Best place to dive on the East Coast?

[StephLionfish]

Is there anywhere off the NC area that makes for an awesome dive? I've never been diving before...but I plan to next year. I'm willing to drive three states up or down...

I've seen those pictures of the gorgeous reefs with tons of fish/critters...anywhere like that in my area? Pictures too, if you have them, please.

EDIT: Heh, sorry...forgot not everyone lives in USA on RC. But, yeah.. I meant here in USA.

 

[keydiver]

I'd say it's worth it to take the trip down to the lower keys, Big Pine key is amazing, as well as lower Matacumbe and Islamorada.

 

[CuttleKid]

What about the atlas wreck in NC? It is supposed to be amazing because it is a haunting ground of numerous sand tiger sharks! It might be worth looking into.

 

[StephLionfish]

keydiver, that's an awfully long trip... Got any pictures of it?

CuttleKid, Heh, aren't those the ones that attack humans? Besides, is there an SPS reef or anything like that there? Google time...


EDIT: I'd really LOVE to dive with a Whale Shark... anybody ever done that? Or know where they are?

 

[jimmy frag]

i watched a show about the atlantic great white now on the east coast all the way down through the keys and into the carbian. any one elce heard this

 

[CuttleKid]

Sand tigers do not attack people. They are an obligate fish eater and are virtually harmless unless you harass them. You will not find any sps reef or any other reef for that matter in the area you are willing to travel. Your best bet is to go to the keys and dive there.

I have not heard anything about great whites in the keys or Caribbean. They are a subtropical to temperate species shark and would not survive in that temperature water.

 

[Jwilsey]

Contact http://www.olympusdiving.com/. My dive shop uses these guys, they are great. You WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

 

[AFamilyofDivers]

I agree

I agree

Take a few extra days and head to the keys. The fam is headed there next Friday and we can't wait!

P.s. Don't get worked up about the sharks, it's a treat to see one, they are beautiful.

 

[jimmy frag]

Sand tigers do not attack people. They are an obligate fish eater and are virtually harmless unless you harass them. You will not find any sps reef or any other reef for that matter in the area you are willing to travel. Your best bet is to go to the keys and dive there.

I have not heard anything about great whites in the keys or Caribbean. They are a subtropical to temperate species shark and would not survive in that temperature water.

that is not a fact about grate white sharks. if you google them you will find that they are now around eastern canada. a 19 ft shark was tagged off the coast of cape cod. i believe the record is 21 ft. she was followed via satalite through the keys, caribean and back. there has been numerous sightings in the last few years. these are 5000lb animals. lol

 

[StephLionfish]

I think I'm gonna stay away from Great Whites....lol. Thanks guys... time to start planning!

 

[Moray keeper]

Sand tigers do not attack people. They are an obligate fish eater and are virtually harmless unless you harass them. You will not find any sps reef or any other reef for that matter in the area you are willing to travel. Your best bet is to go to the keys and dive there.

I have not heard anything about great whites in the keys or Caribbean. They are a subtropical to temperate species shark and would not survive in that temperature water.

Chances of a shark attack are very slim no matter which way you look at the big picture as far as probability goes however sand tigers will and have attacked people, they are listed in the top 3 or 5 depending on if you consider provoked/unprovoked and which refference used. Also the great whites have and will go into tropical waters, usually in the winter when they move south.

 

[CuttleKid]

Moray Keeper i think you are confusing the tiger shark which is in the top 3 of dangerous sharks with the sand tiger. I have dove with sand tigers in aquariums and in the wild and they are of no concern to divers or even swimmers.