30Jun07General Gear Info
Let me start by saying that diving in North Carolina, for all intents and purposes, is not unlike diving in other destinations. So, as far as gear is concerned, bring what you would bring on any dive trip. Both Olympus Dive Center and Discovery Diving have full rental departments and retail stores so you can easily supplement your existing gear if necessary. On any given dive boat, there is bound to be a wide variety of gear configurations. And there really is no consensus, just a hodgepodge of opinion and personal preference. Also remember that the usefulness of any piece of gear is limited by the ability of the person using it. If you purchase new equipment, be it a line reel, pony bottle, or dive light, make sure you know how to use it before you take it with you on a dive. The following information is designed to answer some of the more popular gear related questions.
Weights: Whether or not weights are included in the price of the charter will depend on which operation you are using. Olympus includes weights, Discovery does not but has plenty available to rent. The Mutiny and the Atlantis IV may have some onboard, but it’s best to bring your own or rent them from either shop when you arrive.
Tanks: Tanks are NEVER included in the price of a North Carolina charter. EVER. This might be the single biggest difference between diving here and diving elsewhere. Both Discovery Diving and Olympus Dive Center have aluminum rental tanks available in either 80 or 100 cubic feet sizes, filled with either air or Nitrox, or both shops fill customer owned tanks nightly. The standard Nitrox mix for North Carolina is 30% (MOD is 121 feet) as most of the sites are in the 100’-120’ range. Olympus does have a few sets of doubles available to rent, but you will need to secure them through Jon, the Technical Training Director, before you arrive.
If you are bringing your own tanks, it is best to have them filled prior to the morning of your departure. If diving with Atlantis IV, this is a must as they do not have a compressor onboard nor are they docked at either dive shop. Doubles are accepted everywhere, but if you plan on bringing two sets, you’ll want to call in advance to make sure that’s acceptable. The Olympus is the only vessel with a compressor onboard, but George is typically not eager to run it unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. Fills can be purchased at any time at either dive shop.
A final note on tanks…for you newer folks, remember that air goes faster at deeper depths. If you don’t have much experience diving in the 100 foot range, you might consider renting a larger tank. However, remember that larger tanks are also heavier, so those with smaller frames may want to stick with a standard aluminum 80.
Exposure protection: During the summer and early fall months, a 3mm wetsuit is usually sufficient. If you are prone to cold, you might want to wear a rash guard underneath, or conversely, if you’re warm-blooded, a dive skin or a shorty will probably be acceptable, though I’d recommend packing a 3mm just in case. Remember, the water temperature in North Carolina depends on current and can fluctuate significantly with little warning. For this reason, it is never a bad idea to carry a hood.
When diving in the off-season, specifically in the spring months, I recommend a 7mm or ideally, a drysuit. While the water temperature remains relatively temperate, never dropping much below 60 degrees, the air temperature can be chilly making it uncomfortable to get in and out of a wet suit.
High performance regulator: When diving in North Carolina, you will want a high performance regulator. Without getting too technical, the difference in performance levels of higher versus lower end regulators, while arguably negligible at the 30-foot mark, becomes apparent at greater depths. Because North Carolina diving tends to be on the deeper side of recreational diving, while certainly not critical, you will benefit from the increased performance of a higher end regulator.
Surface marker buoy: Most of the diving in North Carolina is in the middle of the ocean and out of sight of land. If you are unable, for whatever reason, to make it back to the boat after your dive, you will be very happy to have a signaling device once you reach the surface. By most accounts, yellow is better than orange or red, and the bigger and stronger the marker, the better. In other words, this is not a place to skimp. Suck it up and buy a good one- it’s a wise place to spend $100.
Lights: Clearly if you’re doing any wreck penetration, you’ll want to have at least two, if not three lights in your possession. If you are planning to remain outside of the wreck, which is what most people do, you may want to carry a small light with you for looking in and around the various crevices and holes. Anytime I mention penetration, I feel compelled to add, DO NOT PENETRATE ANY WRECK WITHOUT THE PROPER TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.
Reels: Do you need to bring a reel? The short answer is ‘no’. If, however, you are trained in how to use a reel and you want to go exploring then by all means, use a reel. Most often, visibility is such that a reel is simply not necessary and divers are able to find their way back to the anchor line without issue. Several boats even run a reel for divers to aid in their navigation (this might be something to ask when you’re making your plans.). Additionally, if you do get lost and need to make a free ascent away from the anchor line, a reel and lift bag might come in handy, though truthfully, it’s best to avoid getting lost in the first place!
Cutting Device: You need to have a cutting device. Many of the wrecks are popular fishing spots and, as a result, are covered with line, nets, and other snag hazards. My recommendation is a small knife that attaches somewhere on your BC or a pair of Sea Snips. (Large knives are almost never warranted; unless you REALLY dislike your dive buddy.)
Dive Computer: Yes, yes, yes. The dive computer is perhaps the single most important piece of equipment for North Carolina diving, certainly from an economic perspective. You will pay, including tanks, about $150 for a NC dive. Without a computer, your only option is to use the recreational dive tables and with maximum depths often reaching 120’, according to the tables your bottom time is limited to 11 minutes. Dive a computer and this number almost doubles. In addition, computers provide an added level of safety to any dive. Both dive shops rent computers, but planning a trip to North Carolina is the perfect excuse to buy one!
Pony Bottles: As a rule, the more air and the more contingency plans you have, the better. That being said, if you are diving with a buddy, a pony bottle is not necessary, as theoretically your buddy serves as your back-up air source. In addition, if not trained on how to use or carry one, sometimes a pony bottle can do more harm than good. Spare Airs are not recommended.
