weather

Recent Conditions

August 19

The Spar had 60 feet of visibility and the water was 76 degrees.  There were baitfish, sand tigers, grouper, blue angelfish, amberjacks, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The Rock Pile had 50 feet and the water was 76 degrees.  There were amberjacks, stingrays, spadefish, sea bass, baitfish, stingrays, and barracuda.

 

August 20

The Caribsea had 40 feet of visibility and the water was 77 degrees.  There were stingrays, baitfish, sand tigers, blue angelfish, flounder, amberjacks, an electric ray, mackerel, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The Nancy Lee had 30 - 40 feet of visibility and the water was 76 degrees.  There were sand tigers, flounder, sheepshead, amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, triggerfish, and sea bass.

 

The Spar had 50 feet of visibility on the deck and 30 feet on the bottom and the water was 74 degrees.  There were baitfish, sand tigers, grouper, 2 spotted eagle rays, blue angelfish, amberjacks, spadefish, barracuda, sheepshead, a stingray with an 8-foot wingspan, blennies, and sea bass.

 

August 21

The Aeolus had 50 feet of visibility and the water was 77 degrees.  There were queen angelfish, amberjacks, cobia, sand tigers, flounder, eels, baitfish, spadefish, grouper, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The Spar had 40 feet of visibility and the water was 77 degrees.  There were baitfish, sand tigers, grouper, blue angelfish, amberjacks, a spotted eagle ray, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The U-352 had 40 - 50 feet of visibility and the water was 75 degrees.  There were queen angelfish, yellow garden eels, amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The Indra had 40 feet of visibility and the water was 78 degrees.  There were sand tigers, amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The Papoose had 50 - 60 feet of visibility and the water was 77 degrees.  There were amberjacks, sand tigers, African pompano, baitfish, spadefish, sea bass, a sand bar shark, and stingrays.

 

August 22

The Spar had 60 feet of visibility and the water was 76 degrees.   There were sand tigers, amberjacks, false albacore, amberjacks, sea bass, blennies, and barracuda.

August 24

The Aeolus had 40 feet of visibility and the water was 76 degrees.  There were queen angelfish, amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

 

The Indra had 40 feet of visibility and the water was 80 degrees.  There were blennies, sand tigers, sheepshead, amberjacks, baitfish, grouper, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

The Indra had 50 feet of visibility on the deck and 30 feet on the bottom and the water was 76 degrees.  There were queen angelfish, blue angelfish, sheepshead, amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

August 25

The Indra had 50 feet of visibility on the deck and 30 feet on the bottom and the water was 80 degrees.  There were queen angelfish, blue angelfish, sheepshead, amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, barracuda, and sea bass.

August 26

The U-352 had 30 feet of visibility and the water was 79 degrees on the bottom.  There were amberjacks, baitfish, barracuda,, sea bass, beeliners, Spanish mackerel, and permit.

 

The Spar had 50 feet of visibility and the water was 82 degrees on the bottom.  There were several Battlestars hanging around the stern just above the sand.  Also present were amberjacks, baitfish, spadefish, beeliners, grouper, blennies, and sea bass.

Understand NC Weather

So, you're scheduled for a dive and you've seen the forecast...but, you're not sure what it all means?

Diver's Guide to NC Weather

 

Averages: High Season

May 15 - June 15 & Sept 15 - Oct 15

Water temp: low/mid 70s
Air temp: mid 70s - low 80s
Average visibility: 50' - 100'

June 15 - Sept 15

Water temp: mid 70s - low 80s
Air temp: low 80s - low 90s
Average visibility: 50' - 100'

Averages: Low Season

Oct 15 - Dec 1 & April 15 - May 15

Water temp: mid 60s - low 70s
Air temp: upper 60s - low 70s
Average visibility: 40'- 50'

Dec 1 - April 15

Water temp: upper 50s - mid 60s
Air temp: upper 40s - low 60s
Average visibility: 30'- 50'

Weather & Conditions

Photo courtesy of Dale Hansen
Our prime diving season is May through October when the air and water temperatures are highest, and visibilty peaks, often reaching 100 feet. During the summer months, a 3mm wetsuit is sufficient where as in the spring and fall, a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit is appropriate. Our winter season offers fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, though visibility slightly declines. We recommend either a 7mm wetsuit, or a drysuit, and a hood for winter diving.

NC weather is inherently difficult to predict, even in the final days leading up to a charter.

Sea conditions vary considerably on a daily basis, but tend to be better during the summer. If you're prone to seasickness, we do recommend that you take precautions, even in the calmest of seas.

Keep in mind that forecasts can change dramatically and are, unfortunately, often inaccurate. As such, while we strive to be accommodating, desicions regarding weather are commonly made on the morning of the charter. These decisions include, but are not limited to, cancellation and choice of dive sites, and are made at the sole discretion of the boat captains. We cannot guarantee water clarity, sea state, or a particular dive site. However, in the event of a full cancellation due to weather, all charter deposits are fully refundable.

Marine Forecast

Offshore Buoy Reports

U/W Bike Race

U/W Bike RaceJoin us on July 4th for this annual event benefitting the Children's Mile of Hope.

Lionfish Roundup

Lionfish RoundupAn exciting partnership between Discovery Diving, NOAA, and Carteret Community College.

Treasure Hunt

Treasure HuntFood, prizes, diving, and fun! Proceeds benefit the Mile Hope Children's Cancer Fund and DAN's research in diving safety.

ECARA Event

ECARA EventMarch 6, 2010 was a great evening at the NC Aquarium in support of the East Carolina Artificial Reef Association.  Click here to see what you missed and how you can still help to bring more Wrecks to the Graveyard of the Atlantic.