Hard Bottom/Natural Reef Dives?

[wadeNC]

From what I have gathered talking to the Morehead/Beaufort area dive operations, they never take people to the hard bottom area(s) offshore.

Does anyone have any experience going to those areas? I'm not much of a fan of wrecks just for the sake of a wreck and would love the opportunity to get u/w and photograph some of the life on the natural areas. Anyone know if any dive operations go out there?

Also, if you have been, how tough is the diving?

Thanks!
Wade

[herman]

Hi Wade,

Some of the operators in the Wilmington area go to the Frying Pan Tower. It's in about 50ft of water and from what I understand is really nice, lots of soft coral and tropical fish. It's a dive I have been trying to make for a while and never can seem to get it to gel. It may be what you are looking for. Drop me a line if you find a trip and need a buddy.

[fireflock]

Frying Pan tower is scheduled to be torn down sometime soon, and I'd like to make a dive trip out there before it happens. I think www.aquaticsafaris.com will make the trip with 6 divers.

[RAD Diver]

This trip sounds like something we might be interested in as newly OW certified divers looking to get some experience under our belts. We live in Va Beach, so would prefer to do it on a weekend. Post any additional details/dates here, and we'll check to see if we can make it.

[jdh]

The live bottom ledges around here (Wilmington) have great diving. We went to one about 28 miles out on Saturday. Right at 100' to the bottom. 85' or so to the top of the ledge. Lots of life on the ledges.
Typical NC tropical fish, morays, spiny lobster, grouper, hogfish, angelfish, damselfish, blennies, arrow crabs, conch, sea fans, gorgonians, sponges. The 23-mile rock is a popular destination for Aquatic Safaris. (http://www.aquaticsafaris.com) It has about the same depth, but is closer in. Also the Shark Tooth ledge, about 18 miles out (just past the Markham and Hyde). There are other inshore ledges as well, but the vis usually suffers being near shore. Diving them is about the same as anywhere else around here. Sometimes there is current, sometimes not.

Sometimes you can get them to do a drift dive down the ledge. You can cover a lot of ground and see a lot of stuff that way.
John


From what I have gathered talking to the Morehead/Beaufort area dive operations, they never take people to the hard bottom area(s) offshore.

Does anyone have any experience going to those areas? I'm not much of a fan of wrecks just for the sake of a wreck and would love the opportunity to get u/w and photograph some of the life on the natural areas. Anyone know if any dive operations go out there?

Also, if you have been, how tough is the diving?

Thanks!
Wade

[wadeNC]

Thanks for the replies all. I know there are a couple of hardbottom spots up towards Morehead too, its just finding someone to get out there. I'll do some more digging for the Wilmington trips too as that will save 45 minutes from Raleigh.

If anyone sets up a trip, I'm certainly game.

Wade

[SpaceCoastDiver]

Captain Bill Edmunds operates the dive boat Sea Tales goes to the hard bottom off of Morehead City. Bill is a skilled and reliable captain. I dove off of the Sea Tales for 3 years until I moved to FL. Bill's website is: saltwateradventures.com. Bill does get booked up about 6 months in advance. Give him a shout he may have a open slot or a cancellation.

Good Luck!