: April 9, 1942

Type: Tanker

Depth: 130 feet

Length: 450 feet

Penetration:  Limited - Bow Section

Sharks: Yes, Sand Tigers

 

Ship Wreck - Bedfordshire

 

This ship was a 170-foot British converted armed-trawler.  The Bedfordshire was torpedoed and sunk by the U-558 on May 12, 1942.  The body of the ship is scattered in 100 feet of water.  Then it was discovered by non other than Olympus Dive Center's founder and Captain George Purifoy and Mike Sheen.  What was originally thought to be a rock, George and Mike were greatly surprised to find the "rock" to actually be the battered down remains of a wreck.  Very little of the structure remains intact, however, the sterring stand with the British manufacturer's name led to the identification of the wreck.

 

Name: Bedfordshire

Date Sank: May 12, 1942

Type: converted Armed Trawler

Depth: 105 feet

Length 170 feet

Penetration: None

Sharks: Occasionally, Sand Tigers

 

Ship Wreck - Caribsea

 

The Caribsea ship was WWII freighter owned by the Panama Railroad Steamship Line that transported materials along the Eastern Coast.  She was traveling from Cuba to Norfolk, VA with a load of manganese.  The ship had no arms at the time of its attack leaving her defenseless.  It was torpeodoed on Marh 11, 1942 and lies in 990 feet of water and is populated by sad tiger sharks.  With large groups of spadefish, baitfish, amberjacks, this site is popular for its frequent visits fo stingray, cobia and Spanish Mackerel in the summer.

 

Name: Caribsea

Date Sank: March 11, 1942

Type: Freighter

Depth: 90 feet 

Length: 206 feet

Penetration: No

Sharks: Yes, Sand Tigers

 

Ship Wreck - Papoose (aka W.E. Hutton)

 

Sitting upside down in the sand, the Papoose is one of our most popular wrecks for seeing the current inhabitants, sand tiger sharks! Divers looking to penetrate may do so in several places and may work their way internally as far as the boiler room, however, penetration of this wreck is recommended for certified wreck divers only. The Papoose is a 412-foot tanker that was torpedoed by the U-124 on March 18, 1942. The ship is largely intact and rests upside down in 125 feet of water.This site is one of the most popular shark sites that we visit. On any given day, there are approximately 15-20 sand tiger sharks that inhabit the ship and surrounding areas, if not more! If sharks are on your list of things to see, this is the site for you!! 

 

Name: Papoose (aka W.E. Hutton)

Date Sank: March 18, 1942

Type: Tanker

Depth: 120 feet

Length: 412 feet

Penetration: Limited

Sharks: yes, Sand Tigers

 

Ship Wreck - Schurz

 

The Schurz is one of those wrecks you can visit hundreds of times and still see something new! The wreck is sprawled along the ocean bottom and points of interest on your dive may include the boilers, bow and stern deck guns, anchor and rudder. Ammunition and bullets from the wreck are often located by divers with a sharp eye.
The Schurz was originally a 255-foot German gunship named the SMS Geier that was built in 1894. In 1914, the United States seized the ship and took control of the ship, renaming it what we recognize today as the USS Schurz. When WWI broke out, this ship was one of Germany's target ships for destruction because they didn't want their own ship to be a factor in their own defeat; however, all destruction attempts failed. It wasn't until June 21, 1918 that the Schurz found its position in 110 feet of water when it collided with the SS Florida. A heavy concentration of aquadic life can be found here and typically includes: large schools of bait fish, sand tiger sharks, grouper and amberjack.

 

Name: Schurz (SMS Geier)

Date Sank: June 21, 1918

Type: US/German Freighter

Depth: 100 feet

Length: 225 feet

Penetration: No

Sharks: Yes, Sand Tigers

 

Ship Wreck - Spar

 

The Coast Guard Cutter Spar was sunk as a diver-friendly wreck just yards from the Aeolus. The Spar is known as a popular spot for Sand Tiger Sharks. The 180 feet long and 37 feet wide Spar sits at a 45-degree angle in 100 feet of water and is completely intact, allowing many opportunities for a diver to penetrate the wreck. This site is visited on our Full Day Dive Trip.
The Spar is a great wreck for penetration diving as it is very open and has plenty of places to explore. Divers who don't wish to penetrate often start their dive around the main wheelhouse and move forward to the main deck. Sand tiger sharks usually swim along the crane and divers frequently bring back a souvenir sharks tooth found laying on the wreck.
The Spar got its name from the US Coast Guard Motto "Semper Paratus, Always Ready" which was an appropriate name for the Coast Guard buoy tender commissioned June 1944. Making port at various locations up and down the Northeast US, the Spar was one of the most awarded vessels in the Coast Guard fleet and served in a variety missions during its 50-year service including submarine hunting and oceanography assignments. After being decommissioned in Feb of 1997, the ship was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Morehead City.
Now home to Sand Tiger Sharks, the Spar is one of our most popular sites since it sits upright and has lots of opportunities for penetration.

 

Name: Spar

Date Sank: June, 2004

Type: Coast Guard Cutter

Depth: 110 feet

Length: 180 feet

Penetration: Lots

Sharks: Yes, Sand Tigers

 

Experience Required & Training/Workshops:
 
Experience Required

 

BIG BOY AND GIRL DIVING...this venue is NOT a party venue. It is a serous venue and is one of the world class wreck and shark diving adventures you can have. YOU WILL BE A BETTER DIVER AFTER DIVING IT!!! So I ask the following of peeps:

a. If you wish to party a bit ....arrive in Atlantic Beach EARLY and start EARLY so you can hit the rack EARLY as we have to get us REALLY EARLY aka 5:15 the first day and 5:30 each day after!!!!

b. After you have made it thru the first day and if you have enough energy then plan to celebrate more then. Do not be surprised if you are ready to crash around 9pm or shortly thereafter.

 

c. Heavy drinking/partying and serious diving DO NOT MIX. This is a serious but fun diving venue...and this is still in my top 3 venues in the WORLD along with Galapagos and Wakatobi and right up there with Red Sea and Fiji. But to enjoy it you MUST BE WELL RESTED so you won't get sea sick. You MUST BE WELL HYDRATED and hopefully WELL MEDICATED WITH SEA SICKNESS PILLS JUST IN CASE!!! Rarely will you be ill underway but once we stop for a couple of hours to do a wreck you often will get queasy...so the meds, + light food + lots of hydration + LOTS OF REST will keep you feeling wonderful.

There is a DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO LOVE NC WRECKDIVING AND THOSE WHO HATE IT AND IT CORRELATES PERFECTLY TO THOSE WHO WERE SEASICK AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT. Those who were sick hated diving here or at best could take it or leave it. Those who felt good loved the diving or at least had a great trip and would mark it off the bucket list.

 

·         A minimum of 50 logged dives. Advanced Open Water Certification required.

·         At least 2 dives in the ocean to 70 feet or greater.

·         At least 2 logged boat ocean dives.

·         At least 2 dives in the last 12 months. Minimum age for Full Day Dive Trip is 15 years of age.

 

Our Full Day Dive Trip consists of two dives, at one or two locations determined the morning of the dives in accordance with weather/sea conditions and customer preference. Bottom times are dictated by no-decompression limits. 

 

Our most popular trip, Full Day Dive Trips are offered every day from mid-May through October, on most weekends in March, April and November, and sporadically throughout the winter. Please arrive at the dive shop at 6:00 am on the day of your trip for a 7:00 am or earlier departure.

 

Depths: 90' - 120'

 

Possible Sites: U-352, Papoose, Schurz, Aeolus, Spar, Caribsea, Atlas...

 

Training & Workshops
There are no SingleDivers.com training activities nor workshops currently planned for this trip.  We are happy to check with the resort about doing training during your trip and what they would charge. Often they will give us a better price so feel free to ask us to assist.  If you would like us to help arrange additional training for you, simple click in the SUPPORT tab in the main menu and then click on SUBMIT HELP TICKET and click on TRIP ADMINISTRATION and request assistance. 

We will also check to see if any of our trip participants are instructors who would like to teach on the trip and let you know.  We are glad you are interested in continuing your dive education and we hope we can help you continue your goal of ongoing training.

 OR

• Minimum Certification / Experience:  This trip is open to ADVANCED OPEN WATER divers with 50+ dives. If you have any questions about your ability to safely and comfortably make this trip please email trips@singledivers.com and we will discuss your diving experience to date and how it may or may not mesh with this trip.
• Advanced Open Water - includes several 'advanced dives' such as navigation, night, and deep plus several choices of your own including photography, peak buoyancy, etc. USE THE "Help with this trip" BUTTON TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
• Nitrox - includes book work, classroom instruction and sometimes the manual. Some classes include the use of a nitrox compatible computer and the gas itself. Some classes will give you a reduced rental rate for the computer and use of the gas if you take the class during the trip.  USE THE "Help with this trip" BUTTON TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
• Solo Certification - This cert will enable you to dive independently of a human dive buddy by training you to dive with a mechanical dive buddy aka a pony bottle or stage bottle. - Ask about the 'enhanced solo skills' where the instructor will challenge you with several additional skills that will complement your solo cert skills enabling you to be even MORE independent and self sufficient in the water. USE THE "Help with this trip" BUTTON TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

Insurance, Documentation & T&C's:

 
INSURANCE
 

DIVE Insurance is required on all trips! DIVE insurance is VERY inexpensive. Even if you have insurance that you think covers DIVING ACCIDENTS and air lifts…it is CHEAP (approx $100-$125) to get a supplemental policy to ensure you are covered for an entire year of diving. 

 

PRO TIP; The two primary suppliers of dive insurance DiveAssure.com and DAN are inexpensive enough to carry both. This way you will have the best coverage internationally, the best coverage domestically, primary insurance, secondary insurance and if a claim is denied on one policy you can submit it on the other. No matter what happens...YOU ARE COVERED!!! ... PRICELESS!!!
 
We recommend: 
Dive Assure: for either a 'one time' policy OR an annual policy for BOTH Dive & Trip Insurance providing PRIMARY COVERAGE with excellent rates and coverage! Please use THIS LINK and/or reference SingleDivers.com via the drop-down menu under GLOBAL PARTNERS. (If you can not find the drop down, do not reference anyone and email info@singledivers.com your policy info and we will do it for you via our Dive Assure company representative. OR SIMPLY USE THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TIED TO US. )
Diver's Alert Network: Please use our reference number when ordering: ID1603080   (This only works if you are a new first time DAN member.) 
 
Trip Insurance is STRONGLY SUGGESTED and/or may be required (depending on the trip)! TRIP insurance is RELATIVELY inexpensive. Even if you have insurance that you think covers your trip…it is CHEAP (approx $100-$200) to get a supplemental policy to ensure you are covered for your investment in your dive trip. If you opt to not get trip insurance you are responsible for all losses related to your trip including not going for any reason. If diving a LIVEABOARD please consider the liveabaord rider offer by DiveAssure.com.
 
 We recommend: 
Dive Assure: for either a 'one time' policy OR an annual policy for BOTH Dive & Trip OR just Trip Insurance providing PRIMARY COVERAGE with excellent rates and coverage! Please use THIS LINK and/or reference SingleDivers.com via the drop-down menu under GLOBAL PARTNERS. (If you can not find the drop down, do not reference anyone and email info@singledivers.com your policy info and we will do it for you via our Dive Assure company representative. OR SIMPLY USE THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TIED TO US. )

 
 
DOCUMENTATION
All SingleDivers.com trips require necessary documentation to facilitate booking your trip and/or making it a better experience for you.  Once you complete your documents online our automated system will take the information from your last trip with us and fill out your new trip forms for you. You then add any missing information and/or change anything that is no longer current. You will find the forms you need to complete under MY TRIPS which you will find under TRIPS in the main menu across the top of the site. Since each trip requires a unique set of docs, please choose the correct trip from your "My Trips" drop down and then complete the forms required for that trip. Some trips will also ask you to complete the resort or liveaboard's forms as well.  

The AIR AUTHORIZATION FORM is only required when you are having SingleDivers.com book air for you but this includes air that is part of the trip pkg price. 

Not all of our forms are online as they are either infrequently used

Edited by dive_sail_etc, 03 February 2020 - 05:33 PM.

[WreckWench]

Thank you for getting these started. Pls try to fill in as much info as you can from the host websites.

Hotel = Fisherman's inn. I have the pricing and will submit shortly.

Diving = Olympus Dive Center boat = Midnight Express

[WreckWench]

Sandy we need a #0 topic as well. Tks,

After I tweak out the coco's opening topics we can better replicate these to match the boilerplated stuff I am trying to clean up right now. tks

[WreckWench]

This looks pretty good. I'll try to flesh out more as well for the parts you can't help with.

 

1. Does the Olympus Dive Site give info on who is able to dive NC? Whatever they say we want to enhance but its a start.

2. Does the hotel give more info on the hotel rooms? Outdoor restroom, dock grilling and social area? If not please add this and/or try to create some sort of hotel info.

3 Does the dive op website have ANY info on the diving we can use? The area? Etc?

4. Can you get a picture of Midnight Express?

5. Did you see this topic for older trip info?  

https://www.singledi...ip-ran-in-2013/

 

Thank you!

[WreckWench]

This looks pretty good. I'll try to flesh out more as well for the parts you can't help with.

 

1. Does the Olympus Dive Site give info on who is able to dive NC? Whatever they say we want to enhance but its a start.

2. Does the hotel give more info on the hotel rooms? Outdoor restroom, dock grilling and social area? If not please add this and/or try to create some sort of hotel info.

3 Does the dive op website have ANY info on the diving we can use? The area? Etc?

4. Can you get a picture of Midnight Express?

5. Did you see this topic for older trip info?  

https://www.singledi...ip-ran-in-2013/

 

Thank you!

 

I'll work on final pricing if you can finish fleshing out info from the boat's website and the hotel's if the latter has anything. Thank you

[WreckWench]

Kamala to rewrite and update these:

 

Q. What is the earliest I can arrive to the boat?
A. You can arrive in Atlantic Beach at Fisherman's Inn anytime after 2pm on July 2nd.

Q. Where exactly is the boat located if I am getting there on my own?
A. See directions in the first post and link to map.

Q. What is the actual transfer fee from the airport to the boat and back?
A. It is factored into the 4/3 pkg for the fly in divers. It has been factored out of the 3/3 pkg for drive in divers. NOTE: Drive in Divers are welcome to add the extra night of hotel back into their pkg.

Q. How long is the shuttle ride to the boat from RDU airport?
A. Depending on stops and traffic approx 3 hour to 3 hours and 30 minutes. (More if there is an accident on the road or we get a late start. For those arriving early we plan to pick you up and drop you at a local restaurant while we get the last of the fly ins. We need to get on the road by 4pm in order to miss most of the Holiday Traffic.)

Q. When is the LATEST I can arrive at the boat?
A. The latest you can arrive at the boat is 10:00pm as we have a VERY early start the next morning. Wake up is 5am and Breakfast is 5:30 and boat departure is 6am.

Q. When does the boat depart?
A. The boat will depart at 6am the 3rd so its important to get to the coast as early as possible and get to BED EARLY!!

Q. If I arrive a day or so early where will the shuttle pick me up?
A. You will need to return to the the RDU terminals and call my celfone 864-557-6079 so I can pick you up.

Q. Are there any landbased tours included in the pkg?
A. NO...we will not have time for any tours UNLESS we are blown out of a day of diving.

Q. What is the non-diver price?
A. We can only allow a very limited number of non-divers and they can not join you on the boat unless they wish to pay full price. However for all the non-parts of the pkg the non-diver price is $TBA

Q. What are the water and air temps during July?
A. Water temps will be in the low to mid 80's and stay relatively constant. Air temps will be mid to high 80's.

Q. What's with sending SD your flight details? Or why do I need to give you all the details and not just my arrival and departure times? Why do you collect it anyway?
1. If we are arranging transfers for you we MUST have FULL DETAILS including flight details, flight number, times, carriers etc.
2. Even if we are not arranging transfers if we are doing a liveaboard they need this info for TSA/Custom's Compliance.
3. Even if we are not doing xfers, and its not a liveaboard, we need this information to know WHEN you are missing. If you don't show up when you were supposed too we can use this information to track you down. When I inquire on your behalf if I have ALL your flight details, the airlines will be more likely to help me.
4. We also use your flight details to help plan pre-trip get togethers or post trip gatherings etc.
5. And finally cuz we have a big gap in our spreadsheets when we don't have it!
Ok so the last one is not real but the others one are. Thank you for taking time to help us help YOU! Kamala

 

TRIP INSURANCE VS GAMBLING LOSSES:

Hey folks if you are gamblers and opt to NOT take out trip insurance during hurricane season that is great! However please understand that the resort/dive operator nor SingleDivers.com can help you out with your gambling losses.

SD.com accepts a huge amount of liability to fill ALL the trips we run OR EAT THE SPOTS. I can assure you that I have paid plenty of gambling losses this year. But I won't gamble with my life (I have both DAN and DIVE ASSURE for Dive Insurance) and I won't gamble with my trips...(I have the annual policy by DIVE ASSURE which covers ALL MY DIVE TRIPS!)

So the choice is yours....bet on no hurricanes, no accidents, no illness, no deaths in the family, no job loss, no immediate death/injury to yourself* ...and laugh in the end when your bet pays off. But when it does not...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not expect the resort nor dive operator nor SingleDivers.com to refund your money because your bet did not pan out.

NOTE: One of the reason's we have you finalize your extras and pay for everything by 30-60 days out is so you have more flexibiity getting trip insurance. Please take a moment TODAY to do this important task.

*If you think it can't happen to you please think again...sadly we just lost a member going on the 10-09 Galapagos trip that MANDATED TRIP INSURANCE and yet sadly he never got it before his tragic demise.

PLEASE obtain trip insurance - IT IS OPTIONAL BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR THIS TRIP ...it is VERY inexpensive and will protect your investment. REMEMBER IF YOU MISS THE

 

 

**********************************

Note: PLEASE ask us if you are able and ready to make these phenomenal dives comfortably and safely! NC diving is not for everyone...but it could be for you!

 

This trip is now open for booking! Please note our special "Pup" discount of a FREE autographed copy of Pup's Scuba CD if you book and pay in full before March 14th! This trip is open to Premier Members and above for early booking FIRST until March 12th. It will be open to General Members March 13th.

This trip is expected to fill out before it is opened up to the general membership. Therefore ONLY Deposits or Full Trip Payments Rec'd Via our secure online payment gateway will be accepted.

To sign up for this trip FIRST you need to be a premier member! To upgrade for only $35 a year of which you can get $25 back after every trip if you file for it (form in the forms forum). Upgrading is simple....login, click on MY CONTROLS then click on PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS under Options and choose Premier Member and then follow the prompts for payment. Choose POST to pay via our payment link in my signature below.

 

DIVER DOWN BOAT RULES:

POLICY Statement and Common Boat Diving Tips

Diver Down caters primarily to Recreational Divers and the bulk of this operation is geared to supporting that endeavor. We do run the occasional TEC trip but those charters are priced differently and limited to smaller numbers to accommodate the additional gear and profiles that come with TEC dives.

We try not to mix the two groups but when TEC Divers join a Recreational Charter we usually give them two options, dive two recreational dives (No deco limits plus 5 minutes) or one TEC dive (one hour total run including deco). All divers are limited to two primary tanks and a small pony bottle (40 CF or less).

Each diver is allotted two tank spots on the back deck and an area below the benches for dive bags and pony bottles. There is sufficient space for all 18 divers and two crew on the back deck provided you don’t bring too much stuff. If you dive doubles then we ask that you use one set to do both dives or one long dive, just inform the crew of your wishes. No double doubles or stage bottles unless you have chartered a TEC Charter.

There is also sufficient seating inside the cabin for 18 divers, 3 to a bench, provided no one is lying down or has piled gear on the seats. There is additional seating on the sun deck though it is subject to spray on occasion. The pilot house has seating for 3 crewmembers or invited guest.

If your gear will not fit in the area provided it might mean that you brought too much stuff. Most of our divers bring two single tanks, a light weight wetsuit, small cameras and recreational gear, i.e. BCD, regulator mask and fins. We do allow scooters and more extravagant camera equipment but don’t usually make special accommodations for them. We cannot be responsible for towels and wetsuits hung on the rails from becoming lost during transit or wind. Keep all your gear secure from being lost by putting it back in your own bag. A fin pocket may be a good place to store your mask.

We have a single 5 gallon bucket to rinse cameras and a spray hose to rinse mask and divers when they come back after a dive. Fresh water is limited so we ask that you not clean gear aboard the boat. Hoses and rinse tanks are available at the dock. We recommend not leaving multiple cameras in the bucket as they sometimes fight with each other.

Spear fishing is allowed but power heads are not allowed aboard. We ask that you respect the other divers by not cocking guns outside the water, do not hand a cocked spear gun to the Divemaster, do not hand up spear point first, and wait until after someone shooting pictures is done with a fish before you kill it. We also ask that you not bring back fish that are considered illegal by the NC Wildlife Officers since they have no sense of humor when it comes to these things.

As far as sea sickness goes, we have found a cure. Medicate yourself using seasick pills. Limit alcohol use the night before. Get plenty of sleep. Consider Terry's ancient seasick prevention of eating red apples. We have ginger ale onboard for medicinal purposes.

It is mandatory that you listen to the Captain's safety briefing or at least fake it by staying quiet during the briefing.

 

http://www.nc-wreckd...SE/PAPOOSE.HTML

 

 

http://www.nc-wreckd...shipwrecks.html

 

IMPORTANT TEMPERATURE UPDATE:

The Gulf Stream has arrived but not fully yet. However it can sweep in overnight in these parts. As of this past weekend aka yesterday and Saturday the temps were 80-83 AT THE SURFACE and 75-77 AT THE BOTTOM so there is still a thermocline depending on the wreck. For many if they plan for the warm water they are fine the reason is once you leave the bottom the warmer water will feel VERY WARM and you may be too hot doing your safety stop. Also keep in mind the bottom is usually only the last 20-40 feet on a 100 ft dive so you will come into warm water fairly soon. Plus the warmer waters could arrive this week meaning it will be top to bottom 80 degrees.

 

IMPORTANT LOGISTICS UPDATE FOR THE WEEK:

Hey gang...let me share a little insight into the psyche of this trip.

1. The first boat to a dive wreck is the BEST BOAT. It has the first choice of where to hook into the wreck and will choose the premier spot on the site/wreck. WE WANT TO BE THE FIRST BOAT ON ALL THE WRECKS WE DIVE.

2. Unless we have weather or seas issues...if another boat is on a wreck then we will NOT dive that wreck but rather will move to another site. HOWEVER we will dive it if the conditions make it the most optimal site to dive SO WE WANT TO BE THE FIRST BOAT ON A WRECK...it gives us more flexibility.

3. Most people want to do a different wreck on each dive. However several factors could influence you doing 2 dives on the same wreck. Those are weather and sea conditions i.e. if we do a 2nd dive on this wreck we'll have good conditions home but if we move to another wreck we'll have a bad ride home. Or this wreck has no other boats on it but the other wreck as 3 on it already. Or the diving was soooooooooooooooooooo awesome on this wreck and its not normally this good so its not worth the risk to move to lesser conditions. All in all its a bit of a crap shoot but we maximize seeing as many different wrecks as we can AS WELL AS the best ones.

4. While on the subject of which wrecks we will dive here are the ones I am planning barring no weather issues:
a. The U-352 German U-Boat - signature NC wreck. Can easily be seen and enjoyed in 1 dive.
b. The USS Schurz - Sunk in 1918 and argueably the best wreck other than the uboat. Also a signature NC wreck and is a perfect wreck to dive twice if needed.
c. The Spar ONLY because it has become a signature sand tiger shark wreck. Can easily be seen and enjoyed in 1 dive.
d. The Caribsea as its is only 80ft so will give more bottom time AND it is always teaming with sharks. The vis is usually a few feet less as it is an 'eastward' wreck vs a 'southern' wreck but it is beautiful and easy to dive and makes a lovely dive for 2 dives if needed.
e. The wreck formerly known as the Papoose but now the Hutton. This USED to be the big sand tiger wreck as it was deeper but the sharks have chosen other wrecks for their playgrounds. It is a lovely wreck and BIG and can accommodate several dives on it but it is also deeper and farther out. If the seas are rough we will not do this wreck or if people are not getting enough bottome time we may skip it to maximize total diving time.

5. Some background on the wrecks...those considered 'inshore' wrecks such as the Indra, Suloide the wreck formerly known as the Hutton which is now the Papoose, etc are usually 2-3 degrees cooler than the offshore wrecks and vis is usually 5-20 ft less depending on how far the gulf stream has come into shore. So basically they are the not the optimum wrecks we plan to dive however any wreck is a good wreck if its diveable, So we save these wrecks for those weekends where we can't get offshore due to weather or conditions. This is not usually a problem for the 4th of July weekend but the weather can change in a flash so you never know.

6. In order to be the first on a wreck you have to either have the fastest boat and be willing to burn the extra fuel or you have to leave a bit earlier. While our boat is one of the faster boats in the area (it is not the absolute fastest)...we do not like to burn fuel needlessly so choose to leave a bit earlier instead. ALL boats leave within 30-60 minutes of each other so even 30 minutes is huge. We have traditionally left the dock at 6:30am and had our pick of the wrecks. This will be our plan for this trip as well. That means we have to be on the dock at 6am (5:45 the first day to get lead, tanks etc.) and the dock is 1.5 blocks from the hotel...totally and easy walk. Everyone will receive a 5:30 wake up call (5:15 the first day) and you are encouraged to talk to your roomie and work out your personal schedule between you. (Several of us will be in the 'bunkhouse' which is my favorite room in the hotel and we'll do our own planning but are usually on the early wake up call.)

7. BIG BOY AND GIRL DIVING...this venue is NOT a party venue. It is a serous venue and is one of the world class wreck and sharkdiving adventures you can have. YOU WILL BE A BETTER DIVER AFTER DIVING IT!!! So I ask the following of peeps:
a. If you wish to party a bit ....arrive in Atlantic Beach EARLY and start EARLY so you can hit the rack EARLY as we have to get us REALLY EARLY aka 5:15 the first day and 5:30 each day after!!!!
b. After you have made it thru the first day and if you have enough energy then plan to celebrate more then. Do not be surprised if you are ready to crash around 9pm or shortly thereafter. THIS IS NORMAL and even happened in Cozy this past week which is an easier destination.
c. Heavy drinking/partying and serious diving DO NOT MIX. This is a serious but fun diving venue...and this is still in my top 3 venues in the WORLD along with Galapagos and Wakatobi and right up there with Red Sea and Fiji. But to enjoy it you MUST BE WELL RESTED so you won't get sea sick. You MUST BE WELL HYDRATED and hopefully WELL MEDICATED WITH SEA SICKNESS PILLS JUST IN CASE!!! Rarely will you be ill underway but once we stop for a couple of hours to do a wreck you often will get queasy...so the meds, + light food + lots of hydration + LOTS OF REST will keep you feeling wonderful.

There is a DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO LOVE NC WRECKDIVING AND THOSE WHO HATE IT AND IT CORRELATES PERFECTLY TO THOSE WHO WERE SEASICK AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT. Those who were sick hated diving here or at best could take it or leave it. Those who felt good loved the diving or at least had a great trip and would mark it off the bucket list.

8. FOOD...due to our early departure we will have BREAKFAST on the dock with coffee and juice in the morning starting at 5:35am. Breakfast will consist of fruit, granola bars, juice, some sort of muffin or donut and SOMETIMES a sausage biscuit if I can find them at Sam's club. So pls grab breakfast on the way to the boat if you are not an early riser. LUNCH will be on the boat each day we are diving. It will consist of ham and turkey and cheese for sandwiches, mayo & miracle whip, mustard (regular and spicy) both dark and light bread and usually a veggie tray the first day and possibly the 2nd day depending on availability etc. We will have some fruit for lunch, chips, cookies and other snacks for between dives such as pretzels, trailmix, candy, etc. We will have LOTS OF WATER, an assortment of sodas including diet and regular which I will query in the special forum preferences on sodas. We will do one COOKOUT ON THE DOCK on Saturday after our first day of diving and it will consist of steak, chicken, pork, fish...each of which will be marinaded individually. We will have potato salad, cole slaw and steamed veggies on the grill. If all goes well we'll have homemade deviled eggs but I can't guarantee this. (If I have full vegetarians pls let me know so I can plan to have boco burgers etc in addition to the veggies, slaw and tater salad.) We will also have a full complement of beverages including some beer and wine. We'll query wine and beer preferences in the private forum as well.

9. ARRIVAL TIMES: If you plan to arrive in Atlantic Beach early (before the group arrives) pls let me know so those rooms can be prepared early. The group will hopefully arrive from RDU between 7-7:30 and we'll shoot for dinner at 8pm. If this is too late for you then you can plan accordingly. Our last arrival is right at 3pm and it will take 3-3.5 hours to get there plus we have to get the bags of the last person so safely assume 7-7:30 pm arrival. If you are driving and have NEVER DOVE NC BEFORE then plan to arrive no later than 9pm. If you have dove NC before and driving then plan to be at the hotel NO LATER THAN 11pm so you do not disturb your roommate. If you arrive VERY LATE your room will be left unlocked so you can slip in for some rest but you will be VERY UNHAPPY THE NEXT DAY WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET UP SO EARLY. (Note: If you go without sleep YOU WILL GET SEASICK...I promise you. So do not push your rest...you need it!)

I will post the hotel info again in the next post for those driving in and for those needing emergency contact info.

10. DIVING INFO...This venue will not as said before have a dive master leading you on the dive nor one inwater other than myself. So it is imperative that you and your buddy work out a dive plan for the wreck. Keep in mind that compasses are of limited value due to all the metal of the wrecks throwing off the readings. So natural nav is best. We will show you a simply star or hub and spoke pattern which you should already know if you have ever done the SD Rent-A-Buddy program. We use that navigation pattern for these wrecks ALL THE TIME. The u-352 is the only real exception as we normally anchor on one end and you go to the other end 200ft and then turn around and go back an you are at the anchor. Many wrecks are HUGE and you can not navigate them this easily. Again using a star pattern from the anchor swim out a ways and turn around and come back. Then go in another direction and swim a ways and then turn and come back. If you do this over and over you will cover A LOT OF GROUND, you will always know where the anchor is and you will never get lost.

One note: most of these wrecks do not have many penetration opportunities however if you wish to penetrate AND you are properly trained please let us know and we'll see if we can allow it.

More later...gotta get some other stuff done.

KEEP CHECKING THIS THREAD AND THE PRIVATE FORUM FOR ONGOING DETAILS!!! -ww

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MPORTANT REMINDER:

Drive In Divers:

1. Pls bring your own lead if possible...not required but it will give you LOTS more flexibility on options. This is a predominently 'drive to' destination so operators don't have tons of lead in small configurations.

2. Make sure your tanks are FULL! If they are not you need to get them filled on Friday...there will not be time on Saturday morning.


Fly In Divers:

1. Make sure you get your bags as fast as you can if you are arriving on the 2-3pm flights. We have a 3.5hr drive to the coast barring no delays either at the airport or with massive holiday traffic. Some peeps will have arrived around 9am to noon so will be anxious to get on the road. Make sure if arriving late you have eaten. If time permits we'll do a quick soda or beer break since you are riding to the coast you might as well start your vacation.

2. Those arriving earlier will be gathered up and dropped for lunch at an awesome NY Deli while I do the group food shopping for the trip a few stores down. You will also get a chance to stock the van travel cooler with refreshments so you can begin your vacation even earlier!

ALL DIVERS:

1. If you need a weight belt pls bring one. The shop has a few but its just as easy to bring one if you need it.

3. To save time on Sat am which will be vital having a 6:30 departure time...when you arrive at the hotel you will be given the boat's waiver to fill out. (I will try to get a copy today so we can upload it as well for those who wish to go that route.) You will NEED TO FILL IT OUT AND GIVE IT TO ME WITH YOUR C-CARD. I will then do an expedited check in process with the operator for you to save us time.

2. We need EVERYONE to hit the rack early the first night in particular. Those flying in will arrive relatively late and therefore hit the rack later than the drive ins. We will endeavor to be as efficient as possible in getting you to the beach, getting you some food, checked into the hotel and then UP AT 5:15 the next day. The boat will depart at 6:45 so we'll have 45 mins to get ready, get coffee and breakfast which will be on the dock, walk over to the boat and get tanks and analyize them and load the boat. You can start to set up gear once EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE. We will have a 2-3 hr boat ride so will have plenty of time to gear up.

Thanks everyone! This will trip will be a blast...a bit of work but a BLAST!!!

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UPDATE:

Ok so a few more updates...

1. When you get to the hotel the owner Billy and his lovely wife Barbara will have your names and tell you your room number.
2. They will also give you the Boat Waiver if you did not print it off the site. (THESE MUST BE COMPLETED FRIDAY NIGHT AS EARLY AS YOU CAN AND GIVEN TO KAMALA OR JERRY who is helping me! We need your c-card with your wavier!!!)
3. Jerry will arrive around 2-ish and will coordinate anyone arriving early ie. before 7:30pm to go to dinner. Pls join him.... I know Richard is arriving around 5-ish so wait for him!
4. Is anyone waiting on the flyin's to do dinner with them? If not we might stop along the way to save time.

Thanks gang...we'll see you tomorrow and remember to get LOTS OF REST!!! Its your best cure for seasickness...you know the sea sickness you NEVER get!

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[WreckWench]

INFO FOR SANDY TO ADD AS APPROPRIATE TO THE TEMPLATE:

 

Full Details below:

Hey gang! ONLY 18 TOTAL can do this trip!!! Diving on History in North Carolina is a once in a lifetime dive you have to do at LEAST once!!! But I'll warn you...when you find out that there is WARM Caribbean water (80 to 85 degrees F) with HUGE animal encounters and the most incredible wrecks that you can dive on or in...you may just get 'hooked' like some of us near and dear to you...ahem...me!

What You'll See:

REAL WWI and WWII shipwrecks..sunk as early as 1918
The U-352...the second U-Boat sunk by the US in WWII and the ONLY U-Boat in warm, clear diveable waters!
Numerous U-Boat victims (not bodies) who fought valiantly for our freedoms!
Large animals such as Huge Southern Stingrays, Barracudas, Grouper, Amberjack, and yes SHARKS...SHARKS...SHARKS!!!

(Please note that we ask for 40+ dives and adv open water or equivalent in experience as these wrecks are 80-125ft in depth. The water temps are 78-85 degrees at depth and vis is 70-150 ft. No wreck certification is required however the standard nitrox blend is 30%. Most wrecks do NOT have penetration opportunities and you must be specially trained to attempt a wreck penetration. Many of the wrecks have light passthru's where you can swim in and out to the light on the other side. Most of the wrecks are scattered due to frequent storms or if inshore cable layered to prevent hazards to shipping.) The boat is quite accommodating to recreational and tech-light divers. Stage/pony bottles are ok. You will have between an hour and 1.5 hr surface interval and we will spend most of the day offshore with 1.5 to 2 hr transit times to the boat.

See full package details below these summaries.
 

 

4 nights/3 days Diving/6 boat dives/lunch & breakfast/snacks and drinks/BBQ/xfers RDU/AB is the STANDARD PACKAGE that we will guarantee double occupancy. We will only be able to provide d/o for 3/3 pkg if even numbers of same gender members book the 'drive in' pkg. or you are willing to chg rooms to avoid extra costs.
$850 fly in diver d/o* $750 drive in divers d/o (has 1 less night of hotel, no air, no xfers from RDU to MHC, etc)*

*Due to the volatile nature of fuel prices, a fuel surcharge may be added upon 30 days' notice.

Transfers & Meeting Times:

July 2nd: (All fly in divers need to arrive in RDU Raliegh airport by 3pm July 2nd for group van pickup. Divers from the local drive in area need to arrive anytime on July 2nd before 10pm. Dinner in Atlantic Beach/Morehead City area will be approx 7pm. Fly in's will Depart Tuesday July 6th: For those flying we will leave from Atlantic Beach at 10:30am to arrive RDU approx 2:30 pm in time for lunch along the way & flights departing 5pm or later from RDU on Tuesday July 6th.
Note: Departures earlier than 5pm must be approved by SD.com!

Optional Add-on's:

Single Room Upgrade: $65 per night or $260 add'l for 4 nites (limited single rooms available please ask about availability)
Extra Nights: $65 per night includes taxes for d/o or $125 for s/o.
Nitrox Fills: Nitrox Fills PER TANK PRICE for drive in divers with their own tanks 30% mix - 100's $14; 80's $12 or $56 for 2 days or 4 tank fills nitrox 100's.
Nitrox Rental Upgrades: Nitrox Rentals PER TANK PRICE are steel or alum (mix is 30%) 100's $19; 80's $16 or $114 for 6 nitrox 100 rentals
Air Fills: Air fills are not available from the local dive shop. You can get them but it will entail driving to the next town to get them. (Please get your nitrox cert on this trip or before it!)
Additional Sightseeing & Deep Sea Fishing* excursions: Historic Beaufort, Atlantic Beach and Morehead City offer a host of shopping and fun activities on 'the boardwalk'. We can also visit Fort Macon which is the only fort to be commissioned twice in US History...first in the Civil War and then in WWII. (*Can be accommodated if we lose a day of diving OR you plan to stay a day later or arrive a day early.)

Included in the 3 dive day/4 night NC pkg:
SD's unique special touches noted in blue - we are unlike the others!

 

• Over sixteen years of experienced hosting by the "Wreck Wench" with "Diver Down"
• 3 days 2 Tank Boat Dives each Day
• Four (4) nights double occupancy lodging at the Fisherman's Inn Hotel (100 ft from the boat) (DRIVE IN PKG INCLUDES 3 NITES HOTEL)
• R/T Transfers from Raleigh Airport to Atlantic Beach and back (if needed)
• Ask about Specialty Certifications you can take before or during your trip such as Nitrox, Sidemount, Boat, Deep, Computer, Tech classes, etc.
• SD's Famous "Meet & Greet" Happy Hour and Introduction Party!
• Fabulous Fresh Catch, Steak & Multi-Entree Dockside Cookout Dinner and Drinks (both alcoholic and non) on Friday or Saturday Night ONLY of each trip.
• Dinner reservations made for all divers each night at one of the great local establishments!
• Trip price includes Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, water, soda & juice served on the boat daily!
• Limited lead available, and you will need to bring your own weight belt.
• Grey SD T-Shirt typically with funny saying on the back commemorating the trip!

Boat limited to ONLY 18 divers plus crew. (Hurry Now to secure your spot!)

NOT Included:

Airfare to RDU and back. (Price varies from $250 to $350 so get your ticket soon!)
Dinner for 3 of 4 nights
Dive tips...typically $25-$30 per day
Fills or rentals see pricing above NOTE: Fills only for divers bringing their own tanks otherwise rental upgrade. Pkg includes air 80's
Other incidentals
Due to the volatile nature of fuel prices, a fuel surcharge may be added upon 30 days' notice.
SD's Rent-A-Buddy: Have your own private DM as your dive buddy and coach. Want to polish your skills? Reinforce what you just learned in your certification dives? Improve your air consumption? Then hire a dive coach/private guide for your trip for $75 per day or $150 for the trip.
Instruction/Classes: will be available on this trip. Please let us know what you are interested in?
Extra Day(s) - $65 for d/o (if available) includes hotel taxes or $125 for s/o includes hotel taxes.
DIVE Insurance: - is MANDATORY! DIVE insurance is VERY inexpensive. Even if you have insurance that you think covers DIVING ACCIDENTS and air lifts…it is CHEAP to get a supplemental policy to ensure you are cared for. (see the end of this post for 2 great insurance links)
TRIP Insurance: - It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. You will need to advise if you have trip insurance, will get it or will not get it for this trip to register. (see the end of this post for 2 great insurance links)

*Due to a very short diving season May to Oct; variable weather; and very few dive operators; the diving alone in NC is $125-$130 per day making it the most expensive per day diving destination...but as you'll see...WELL worth the price to dive on "History" I assure you!

Hotel Info: Fisherman's Inn a classic NC beach town motel perfectly suited for divers. Located at 200 Atlantic Beach Cswy; Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 (252) 726-2273 Directions for driving here.

 

Follow the diver who followed the fish who followed the conning tower of the U352 to North Carolina's Graveyard of the Atlantic!!! But hurry...we only have 18 spots and they WILL fill FAST!!! NOTE: Spots may be limited by either 'drive in or fly in'. We will keep you posted if we have to limit one pkg option or the other.


4th of July in historic North Carolina...diving on history...OUR history! And watching fireworks light it all up...it just doesn't get any better then that!

But WAIT...IT JUST GOT BETTER!!! HOW? First we didn't think we'd have enough interest to run this venue again...but fortunately many of you want to stay local and this is WORLD CLASS DIVING!!! And DAN and COCHRAN Computers are teaming up again with SingleDivers.com to do more data collection for studies being conducted to understand DCS and the average diver and how to prevent it. Cochran computers have always been a part of DAN's efforts to help prevent DCS but Cochran's new computers go even farther to collect critical data such as your flight durations and times, as well as if you are diving in fresh or salt water, cold or warm water and more. Sampling once a second compared to once every 7-8 seconds like most computers, these computers are incredibly intelligent and we are very excited that we'll be able to use them to collect data for DAN on this trip as well as check out the newest and most exciting dive computers from the Cochran Dive Team!

To See More...Click here for NC Photo Gallery

This year's FireWorks on History NC Wreck and Shark Diving trip is July 2-6 diving with July 2nd and July 6th as travel days giving us 3 full days of DIVING for only $750 Drive In's and $850 Fly In's!!! (See full pricing below.)

Who's Going? ONLY 18 spots!

 

I am confused about tank rental price. I am assuming this price is per day but does it include the refill for the second dive? I would expect to pay for a rental AND refill each day??? Would I expect wrong here?

If you have your own tanks your price is FILLS. If you do not have tanks your Price is RENTALS and yes the rental price includes the gas in them. However just so everyone knows...you are paying for the RENTAL not the gas. If you take the tank on the boat and opt to not do a dive you still pay for the tank rental as you prevented another customer from using it. That is why we list it as fills and rentals.

Also note that if you need FILLS...you need to come with your first fill IN THE TANK. There will not be time to do fills before the trip. Also come with a mix that is 31-30%. If you mix is too high you will be severely limited by how deep you can go. Wrecks can range from 80 to 130 feet. But if you use a mix that can ONLY be used at 80 ft you are in trouble if we choose a wreck that is 120. These wrecks do not have a lot of profile you can't just stay shallow.

I hope that is more clear! kamala

 

 

okay, I'm not sure I understand about the rentals yet...

Each day we will do two dives. Will we be renting two tanks per day (and therefore have, for 100's, a cost of $19 times two) or is the price for rentals the cost of two tanks($19 for 100's)? So with three days of diving, would this be (3 times $19=$57) or (3 times $19 times 2=$114)?

The price is PER TANK so $114 is correct.

(Please note you have to offer things the way the resort/operator sells things. This is primarily a drive in destination where people bring their own tanks hence the fill price. For those that rent which in the early days was practically ONLY ME AND MY GROUPS...the rental price. Now its about 50/50 fills and rentals. Kamala

 

Everywhere I look on this thread folks are asking for 100 rentals. In the rush before leaving for Bonaire, I said 80 rental on the tank. Please explain whether I should change to 100s. How will this affect weights, time diving, bcd wing adjustment, plane in water, etc. Recommendation?

Rodney the entire dive will be 80 to 100ft or MORE. So MORE AIR IS NEEDED. Only very small and usually female divers should use an 80 when 100's are so readily available. Some dive ops use 80's just to ensure the dive is short for most divers.

A steel 100 tank will allow you to take 4 pounds off your belt. It will allow you to max out your bottom time with plenty of gas for safety margin. It will not otherwise affect trim except by putting a few more pounds on your back you'll be more trim in the water.

My suggestion is to upgrade to one...I am! kamala

Hey Roomie,

Let me second Kamala's suggestion. My personal tanks are steel 100s and I dive them off Carolina all the time. As Kamala said you get more air plus ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL you can take some weight off due to the weight difference vs. an AL 80. But remember that you'll probably need more rubber. When I dive Carolina, I switch to a 5 mil full suit plus a hood and don't change my weight. The extra 4-5# of the steel tanks offsets the thicker suit. Plus the steel tanks remain negatively bouyant the entire dive.

I saw where you were delayed substantially getting home on Sunday. I was delayed a little, but not as bad as you. Enjoyed the diving. Hope to see you on another trip soon.
 

Hello all,

This will be my first N.C. diving. The last couple of posts spoke about a 5 mil suit, and doubling up with a 3 mil suit. Presently, I have a 7 mil farmer John, and a 2 mil / 3 mil suit. The 7 mil has to be far too heavy, but I am now questioning if the 2/3 is sufficient. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks. Ed

I'd certainly be monitoring the water temps. When I did this trip two years ago, the temps at depth were in the mid 70's, and there was a noticable thermocline at about 50 feet. I was told that was unusual as the gulf currents normally keep it warmer than that.

I dove with my 3 MM and a hooded vest. You might want to look at an additional layer just in case, or at least a hood.

Correct! We will need to monitor as we get closer! Temps can be low like Georoc01 experienced or very warm...low to mid 80's. We'll keep you posted! kamala

 

 

[ScubaPunk]

This looks pretty good. I'll try to flesh out more as well for the parts you can't help with.

 

1. Does the Olympus Dive Site give info on who is able to dive NC? Whatever they say we want to enhance but its a start.

2. Does the hotel give more info on the hotel rooms? Outdoor restroom, dock grilling and social area? If not please add this and/or try to create some sort of hotel info.

3 Does the dive op website have ANY info on the diving we can use? The area? Etc?

4. Can you get a picture of Midnight Express?

5. Did you see this topic for older trip info?  

https://www.singledi...ip-ran-in-2013/

 

Thank you!

 

The Olympus requirements for diving:

 

• A minimum of 25 logged dives. Advanced Open Water Certification preferred. Experienced divers with Open Water Certification and required dives are accepted. 
• At least 2 dives in the ocean to 70 feet or greater.
• At least 2 logged boat ocean dives.
• At least 2 dives in the last 12 months.
• Minimum age for Full Day Dive Trip is 15 years of age.

The hotel gives a few pics of the rooms, and prices for the different rooms.  You didn't want me to post pics of the rooms before so I didn't incude them.  Let me know if you want them, and I'll put them out there.

 

The website lists possible dive sites that are determined the morning of the dive based on conditions and customer preference.

 

 

Full Day Dive Trip

 

Our Full Day Dive trip consists of two dives on North Carolina offshore wrecks/sites determined the morning of the dives in accordance with optimum conditions and customer preference.

 

Depths: 90'-120'

 

Possible Sites: U-352, Papoose, Schurz, Aeolus, Spar, Caribsea, Atlas, HMS Bedfordshire, Box Wreck, Ashkabad

 

I have posted a pic of the Midnight Express.

 

I saw the older topic, but I am not sure what still applies.

 

[WreckWench]

Thanks Sandy...great info and what we needed. Go ahead and do a section on the wrecks with a description and picture if they have it about the wrecks saying... wreck destinations will be determined by weather and the the captain's choice.

 

You can tweak the vis to 70-100 ft dropping to as little as 20-40 if an inverse thermocline arises or the vis is otherwise stirred up.

Temps should be listed as 78-83*

* temps vary based upon the location of the Gulf Stream's proximity to each wreck. Wrecks to the "East" will typically be slightly cooler with slightly less vis while wrecks to the "south" will have the warmest waters and the highest vis. Inshore wrecks will also typically have slightly cooler temps and slightly less visibility as the gulf stream rarely comes fully inshore.

 

Once you do your next round of tweaking and FONT STANDARDIZATION I will do my final personalization based upon my own experience in this venue.

[WreckWench]

Thanks Sandy ...excellent. I will not do full disclosure on the room configs BECAUSE everyone will try to sign up for specific rooms and I've never done that so won't do it

I have 2 choices.. do a quad for the bunkhouse and do it a bit cheaper making it for females since I'll be in it and Maddie. OR just do it like I have always done it and just manage it based upon how signs up and juggle it.

 

I will repost your content over into a new topic and start do the final mods This looks much more like our new trip formal and TRULY APPRECIATED! Thank you! Kamala

[WreckWench]

ONE LAST REQUEST...

 

Can you add any more pics of wrecks? Thank you!

[WreckWench]

I think we have a newer and more comprehensive list of GENERAL QUESTIONS in the T&C trip.  YES I checked and it is MUCH more compreshensive so should be the default boilerplate NOW. 

 

Here it is. (NOTE it should be reviewed to see if it is fully comprehensive as well)