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I'm now living in Virginia after some time spent in the UK. I enjoy travelling around the US but its a big space and I'm kind of looking for somewhere closer to home where I can do a bit of diving. Been on the move a lot the last few years. I'm a bit rusty so need to get back into the flow. Anywhere in VA or at least in the surrounding States? Thanks.
Not for cave diving, but there are a bunch of dive shops in Virginia as well as each of the surrounding states. Most of the dive shops in Virginia are near the DC area...but it seems like there are 3 or 4 in your area. From google: Rob's Scuba, Atlantis Divers, and The Dive Shop are all in Richmond. Underwater Adventures is in Newport News not too far from you. As for dive sites, Lake Rawlings (Lake Phoenix now? I can't remember the new name) is a pretty close dive site. It's just a quarry dive, but a lot of diving goes on there.
Where are you located in Virginia? you can check out Patriot SCUBA (2 locations - Occoquan and Ft Belvoir) - great group to work and dive with -- as for locations - We use the Rappahannock (sp?) quarry in Fredericksburg. We do pool training locally at Ft Belvoir on Saturdays, and at another location as well.
Give them a call and we can set you up with a review and a service of your gear. We are slated currently for diving the quarry this weekend - if you contact them, tell them Jerry 2.0 referred you - we can possibly fit you into the schedule this weekend to knock out a review if you are able on Sunday.
J 2.0
Lake Phoenix/the former Lake Rawlings is the closest quarry to Richmond and as quarries go it's quite good, with great viz for fresh water, and decent stuff to look at. It would be the ideal place to brush up on your skills, and the dock there is set up to practice both beach and boat entries and exits.
Once you get up to speed, you can find good wreck diving off Virgina Beach a couple hours down I-64. It's Labrador current diving, but if your from the UK the vis and water temps will be familiar.
Ted Green operates the OC Diver out of Ocean City, MD and he's usually in Hatteras, NC in May and June. That's also Labrador current diving but there are some great wrecks there.
There used to be a boat running out of Indian River inlet in DE (about 10 miles up the coast from Ocean City MD), but I'm not sure if it's still running or not.
If you go farther south to Moorehead NC (about 4 hours from Richmond) you can dive in the Gulf Stream, assuming you don't get blown out, and the wreck diving there is epic with decent wrecks, 100+ ft viz, loads of sharks, spade fish, barracuda, large bait balls, lots of tropical fish and even the occasional dolphin - when everything clicks. On the other hand, it can also be getting beat up in 6 ft seas on a boat ride boat, or getting dropped on an inshore wreck in cold water and 10 ft viz when the weather doesn't cooperate.
There is also diving in Wilmington NC, about another 1.5 hours south.
If you're into caving and sump diving there are some opportunities for that in West Virginia, and there's a surprising number of people in VA and NC who drive to north Florida to go cave diving on a regular basis.
I live in NoVA. As of late, all my instruction and shop support needs are provided in Marianna, FL. Cannot say enough good things about Edd at Cave Adventures and Rob at Chipola Divers.
Jerry, I had two separate negative experiences at Patriot Scuba. I'm a Naval Officer and wanted to love them, but I won't be back, nor recommend them to others.
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In the Richmond area there is Richmond Dive and Travel. Has three cave divers who are also rebreather guys on staff. To note, most of the gang is ex military also.
Only speaking to what I know. As far as NoVA I know a guy who teaches at Coral Edge and he seems like a good dude and ex military also.
Morehead City,NC check out the web site for the dive boat Atlantis IV you may get lucky and walk on with a group charter or Olympus Dive Center.
Wilmington NC try Aquatic Safari dive shop
If the bad experience was due to one particular instructor, he is gone now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil Duck
Thanks for all the suggestions. Out of town at the moment but I'll work my way through the responses properly when I get chance and see what feels right. Moorehead NC sounds awesome!Quote:
Originally Posted by DA Aquamaster