East Coast Shore Diving?

[dwashbur]

I'm in central Maryland for a while with my wife and daughter, and we all dive. But we like shore diving. I gather there's little if any of that in Chesapeake Bay, but I'm wondering about other places within a few hours of here. In particular, I'm wondering about places like Chincoteague Bay, maybe spots around the Virginia Beach area, that sort of thing. Driving a hundred miles or so isn't a big deal, and viz is negotiable down to about 5 feet. Our chief interest is critters, they're the main reason we dive. Can anybody enlighten me on this subject?

Thanks!

 

[ChainSaw0069]

On a very calm day Id like to try shore divinng off Assateague Island. It may be worth going of Chincoteague also. I dont know any who have tried doing it yet though.

 

[dwashbur]

On a very calm day Id like to try shore divinng off Assateague Island. It may be worth going of Chincoteague also. I dont know any who have tried doing it yet though.

More info? Where off Assateague Island? What's the best way to get there from Waldorf? When you say "off Chincoteague" do you mean the town, or what? I should mention I'm from Idaho so I can barely spell these words, much less know a whole lot about them

 

[dwashbur]

Wow. I have to say, response to this question has been surprisingly disappointing. What's the deal?

 

[RAD Diver]

Shore diving around here pretty much stinks. The last time I did 1 in the Bay we were in Ocean View, in Norfolk & the vis might have been 6 inches. We did find the wreck we were looking for & came away with a few brass spikes, but saw absolutely no sea life. This was in March 2007. Water temp 42.
The closest semi- decent shore diving would be Nags Head NC. But I have yet to make it there, I prefer wrecks in somewhat deeper water.
But I do plan on hitting it soon.

 

[ChainSaw0069]

From Waldorf you need to head North and get on Route 50 East. Not sure what roads you need to take. Once getting on Route 50 head East until you run out of road. At this point you are in Ocean City Maryland. About a mile prior to Ocean City there will be a sign to turn for Assateague.
Chances are great that if you show up here to beach dive you will be washed out. It isnt often that the water is calm enough to dive from the beach. I may take my gear on a whim and if I catch the conditions good try it.
There is a dive shop, Atlantic Edge that is offering charters off Ocean City. Learn to Scuba Dive, Scuba Diving Classes, Scuba Diving Lessons
I have not dove with them yet off Ocean City but will in the near future. I will post a report after I do.
RAD Im going to try the Nags Head Dives. Maybe we can get a group from the board and head down there. I can do the shallower dives, cant do the deeper ones.

 

[dwashbur]

From Waldorf you need to head North and get on Route 50 East. Not sure what roads you need to take. Once getting on Route 50 head East until you run out of road. At this point you are in Ocean City Maryland. About a mile prior to Ocean City there will be a sign to turn for Assateague.
Chances are great that if you show up here to beach dive you will be washed out. It isnt often that the water is calm enough to dive from the beach. I may take my gear on a whim and if I catch the conditions good try it.
There is a dive shop, Atlantic Edge that is offering charters off Ocean City. Learn to Scuba Dive, Scuba Diving Classes, Scuba Diving Lessons
I have not dove with them yet off Ocean City but will in the near future. I will post a report after I do.
RAD Im going to try the Nags Head Dives. Maybe we can get a group from the board and head down there. I can do the shallower dives, cant do the deeper ones.

We'd be interested, as long as it happens before about March 15 (we're leaving the area shortly after that). We might check out Assateague. Any particular spot that you think is likely?

 

[pelsung]

I don't know of any shore diving worth getting your gear mucked in the beach sand on the Virginia Beach coast or Chesapeake Bay. NC has a handful, haven't done em' though. When I drive that far, I want to do some good wreck diving.

 

[traumadiver]

I have done the Triangle Wrecks in Kill Devil Hills, NC. I like them alot. It is in about 20fsw. The current and surge can be a little bit tricky so I would reccomend going out with someone familliar the first few times. The wrecks are a couple hundred yards from shore. Quite a bit of marine life on the wreck. The wreck itself is pretty cool to IMHO.

 

[offthewall1]

Wow. I have to say, response to this question has been surprisingly disappointing. What's the deal?

The response equals the diving...

The problem is that while there are a couple of decent places to dive for a few reasons, they are generally either un-diveable or unsafe to dive.

Calvert Cliffs would be great shore diving (for teeth and bones)- but it is not allowed from shore. You can do it by boat though.

Diving around Hartmiller Island (treasure hunting with a metal detector) is great but heavy boat traffic in summer makes it too dangerous. It is doable in late fall... but it too requires a boat to get over there.

Hardy divers could dive off of any of the beaches in OC or Fenwick as boat traffic is light... but so are the reasons to dive there. You'll be over a generally sandy bottom in shallow water with what can be a tough current - all to spot the occassional ray, baby shark, blue etc... and occassionally find some fishing tackle.

Oddly enough, the best "shore" diving outside of local quarries is probably in and around the Baltimore Harbor. Again, with heavy boat traffic in summer... quite dangerous... but the sealife is fantastic. Schooling Menhaden, blues, stripers, white perch, American Eels, Sturgeon, Blue Crabs and once even a baby bull shark.

While oyster diving in the bay is fun - it too requires a boat... as does diving the Black Panther Wreck.

So options for shore diving are limited... Be Safe... have fun... Sea-Ya.