recommended dive shop?

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oceancat

Contributor
Messages
210
Reaction score
2
Location
Massachusetts
# of dives
500 - 999
I am questing for a new dive shop in the RTP area. I have been to two and one I definitely am not happy with--is it standard practice here to envelope tanks in PADI Nitrox stickers before getting them filled? I have gotten tanks filled with nitrox in New England for years without having to have a PADI nitrox sticker put on the tanks and the other shop I went to here in NC did not make me do that (and they are also a PADI shop). The shop I went to today refused to fill my tanks unless I paid for this stupidly large PADI nitrox sticker that they slapped on my tanks and they said all the shops in this area require it--which I know is not true since I had my tanks filled and they didn't put on the sticker at the other place....anyway, I won't use them again. Unfortunately, I desperately needed nitrox since I went diving yesterday and am going again on Tues. and they were the only ones who could get me gas before my dives--they shop I had been using was closed today. SO-what shops do you long time locals recommend? The first shop I tried was ok, but don't know what the favored shops in the area are. I am in Chapel Hill but will travel anywhere in the RTP area for a good shop--preferably one with an active dive club, as I would like to go diving with people I know. Thanks.

I will say, I was absolutely AMAZED at the diving down here--went out with Olympus Sat. and at first the boat broke, but they fixed it after a 2 hr delay and we were off (I have had my 4 dives prior to this one blown out-so am very happy they got the boat fixed). I am a convert already! Wow! Had very nice dives on the Spar and Indra--so many fish the the water--a good number of sharks on the Spar. Viz was better than what I am used to--30' on the Spar and about 15' on the Indra. The baracuda here are large-yikes!
 
Don't know about the shops, & the Spar & Indra are nice, but you have yet to see what NC diving is all about.
MHC has the U-352, Papoose(or Hutton), Caribsea & Atlas to name a few favorites.
Wilmington has the Normania, City of Houston, Cassimer, Rosin wreck & 18 Fathom.
Cape Hatteras has the Tarpon, Proteus, British Splendour, Manuela.
 
I agree with RAD, you ain't seen nuthin yet. Those storms have messed up the VIS. Wait'll you hit the spar with 80+ ft vis and 40+ sandtigers, or the sub, Paputton, Schurz with 100+ feet of vis.

Know nothing about the shops in the area, I don't have stickers on my tanks and Discovery had no problems giving me Nitrox.

AL
 
ok, in the triangle - gypsy divers in raleigh, down under surf & scuba in cary, water world in durham. i think there's one more in raleigh - herman??

personal opinion - i don't like gypsy. many others do, it's probably just me. down under i've never had a problem with. water world used to be my lds, and i liked them a lot. *however*, i didn't get fills when i lived there. at first i didn't own tanks, and then when i did i got fills in florida and dove them the next week or so in fantasy lake then went to florida again! so i can't help you about the idiosyncrasies of fills, but you're closest to down under or water world so give them a call.

another option is nadco in greensboro, which is a very highly thought of shop, but i've never been there. it wasn't close enough for me, but depending on where you work & what kind of diving you do, it might be worth it.
 

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