V.James: Quick question - have you traveled outside the U.S. before? Got a passport, decent comfort level booking arrangements, etc...? Some of us have traveled enough to be comfy solo; when I was newer to it, I did my first few trips with a group.
North Carolina has sweet diving (
trip report), though at least most of what I got to do was deep (though the inshore wrecks are shallower, and offer longer dives). Olympus Dive Center has a dive lodge (at least last I checked) that was very cheap. You'd probably be renting a car if you didn't drive to North Carolina. But North Carolina diving is seasonal, and conditions vary substantially (my report includes a quote from Tortuga James, who captained in that area at least when I was researching it).
I’m also not so sure about the double occupancy for it.
Based on my dive trips, solo is dealt with in one of these ways:
1.) Live-aboard - no charge to be roomed with same sex roommate (and if they don't produce one, no charge and you've got a private room).
2.) Dive Resort - you have to pay a singles supplement unless
you provide a roommate. Often diving is bundled with the room; sometimes an auto rental is. One way around this is to join a group; they often post that someone needs a roommate, and pair up same sex.
3.) Traditional Hotel (e.g.: Best Western, Hampton Inn) - the base room charge only varies a little as you add additional people past the 1st. You can book your dive package separately, or some op.s can do package deals for you (e.g.: Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo).
Can't speak to West Virginia; out of Nashville I usually get cheap airfare roundtrip to Fort Lauderdale, and Southwest goes there, so 2 free checked bags! From there, one can drive to Key Largo, Jupiter (FL), other places.
The problem you face is in winter, some U.S. destinations have unpredictable sea conditions (you might not get to dive every day), and heading far enough south to assure better seas and warmer waters is going to cost.
I know airfare to Roatan isn't cheap. One destination I've seen offered by a number of area group organizers (which means it's probably on the budget side) is Turquoise Bay Resort in Roatan. Their website calls them 'Roatan's Best Dive Value,' so I take it they aim for that niche.
Single Supplement $179, or join a group and share a room. I've read one good review after another and they do repeat business.
Since money is an issue for you (and lots of us), a couple of pointers:
1.) Add up all your costs; airfare, hotel, diving, car rental, CDW insurance for the car/truck (note: you usually find out about that when you're picking it up; and be warned some credit card auto coverage is restrictive and doesn't cover trucks like you'd use in Bonaire), food, nitrox uncharge if you use it, etc...
2.) Decide whether you mainly want a cheap overall trip cost, or a cheap per dive cost. Turquoise Bay Resort would be a good blend;
Dive Hut in Bonaire with heavy shore diving cheap/dive. Blackbeards in the Bahamas cheap AND cheap/dive, but chilly water that time or year - and I'd compare to the Juliet for how much an extra few hundred will improve living conditions that week.
If you're getting analysis paralysis from an overload of choices, here are some options you might price by total trip cost, including airfare from Orbitz or similar:
1.) The Curacao 2019 Scuba Board Surge event (if they still have openings).
2.) Turquoise Bay Resort in Roatan.
3.) Scuba Club Cozumel.
I think these 3 are all-inclusive (at least meals), so you don't have to budget food and could stay on-site and avoid renting a car. I traveled solo and enjoyed staying at
Casa Mexicana and diving with Tres Pelicanos in Cozumel, didn't need a car and my report includes cost breakdown and total trip cost. Just substitute your airfare and airport parking fee for mine to get an estimated budget.
Richard.