June Beaufort trip a bust

[LBR]

We visited Beaufort, NC this past weekend to do some diving for the first time with Discovery Diving. Sadly although the weather was sunny and warm, the winds prevented us from diving the whole weekend. We even went out on the boat on Sat only to have the captain turn around about 30 minutes out because he thought the seas were too rough. So we had to scramble to find other things to do in this tiny town.
We visited nearby Shackleford Island via water taxi to see the wild horses (some say they were descended from horses that swam ashore from old Spanish wrecks in the 1600's) and did the 38th annual Beaufort tour of homes. The cemetery is pretty cool, there is a British officer who requested to be buried standing up saluting Mad King George and a young girl who died at sea and was brought back in a keg of rum. We tried to do some parasailing but the winds prevented that too.
We ate at Aqua (nice outside dining in Beaufort-tapas) and California Roll (good sushi in Morehead City, you can sit on outdoor picnic benches). The Backstreet Pub in Beaufort is a cool place to grab a microbrew, it is housed in a century-old former bakery on Middle Lane and they have nice outdoor seating. The people of Beaufort were very friendly and all seemed to know each other (it is a very small town).

We also checked out New Bern, NC on our way home, this town seems really sleepy but maybe that is because it was Sunday and almost every business was closed. You can see the location of where Pepsi was created here.

We will probably try to do another Beaufort trip again as I really want to see these wrecks and the sand tiger sharks!

[Eastbayfe]

Glad you enjoyed checking out the area. My dive with Discovery got blown out as well on Friday and it was blowing even harder this morning. I hope you have better luck on your next visit. I'm going to try again this weekend.

[rcpilot44]

I went to Moorehead this past weekend and Olympus did not go out either. Sunday was worse than Saturday..

[jscott099]

Thanks for making the best of your trip. The maritime Musuem is great to see. Also from Beaufort you can make a ferry run up to Ocracoke Island for the day.

NC diving can be challenging simply because of the possibility of a blow out. Even living here, I can't tell you how many trips planned months in advance got a blow out. However, once in the water, its always worth it and I keep coming back.

[fireflock]

When everything goes right, there is nothing in the world like NC diving. Unfortunately, things don't always work out.

This page is a few years old now, but it has some ideas for next time (and for others reading along).

What to do when you dive trip is blown out. (http://richsawin.com/d2d/blowout/)

Rich

[H3LlIoN]

OP -

Next time you are stuck in Beaufort, check out the wooden boat shop on main down by the wharfs. I don't really remember the name, but you can't miss it. It's a great big warehouse with a bunch of old dudes that spend all day making wooden boats.

[jamiep3]

Another good blow out activity is to run out to Atlantic Beach and take in the Aquarium. Also the Fort on the Point is worth the trip.

If you haven't had a trip blownout in NC, you haven't dived there.

[rcpilot44]

I second the aquarium. I went when I was blown out. I am going back in a couple of weeks. Hope we get to dive..

[JayJudge]

Well, as part of the crew on the Mutiny- I'll fill you in a bit- we were the (I think) only boat that ran on Friday and Sat. Because we leave before the rest of the fleet, we report back on conditions. Friday was nasty- we went inshore to the Indra, and on the way out encountered 6 ft seas. Though it did settle a little during the 2 dives, it was rough. On Saturday, we went past the inlet, meeting the same conditions, and hoping to meet smoother water. It was worse. Seas running 8 ft plus. So, though getting off the boat would be no problem, the dangers of getting back on, or, not being seen if the diver missed the boat, led the captain to call the trip. Sunday and Monday had the same forecast, so the rest of the weekend was a wash. Saturday afternoon, a few of us ran on the Mutiny to Shackleford, anchored, had a good time (though it must have been funny to some to see a 45 ft boat laying at anchor). Glad to hear you had a good time, even with the conditions. The Fort Macon is a good time too- if you like history, it covers a lot of it.
-J

[RICHinNC]

I took my SO there for a pampered weekend at one of the nice B&Bs. Small town, not a lot to do but an easy weekend.

[scubasamnc]

Sorry about your trip.
I live in Raleigh & we cancel trips all the time. I dive out of my own boat, If the conditions arn't perfect I don't leave the drive way. The diving on a good day is the best.