I will be visiting NC June 12-15, for a wreck diving trip. I'm told that we will be diving the Papoose, and possibly seeing the sand tiger sharks. We will be diving with Olympus Dive Center.
I was wondering if you guys had any input for me...such as how to behave around these sharks (and get good pictures), info. on the dive site, and any other useful info. about the area (including good places to eat!). Personal experiences encouraged!
Everyone's "2 cents worth" will be appreciated....:)
Spectre
February 27th, 2003, 02:42 PM
finstotheleft once bubbled...
about the area (including good places to eat!). Personal experiences encouraged!
No reason to go anywhere further than the pub in the same building as the bunk house! :)
finstotheleft
March 5th, 2003, 12:52 PM
Do they have good seafood?
ElectricZombie
March 18th, 2003, 12:50 AM
Hi finstotheleft,
I was just out diving with Olympus last week...nice boat.
The Papoose is in about 130' feet of water. Good wreck, lots of life. I've dove there several times and have enjoyed it.
I just ignore the sharks and procede with the dive...they will not bother you.
As for places to eat, the pub at the bunk house is pretty good. The crew of the Olympus seems to know a lot of good places to eat.
The Papoose is an offshore wreck so, be prepared for a 2 hour boat ride. Seas can seem rough here in NC if you are not used to them. Take your sea sickness meds if needed. Also, it's not unusual for there to be a slight current.
Should be a good dive though. There have been times when I could see the outline of the Papoose from the surface.
medic13
March 29th, 2003, 03:23 PM
one thing be ready in june will be a hot a heck so wear some suntan lotion non oil also the food is excellent as ElectricZombie told you all ready take some kind sea sickness meds the night before and don't eat any greasy food the morning of the dive and you will be ok also kind of deep dive so know you average air consumption and try to figure it out for at least a 100 feet to make sure you have right size tank for the dive. just a few hints !!!!
who knows I dive the Olympus quit a bit might see you there
finstotheleft
April 1st, 2003, 01:34 PM
Great info. so far....thanks and keep em' coming!
trheeltek
April 11th, 2003, 05:08 PM
And they won't bother you. Sandtigers are great to dive with, very rarely threaten divers - very rarely pay attention to divers, honestly. If you see them do the back arched/fins down threat posture, start paying attention (and think about leaving) - something's probably riling them, like a hurt fish. In the one case I've seen, it was a wounded grouper inside the wreck. But, mostly, just enjoy swimming with them. I once had one swim so close to me, a remora came off the shark and stuck to my butt. And it wouldn't leave, the little @#%$.
Since I can't really guage your experience level, I'll give some basic advice, I'm sure it's stuff most folks know but just in case...
Drink lots of water, as somebody said it can be hot as heck. I bring a gallon jug along and try to drink at least half. As we all learned in OW, dehydration is a leading cause of DCS.
Gear: at deeper than 100 fsw, esp. if you're diving a single Al80, think about bringing a bail-out bottle (13 or 19cf) - probably never need it, but nice to have. Also, DEFINITELY bring a safety sausage/other signalling device (or take your fin off and wave it around, I guess) - it's a big ocean if you surface off the anchor line and have to signal the boat.
Seasickness - If you don't get seasick, well, lucky you - I'll be over here, hugging the rail. Boy, do I get seasick, and that's that. I find if I take one dramamine the night before, AND one the morning of, and don't eat greasy food, and sacrifice a chicken under the full moon, I'm usually ok. Usually. Anyway, about the only thing I'd say is, I also notice that seasickness meds seem to increase the affects of narcosis for me. If you haven't dove deep on seasickness meds before, just something to be aware of.
Hey, anybody remember the name of that great seafood restaurant near Olympus? Kind of a weird name, pretty well-known? The Clean something, or...I don't know. Anyway, go there, lots of good food, not too expensive.
herman
April 12th, 2003, 08:01 AM
Sounds like the fish rest you are talking about is Sanitary Fish market. On the water in MHC just a couple of blocks from Olympic dive. I have not eaten there in years but it use to be really good.
FTL, be prepared for long boat rides, deep conditions, rough seas, hot temps and there is always the possibility that the dives will be canceled. We do get great flat calm days but they are not the norm, so be prepared for rougher seas. If you have never taken a Carolina ladder ride, it's an experience not soon forgotten. (getting on a dive ladder in 6-8 ft seas)
finstotheleft
April 14th, 2003, 07:20 PM
trheeltek once bubbled...
I once had one swim so close to me, a remora came off the shark and stuck to my butt. And it wouldn't leave, the little @#%$.
That is hilarious!
I have been on one ocean dive, it was in the Gulf, and waters were super calm. Unfortunately I do get sea sick, so I'm nervous about the rougher seas in N.C.! The "ladder ride" that Herman mentioned also makes me nervous! Honestly, I'm nervous about the whole darn thing! :eek: I'm a fairly new diver, so I want to make sure I'm prepared for this. I should have my advanced cert. before I go, and I think I've read everything there is to know about Sand Tigers.
I also have stock in Dramamine.... :)
jbd
April 14th, 2003, 08:07 PM
did you select for your AOW?
herman
April 14th, 2003, 08:10 PM
I find that Bonine does a better job than Dramamine (1 that is, 2 has the same active ingredient) Dramimine makes me sleepy, I hate the stuff. I take one Bonine the night before and another the next morning. Works great for me and others who spend time on my boat. If you decide to try Bonine, I would suggest that you try some on a dry run before diving with it, just to see if it agrees with you.
The ladder ride is an adventure. If the seas are rough it can get exciting. The trick is to watch the boat and get the rhythm of the ladder. Get close to the ladder and when the ladder gets to it's lowest point plant both feet on the ladder, put some weight on them and hold on. Wait until the ladder gets to the top of it's travel and then start climbing. The objective is to climb only when the ladder is moving down, if it starts back up, just hold on and wait for the next downward cycle. What ever you do, DON'T remove your reg or mask until you are sure you are on the boat. There is always the chance of losing your grip on the ladder and falling back in. If you do lose your grip, it's better to get back in and away from the ladder and start over rather than trying to hang on when you have lost most of your grip.
finstotheleft
April 14th, 2003, 08:55 PM
I went deep sea fishing when I was about 18, off the coast of Myrtle Beach. 6 to 8 foot seas that day. I have never been as sick in my life...I have never seen so many shades of green on so many people, including me! Once I up-chuck, that's it. I'm down for the count. I'm hoping that the meds work!
Dramamine vs. Bonine vs. Ginger tablets...$40
Lost fins while waving them around for signaling device...$150
Watching me try to get on the ladder...priceless ;)
medic13
April 14th, 2003, 10:12 PM
Take sea sickness meds three to four days ahead of time every morning, that way it has time to build up in your system to its fullest strength, and remember to tell the dm that this is your first time that way they will be little bit more ready to assist you don’t worry everyone got to start some time you be fine if I knew more dates and place ect I try to join you sure others would too.
I know I diving the Olympus the weekend of may 3rd and 4 th will be on another boat the 17th and 18th may and another Olympus in 24 and 25th may.
herman
April 15th, 2003, 08:43 AM
finstotheleft once bubbled...
I went deep sea fishing when I was about 18, off the coast of Myrtle Beach. 6 to 8 foot seas that day. I have never been as sick in my life...I have never seen so many shades of green on so many people, including me! Once I up-chuck, that's it. I'm down for the count. I'm hoping that the meds work!
Dramamine vs. Bonine vs. Ginger tablets...$40
Lost fins while waving them around for signaling device...$150
Watching me try to get on the ladder...priceless ;)
Ain't praying to RALPH fun! :out::out:
There was a pretty good thread several months ago that had some good seasick advise, you might want to do a search and locate it.
A safety sausage is also a good idea, just in case you have to come up away from the anchor line, it's a BIG ocean out there.
finstotheleft
April 16th, 2003, 11:32 AM
My instructor and several other experienced divers are going to be in our group. Our instructor has already said that he is probably going to require everyone to have sausages before we go.
I think I'm going to take your advice on the seasick medicine Medic, and dose up several days in advance. I took seasick meds. about a day before my first ocean dive and I wasn't groggy at all after it had been in my system overnight.
Thanks so much for all the good advice...this is really going to help the dive go smoothly!:D
Wreck Ranger
April 17th, 2003, 06:40 PM
finstotheleft,
You picked a great dive center to do your diving. Olympus runs a great establishment. I used to live in Morehead City and worked with Olympus. You won't find a better crew and boat anywhere. If you are staying at the lodge then the restaurant just below called "Rapscallions" is close and has great food. All along the waterfront right by the dive shop also has lots of great food as well. Beaufort is only about 6 minutes from the lodge and "Clawsons Restaurant" would be my first choice there. The Papoose is a wonderful dive as you have read from other diver here. Pretty much all of the wrecks of Morehead City are amazing. If you have time for sightseeing you may try Ft. Macon over on the Beach. It's a civil war fort that is in great condition and it's right on the beach and easy to get to.(about 10 mins from lodge) In fact I will be there the week after you leave for a week too.
Hope this helps
Wreck Ranger
finstotheleft
April 18th, 2003, 10:04 AM
I'm planning on cruising up the coast and taking a tour of the lighthouses. I am a lighthouse nut, and this will be my first time seeing Cape Hatteras! I am very excited... :D
CincyBengalsFan
April 18th, 2003, 03:24 PM
finstotheleft once bubbled...
I'm planning on cruising up the coast and taking a tour of the lighthouses. I am a lighthouse nut, and this will be my first time seeing Cape Hatteras! I am very excited... :D
excited is the understatement of the century.. She is going nuts over these lighthouses.
finstotheleft
April 21st, 2003, 11:40 AM
CincyBengalsFan once bubbled...
excited is the understatement of the century.. She is going nuts over these lighthouses.
I can't help it! I think I was a light keeper in a previous life or something....:confused:
herman
April 21st, 2003, 01:02 PM
finstotheleft once bubbled...
I'm planning on cruising up the coast and taking a tour of the lighthouses. I am a lighthouse nut, and this will be my first time seeing Cape Hatteras! I am very excited... :D
There are 7 working and 1 non working lights (2 if you count a river light)in NC. It's a long treck between Oak Island in the south (newest and one of 2 brightest in the world)and Corolla in the north. Last I heard you can climb Corolla and go on the balcony. The closest one to Morehead City is Cape Lookout. It is NOT accessable by land, you must take a boat or ferry to get to it. Ocracoke is the next closest but it is a 1hr drive followed by a 3 hr car ferry ride. I took some photos of all of them a few years ago so I am fairly familiar with them. If you can only get to a couple, I would suggest Ocracoke then on north to Cape Hatteras, the tallest light on the east coast and likely the most famous light in the world.
finstotheleft
April 23rd, 2003, 10:01 AM
herman once bubbled...
There are 7 working and 1 non working lights (2 if you count a river light)in NC. It's a long treck between Oak Island in the south (newest and one of 2 brightest in the world)and Corolla in the north. Last I heard you can climb Corolla and go on the balcony. The closest one to Morehead City is Cape Lookout. It is NOT accessable by land, you must take a boat or ferry to get to it. Ocracoke is the next closest but it is a 1hr drive followed by a 3 hr car ferry ride. I took some photos of all of them a few years ago so I am fairly familiar with them. If you can only get to a couple, I would suggest Ocracoke then on north to Cape Hatteras, the tallest light on the east coast and likely the most famous light in the world.
Can you see Cape Lookout from any point on land? The plan is to hit every lighthouse that I can with the time I've got. I'm camping out for the last leg of the trip, probably on Hatteras island. I'd also like to visit a maritime museum...Ocracoke was Blackbeard's old hideout so I'm looking for any interesting sights relating to that as well.
Wreck Ranger
April 23rd, 2003, 06:01 PM
Most of the Blackbeard research is being done in Beaufort. They have a building over in Beaufort that the people at Olympus can probably direct you to to see some artifacts. There is also a Maritime Museum in Beaufort too.
Wreck Ranger
herman
April 23rd, 2003, 07:34 PM
Yea, you can "see" it but it's quite a ways away in the distance, not really worth bothering with IMHO. As you exit the inlet on our way to the dive sites, look to your left, thats most likely the best oppertunity to see the Cape Lookout light you will have short of taking the ferry over to it.
If you make it up the coast a ways, drop by the NC Aquarium in Manteo. Well worth seeing. As suggested by WW, Fort Macon is a nice place to visit close the the dive op.
Camping in June on the outer banks....BRAVE GIRL!! The skeeters on the outer banks are horrible, take lots of bug repellent and use the stuff heavy on the deet, the wimpy stuff just makes to OB bugs hungry. I will not camp out there until at least mid October. There is a nice KOA campground in Rodanthe (SP?), one of the better ones on the OB's. It is on the ocean side of the island which is the better of the sites for the buggs but then there is no shade, buggs or shade....you decide.
finstotheleft
April 24th, 2003, 09:09 AM
This past October, I camped out on the Florida Panhandle at Cape San Blas, about 30 min. east of Panama City. At this particular time, they were having a MAJOR skeeter control problem along the coast, and did not want to let us camp at first, but we talked them into it. We were the ONLY tent campers there...and we found out why. Skeeters in swarms, biting flies big enough to pack us off...it was crazy :wacko: ! We re-named that campground "The Mosquito Coast".
I am ready for the skeeters....bring em' on! :getsome: (and thanks for the heads-up!)
NCwreckdiver
May 20th, 2003, 01:49 PM
Regarding NC diving, I dive from Morehead City frequently as I live only 30 min. away. I would not recommend spearfishing on that wreck. One of my buddies speared a grouper. He was coming up the anchor line when one of the sharks rushed him to get the grouper. He shot it out of self defense. Interestingly, National Geographic was filming the sharks that day and when they came up, they started yelling and screaming at him because he killed the shark! Also be aware that a great white has shown up on a wreck a few miles away. This occurred last summer and the summer before. If you want to hear an interesting story about this...pm me.
Lead_carrier
May 22nd, 2003, 12:16 PM
Don't wear a yellow wetsuit. The sharks think you taste like chicken. They won't bother you, the only time that they even notice is when turkeys spearfish amongst them.
If you tend get seasick. Scopolamine is available by perscription but it is fantastic if you can use it.
finstotheleft
June 2nd, 2003, 08:24 AM
I'm hearing more and more about great white sightings...how frequently is this occuring? I was just trying to get used to the idea of sand tigers!
DeputyDan
July 8th, 2003, 02:30 PM
raised in NC - you must be nuts to want to camp on the coast this time of year...........
:D
finstotheleft
July 9th, 2003, 08:12 AM
DeputyDan once bubbled...
raised in NC - you must be nuts to want to camp on the coast this time of year...........
:D
It went alright! Of course we forgot to buy bug spray before we got on Ocrakoake island, and paid HEAVILY for it....over $8 for a can of OFF! I will not make that mistake again! Skeeters didn't bother me much, but my poor buddy got eaten alive...hehe :mean:
There were lots of people camping at the national park campground there...and we absolutely LOVED Ocrakoake. It was the highlight of the trip! I will stay there again the next time I'm down that way.
