Solo diver seeks info on Cooper River March 28 or 29

[likelite]

Hey folks, I'll be in the Cooper River area late March and was interested in picking up a fossil tooth diving trip. Problem is, all the websites require group reservations, and for a couple of logistical reasons it might be hard for me to cobble together five more people to go.

Anyone got thoughts on a charter I could pick up as a solo on March 28 or 29, 2008? Any info much appreciated.

[pheraghty]

I would suggest Cooper River Scuba Diving - Dive Charleston South Carolina's Cooper River (http://www.cooperriverdiving.com) for your trip. Captain Johnny runs a tight shop/ship and has a great knowledge of the ‘good’ spots.

I do not know if he can do Friday, but as for Saturday you should be ok. He normally has some solos or pairs that are always ready to hit the river. Usually if he can get three or four he will go. I would give him a call / email and explain your situation and he can give you the best direction on how to get a charter.

I also run trips to the Cooper (I use Cooper River Scuba Diving - Dive Charleston South Carolina's Cooper River (http://www.cooperriverdiving.com) for all our trips) regularly and should be running something a weekend near your planned time. If I have a group that weekend I will let you know.

Good Luck,

Patrick Heraghty
Wish You Were Here … Diving (http://www.wishyouwereherediving.com/)

[kevinedwards]

I can give you a phone number. I dive the river a good bit. Captain Tom will take you out to some pretty profitable areas for a good price. PM me

[sporket]

Hey I'm interested in diving the Cooper as well. Thanks for some great info. Maybe we could go together?

[kevinedwards]

I will be ready to go to the Cooper River in March, but since obtaining custody of my children last week I have to choose my weekend when nothing else is going on for them. Keep watching this thread or PM me, and I will work with you on setting up a time. Noticed you use the same BC as I do. Gotta love the Ranger. I wouldn't go for the flathead reg though. Atomic Aquatics has a much better reg. I have had a Zeagle and sold it. Try the M1 from Atomic. You won't be disappointed.

[sporket]

Yea and I love the M1

[recoiljunky]

I'm wanting to go on one of these trips too. I would be going solo.

[Lone Frogman]

Is this trip still going on? Got room for one more?

[mheaster]

OFF THE WALL DIVE CHARTERS (864)944-DIVE (http://www.offthewalldiving.com/2.html)

Bill Routh - Class Act!

I have been to Cooper River a couple of times and would HIGHLY recommend Bill's operation!

I am not sure he'll be there the weekend you have in mind but it is worth a shot!

[JustinGray]

Hello what is the average depth to dive to when looking for fossils in cooper

[mheaster]

Hello what is the average depth to dive to when looking for fossils in cooper

Without checking my logbook, 30-40ft almost all are 1 hour dives on an Aluminum 80.
All solo diving, zero viz and can be strong current (depends a lot on timing dive on a particuliar site for correct tide. Everything depends on Boat Captain putting you on right spot, at right time of day in relation to tides (again Bill Routh is a genius at this!)

[pheraghty]

Hello what is the average depth to dive to when looking for fossils in cooper

Most of the sites are between 15 and 65 ffw (brackish) with my maximum being 85 ffw (brackish).

[pheraghty]

If there is a group of divers form the board that wants to hit the river in March 2008 then lets run a trip. I recommend Cooper River Diver Charters as the best charter on the river. If we can pick a couple of weekends that work I can coordinate a trip. The trip would be 85$ per day for two tank dive (10$ more for a third tank). You can dive any size tanks you like and there is no time limit for the dives.

Let me know who is interested and what dates work for you.

[likelite]

Hey folks, sorry to post and run. Work got hairy for me for a few weeks there, but I'm definitely still interested in doing a trip.

Got an email back from Captain John at Cooper River Scuba Diving - Dive Charleston South Carolina's Cooper River (http://www.cooperriverdiving.com), sounds like there may be a bit of room with him that weekend. I'll try to nail something down with him this week or start calling Plan B operators. Will post whatever I find out. I've tried Charleston Scuba a couple times but can't get a return email and their VM is always full.

Quick question: In doing a Google I found mention of, um, alligators in the Cooper. How much of a hazard would folks reckon this might be? I have next to no knowledge of the area, so please forgive my ignorance on the front end ;)

Looks like the water temps may be in the low 60s...I'm thinking a dry suit may be a good idea if these are going to be shallow (read: long) dives....

[8541SS]

anywhere from 15 to 60 ffw is where we normally stay you are subject to find nice teeth in any depth as well as ancient early man artifacts. We just went out with Capt john at cooper River dive charters this past weekend you can find our mugshots and finds at wish you were here diving.net

[8541SS]

I have never had a problem with oversized reptiles on the cooper river I have worked in the everglades doing commercial work and been completly surrounded by them and never been aggressed. they get a bad rap like sharks > knowledge of their behavior through research will help ease your fears> I would certainly recommend a drysuit this time of year .Ignorance of the gators is probably your biggest threat. Take a little time and do a little research on them. Basic things like not splashing about on the surface will go a long way towards a happy relationship with them . Most gator attacks on humans are the humans fault.Talk to capt john at cooper river dive charters about them. He has extensive experience on the cooper and runs a top notch charter.Your biggest problem on the Cooper is not having a large enough goody bag to hold your booty.

[pheraghty]

The pictures are at www.wishyouwereherediving.com/images.html (http://www.wishyouwereherediving.com/images.html).

'Gators are not active this time of the year. You might see one sunning itself but they are cold blooded and do not want to go in the water. I have been diving in ther Cooper for years and have never seen or heard of one being agressive toward a diver.

[likelite]

Your biggest problem on the Cooper is not having a large enough goody bag to hold your booty.

E*X*C*E*L*L*E*N*T*!

Ok, so how many are still interested? One? Two? I'm seriously going to try to nail something down in the next day or two. I'd love to go with Capn John.

Thanks for the thoughts on the gators. I'm not a-skeered of water critters generally, but while visiting Australia last year I saw a saltwater croc in a tank that - sweet Lord - looked like a sea monster. 6 meters long if it were a centimeter. Teeth like daggers. Whoa. So it got my attention about respecting them.

What kind of pick do I need? I assume the reef hook I bought for Galapagos might not cut it (although I'll bring it along just in case). Will a big-assed screwdriver do the job?

[8541SS]

I use a screw driver that Ive attached a clip and wrist lanyard to and it works ok. Capt john sells custom spikes that are really nice and Ive always wanted one but never have had an extra $ to spend on it. They go for 30 to 40 bucks. The bottom line is if it works for you then its ok. Bring whatever you have and check out Johnnys spikes.No saltwater crocs in the Cooper mate. And thank god for that!

[pheraghty]

What kind of pick do I need? I assume the reef hook I bought for Galapagos might not cut it (although I'll bring it along just in case). Will a big-assed screwdriver do the job?

I reccommend that you use a brass spike (Capt. John sells for $30 I think) but a BA screwdriver will work as well. Make sure that you have a lanyard attached to the BA screwdriver so you dont loose it.

[8541SS]

I got the website wrong for where you guys can see pictures of us on the cooper. Its wishyouwereherediving.com,,, sorry mates

[pheraghty]

Ok, so how many are still interested? One? Two? I'm seriously going to try to nail something down in the next day or two. I'd love to go with Capn John.

What weekend in March are you thinking about splashing on the river? If we can get four divers the boat will run. $85 for a two tank ($10 for an extra tank) with no time limits. Time to meet the boat is based on the tides for the day (Capt. John is excellent on placing divers in the river at just the right time to minimize the effect of the current on the divers.)

Are we trying for the weekend of 29-30 MAR 2008?

[langforg]

I'd like to attend if you have room for one more.

[likelite]

Well, looks like we have three at least just from the thread here...I'll try to PM folks who wrote earlier, but YES it is the weekend of March 29-30, 2008.

Incoming PM, pheragty...

[pheraghty]

We have likelite and langforg. Lone Frogman, recoiljunky, sporket and kevinedwards are you in for a Cooper trip 29-30 MAR 2008?

[langforg]

I'm sorry. I won't be able to make this trip. I checked with my girlfriend/personal planner and she said I'm busy. If you plan a trip in early summer I'll definitely try to make it out. Again, sorry for backing out.

[likelite]

I stopped by the LDS today and there's a possibility of people joining us from my local scuba club. Will update with info as I get it.

[pheraghty]

It looks like this trip is a no go. When asked for commitments everyone except for likelite was non responsive or couldn't make it. Sorry this one didn’t make it. I think that it would be good to get together off list and splash together some time.

I have a trip running on the Cooper 14-15 JUN 08. If anyone is interested PM me or email me at patrick@wishyouwereherediving.com.

Good luck to everyone on hitting the Cooper this season.

[ryssyr]

so is there a trip set up for march 28th and 29th? I'd like to join if there is room. We should do a SB tooth charter and see if we can get a group together.