Morehead City, NC

[scububa]

Just back from a week of diving the NC waters out of Morehead City.

Left last Saturday and back this Saturday - kind of tired so, I'll follow up with a detailed report in a bit.

Dove the Schurz, Schurz, U-352, Indra, Blown out 2 days, Aeolus, Aeolus, Papoose, Schurz

Got to see the Mariner Museum, Ft. Macon, and the Aquarium and spend a day on the beach during the blow outs.

Dove with Olympus and grouped with the Little Rock crew VuDu introduced me to along with a few others. Great operation and great group of divers. What a blast!

My first time diving with 'real' sharks. Amazing. Got some great pics and Phil was shooting lots of HD video. The 'dailys' looked pretty dang good, can't wait to see his final edit.

And, to pat myself on the back, I did my first free ocean ascent from 120 with stops. Not perfect but I was tickled. Though I don't usually 'climb' the rope, I do maintain contact with it.

Details tomorrow.

[juls64]

Sounds like a great time. Thanks for the report.

We dove with them last year and had a wonderful week. Yep, those sharks are something.

LOTS of time on the boat does wear you out a bit, huh?

Julie

[MgicTwnger]

Sounds great Jim, except for the blowouts. Any suggestions about motels, eateries, etc.?

[nauifins73]

Sounds like a great time. I would like to check out the diving in NC. Thanks for sharing

[juls64]

Sounds great Jim, except for the blowouts. Any suggestions about motels, eateries, etc.?

When we went, our group rented this house

http://www.triphomes.com/USA/North+Carolina/Atlantic+Beach-vacation-rentals-56393p.html

[scububa]

Okay, here are some of the details...

Morehead Trip Report
Saturday July 7
Left on a noon flight for Raleigh. The rest of the group was coming in Sunday afternoon, but some early planning logistics changed around and had me coming in early. So, I decided to try and get an early dive day in and Olympus had room for me. That turned out to be a good move. Arrived and drove down from Raleigh in a hellacious rain there were at least 4 accidents that looked to be hydro planning. Got to the shop, checked in and met a few of the folks. Got checked into the bunk house and settled in.
All my dives were off the Midnight Express with Bobby until the last day on the Olympus with George. All dives were around the 110-120 depth, on 30% except Monday, and vis was typically 60 to 100+ with 75 deg at the bottom.
Sunday July 8
Two dives on the Schurz. The day was as mild as it ever can get on the ocean. It was like an early morning on the lake. The water was flat as a mirror with minor swells. I took pictures and the tag line buoy ball reflection is obvious.
The group on the boat was Singledivers.com and was a pretty fun group and they adopted me in pretty quickly. In fact, I bunked with a gal originally from Germany, Doris. Camalla introduced me to the boat and Doris said, “Oh, I know him, I slept with him last night.” It got a pretty good laugh. One other individual diver, Marc, from Akron was on the boat and we buddied up. Turned out to be a nice diver with the same buddy approach and we were on the same page for both dives.
Dive on the Schurz was nice. I won’t dwell on wreck details that are documented on-line. This is an older wreck that is broke down. It has a remarkable amount of marine life on it. However, didn’t see any sharks on the first dive. The vis was 100+ and the sun was bright. This wreck has a crowd of bait fish that can be disorienting if you are in them close to the wreck. Had to pop up a few feet to see over the ‘cloud’ ever now and then. Poked around in the sand at the stern as it still has bits of china, cups, etc, still being found. The plan was to go do a live reef since the conditions would allow them to tie in with out damage given the stillness. But, after the first dive the group decided to stay on the Schurz. The second dive was nice. The current picked up a bit, but not much. Did see a couple of sharks, but they were off the wreck a bit. One looked to be around 9 ft. but did not really come in for me to be confident of the scale.
When I got back, Jeff and Jennifer had showed up but the guys from Little Rock were still a couple hours away. When they got there we unloaded the gear. They had brought some steel tanks for me, so I could get rid of the weight I had to slip on my harness with the rented AL. Scott also brought me a 30 AL for a stage bottle.
Monday July 9
First dive with the whole group. Four of the group were diving doubles. One had to be filled, so we got away a few minutes late. The plan was to dive the U-352 and the crew said we could have let other boats get on it and since it is a small wreck it doesn’t have too much room. Anyway, we got there, it was empty and the dive was great. I buddied up with John that I met at Greers Ferry. The vis was still perfect and you got a real good image as it comes into view on the descent. Emily (crew) was on the wreck and taking pictures. There was very little current and the seas were maybe 3 ft. Again, no real sharks, but I was focused so much on the wreck, I would have missed them. Really incredible to be on such a historical site. Nobody penetrated the wreck. Emily got a super picture of me on the coning tower that will be printed for my office!
When we came up, it was like we went thru a time warp and came up in a different world. All hell was breaking loose. It was rockin an rollin, dark and menacing. We got on the boat without incident. This was a pretty good group of divers. Our group was eight and there were a few others on the boat, fourteen in all I think. Bobby and crew (Blade and Chris) had to book getting the anchor off and getting moving. He had to run about fifteen miles out of the way to avoid the storm. Another boat on the Papoose a little behind us got hit with 50 knot winds as we pulled off the U-352. Lots of lighting, rain and it got rough. Bobby was really fixed on piloting the boat and I am sure it drained him a bit being concerned with the passengers.
We wound up at the Indra for our second dive. It was sort of out of the storm. It is a shallower wreck and the vis was down to about 20 or so. I turned out to be a great dive for John and I. We explored it extensively. Found a few sand dollars. They have a bicycle race on this one so there were bikes all over. At first the first two didn’t seem so strange, but after about the seventh one, some new and some with coral growth, I was getting confused (Blade, aka John, told me about the race when I ask. So, even in the water, I got to think about the Tour de France J There were sharks in and on the wreck. John and I swam around in a room with two sand tigers. As they got to about 4 feet away I would start wondering if I really needed to be that close. This was my first time so close to anything but nurse sharks. John and I were the last ones out with a great run time on 32%. I guess everyone else got bored with it or had 30%, but John and I would explore some and then go back and hang with the sharks for several cycles.
Tuesday July 10
Let me tell you all about the NC Maritime Museum L The storm from the night before was not gone. It was kicking. They called the charter and there was no conversation about checking back in a couple of hours. It was here to stay and was probably going to be there the next day. So, we made the best of it. John and I were up to stay and Jennifer joined us and we drove up the coast a bit and then came back to Beaufort. We did a lot of shopping the trinket shops and then we went to the museum. It is a very nice place to visit if you can’t dive.
Wednesday July 11
Another blow out. This one was a little harder to take. The weather was a bit nicer on shore. Lots of wind, but sunny. So, we did the NC Aquarium and then spent the afternoon on the beach in Atlantic City.
Thursday July 12
The reports had been favorable. Things seemed right. We were sure we would be diving. Got to the boat and it was called again! I think boats had tried to get out and turned back. Man, this was hard to take. Nema, shop supervisor, went to breakfast with us in Beaufort. She said, trust me, if things change they will call us. After breakfast we went back. Same reports, but a bit of a maybe. We all piled in the Olympus van and went over to Ft. Macon. It was really neat. The weather was good on shore. So it was hard to take looking out at the water from there! We had a good tour of the place. I bought a cross stitch kit of a light house to pass the time. That’s what I told everyone but I got it for Joan. We went back and Bobby said if we could hit it in 40 minutes we’d go. Our eight were ready as our gear was there for two days. There were five others in a group from PA. Bobby was comfortable enough with group capabilities and since we all knew what we were getting into…off we went. It was pretty rough thru the distance the water was on 50 ft deep (4 to seven miles ???). There were a couple of Deadliest Catch moments. The boat went up at quite an angle which I am sure I would exaggerate if I tried to quantify, but I was in the salon with Phil as he got the video camera ready and was looking up thru the wheel house and wondered why I was looking at jets flying overhead J and the boat came down hard. I was amazed Phil’s camera didn’t break when it banged against the table from ceiling height. After that, when the depth went to 100 ft. things got a little better. I spent some time in the wheel house pestering Bobby about the electronics and he explained some of the sea and swell sets out there.
We did two dives on the Aeolus. On the first dive, John and I went about half way across the debris field but spent most of the time in the stern section which is upright. Again, spent time inside with three sharks (maybe up to 5 feet). There was a larger one outside. We dropped thru the cable room shaft and had a great dive. Good interval but seas were 3 to 4 ft.. Stayed tied in and did a second. We stayed a little shallower on the upper structure and again with the sharks. Swimming down the outside walkway there was a shark coming at me. It was low and I had another 2 ft. above me. So, I drifted up a bit and was going to swim over as it went under. John was behind me and I think knew what was happening. Then, two other divers were coming in behind the shark. I got concerned about trapping it and being the guy in front of it, so I drifted out and John followed. 60 ft vis mild current. My computer is sending me up with tons of air. Man, those 120s hold a lot. I’d go in with 3400 and come out with 1500 to 1800. So, I am thinking it is time to plan a short little deco dive.
But, I have to say here that I found it pretty awesome the way they got us out on the water. I know the season is short and they have to get in what they can, but this really made it a long day for them. Starting to watch the weather at 5:30a.m. and going out at noon and getting back at 7:00p.m. Then having to prep the boat and tanks for the next 5:30 start. On top of that having to evaluate the manifest and determine if they could handle the conditions.
Friday July 13
We were supposed to be done, but with the blow outs, we adapted. I was able to change my flight and there was room in the bunkhouse. They had room for us on the boat. Scott had to fly back to Little Rock to handle the shop. He left his Suburban, trailer and all the tanks and gear to his crew to bring back. We switched to the Olympus and went out with George. Danny was on the crew and came over with us from yesterday’s trip.
We did the Papoose and then the Shurz again. The Papoose was pretty cool. (There were 27 people on the boat this day.) John got out of breath in the current at the end of the descent. He was concerned and wanted to go back up. Marc was back and we were diving as a three man team. I followed John back up to about 85 ft. and he waved me off to go back (Marc was following but below me.) Since there were many people coming down the line, I let John go back up. Marc and I went on. After a few minutes Marc came to me and signaled low air (1000). He had gotten caught in the current, too. So, I went back to the line with him and he waved me off as several folks were starting up. I still had over 2000 and my 30 stage. I saw Jeff, Jennifer and Neil. They were all in doubles. I joined them for a while, but blew off the deco plan. I came out with 1200, so I used a bit more gas this time. During the interval George did a dive, so we were all treated to the legendary entry as he pitches the scooter up into the air with a spear gun in the left hand and hops off the boat putting his mask in place as he hits the water and chases the scooter. (Clearly a case of “Do as I say and NOT…”)
The second dive was on the Schurz. You’d think I would have been a little put off with diving it again, but it turned out to be an incredible dive. John and Marc were not quite ready and Phil and Doug were getting ready to splash with the camera. So, I went in with them planning on using my deco plan. Lots of sharks, eels, and some huge rays. Light current, great vis. Amber Jacks very active on the bait fish. Jeff saw a huge Blue Marlin which he said was the largest fish of the trip. I didn’t see it. But, as we got to the stern, I saw this huge 6 ft + ray floating thru the bait fish. I was able to get Phil on it with the camera. Lots of smaller sharks moving thru the wreck. Then Phil saw some rays out in the sand and we went out to them. Then back to the anchor with my deco plan. And, my first free ascent. Mild current. Jeff, Jenn and Neil were close to starting their ascents. So, I decided to try a free ascent. While it was not perfect, it was real good (IMHO). I did my gas switch at 50 ft. Then Phil joined me and handed me the camera to get a bit of footage of him. The camera was almost neutral but I didn’t think about it, didn’t add air and got distracted with the video shot. I lost about 5 ft before I adjusted. After that all went fine. Did my 20 ft. trying to emulate the real divers. What a great dive and what a way to end the trip!.

I ate at the Ice House the first night. It was okay, good steak sandwich and chowder. We ate at Key West down from the shop. It was great. Sat outside. The owner whipped up a special little gratis shrimp appetizer he was developing. Real nice. I had the gumbo which is served on rice. That absorbed a lot of liquid and made it interesting. Nice level of spice without being over bearing. We did Mongolian BBQ back towards Havelock one night. And, one night Scott cooked bacon wrapped grouper on the shops grill, with starters and sides. It was very windy and I tried to give Scott a hand without getting in the way. Several folks from the shop came out. Emily, Scott and I am forgetting a couple, oh, Matt…and Emily’s was getting into NC for the first time and we got to meet here. Naturally we ate a Raps! The rest of the Little Rock crew left about 6:00 p.m. So on the last night, Jeff, Jenn and I were the only ones left and we went to Floyds. A great meal with new friends and divers that I admired the whole trip. The food was excellent (I went with the Macadamia Encrusted Grouper.) And there was a very special treat at the end to which I’ll simply say, “Thanks mate!”. Jeff headed back to Pensacola, Jenn back to Ontario, and I headed to the airport.

[scububa]

Sounds great Jim, except for the blowouts. Any suggestions about motels, eateries, etc.?

Ken,
Got some of it covered in the detail report I put up later.
One bolw out day would have been perfect. Two was hard and the possibility of a third was becoming killer, but it turned out to be a great day. And, getting to be able to extend helped. But, that is part of diving, especially going to the big water. But, I can't imagine gearing up for something like the Doria and then having it blown out.

The Olympus shop went down to the Gulf to do the Orinsky and got blown out completely, never got wet and spent time in New Orleans to pass the time. At least in Morehead there are some good distractions.

Didn't really look into the alternate lodging. The bunkhouse was okay and after a couple of days I was pretty into the rhythm of it. (Pardon the musical pun.)

Jim

[MgicTwnger]

Jim,

I know what you mean: I was in the Keys last winter for 8 days and got in one day of perfect diving and two half-days of dive 'n puke. I'm hoping for better this year, and at least I have the rest of my ten trip package on account.

[VuDuLou]

Jim,

Glad you had a good time, sorry I had to miss diving with you...hope to see you down this way or me up at TRL soon!!!

Cheers,

Lou

[scububa]

Jim,

Glad you had a good time, sorry I had to miss diving with you...hope to see you down this way or me up at TRL soon!!!

Cheers,

Lou
I am diving Table Rock this weekend.

[VuDuLou]

hmmm...I'm off this weekend...Frau VuDu is in NC...I'll get back with you...you camping?

[ppo2_diver]

I know this is an old post, but what were the water temps like? I'm planning a trip down there in August.

[b1gcountry]

I was out there last August in Wilmington, and we had mid-high 70's with a slight thermocline near the bottom. I understand that is about the warmest time of the year. I was very comfortable in a 5/3 fullsuit.

Tom

[VuDuLou]

...I have found that I was comfortable in a 3mm one piece...or a farmer john bottoms...

[ppo2_diver]

Thanks. As always, I'll be diving dry. But now only have to worry about fleece undies.

[scububa]

My computer dumps show 77 deg for the week of diving in early July