I am relatively new to diving. I have a 21’ center console, but it’s a bay boat, so I’m not interested in taking it too far offshore. I don’t mind taking my boat and paying for gas, if there are any experienced divers that want to go. Myself and a buddy are both interested in getting in some bottom time, but we are inexperienced. Let me know if you’re interested.
I am relatively new to diving. I have a 21’ center console, but it’s a bay boat, so I’m not interested in taking it too far offshore. I don’t mind taking my boat and paying for gas, if there are any experienced divers that want to go.
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About the best place to start logging bottom time in this area is the Charleston 60. It’s about 16 miles out, so you would need to pick your days wisely. Even the shallow (60 ft) dives can be dangerous/fatal, as we all learned last year.
If you want something closer in, you can try the Charleston “near shore” or 4KI, but visibility is going be be poor.
Running with a veteran who understands these waters and currents is definitely your best plan. There are some tried and true procedures to follow. Learn from our past mistakes, so you don’t make your own. There are quite a few of us who dive around here, so finding a mentor shouldn’t be difficult.
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PS: If a fly lost it’s wings, would it be called a walk?
There’s quite a few that dive the CHS 60 reef. 60’ of water. It’s not too far outside the jetties (30 minute boat ride) and the clarity is pretty good at times. Lots of great things to look at too. It is fished a lot though; be sure to have your diver down flags up to prevent the local yahoos from crowding you too much. The CHS Nearshore Reef is just by the jetties and typically will have bad visibility. The currents close to the jetties can be tough to deal with too; that’s no joke.
I know people dive 4KI as well, but that’s close to shore and I’m not sure what the clarity would be there.
I’m not a diver, but CF.com certainly has a bunch of them. Good luck.
Greg,
If you hit the nearshore on slack tide you can get decent visibility. It’s only 30 feet but be careful down there. There’s tons of anchors, rope and fishing line so take a good knife with you in case you become entangled. I’ve been to the bottom on the nearshore and the 60. 60 is a much better dive but if you’re wanting a shallower dive the nearshore isn’t bad if you plan with the tide cycles.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
This thread isn’t about me and my professionalism. It’s about you not having the experience to tie my boat up at the dock.
Also, why do you feel it’s necessary to put exclamation point when you are addressing me? You yelling at me? Just trying to help you out and thought I was giving you some good ■■■■■■■■.
This thread isn’t about me and my professionalism. It’s about you not having the experience to tie my boat up at the dock.
Also, why do you feel it’s necessary to put exclamation point when you are addressing me? You yelling at me? Just trying to help you out and thought I was giving you some good ■■■■■■■■.
I have dove 4Ki quite a bit and you can getting good diving there as long as you dive high slack which will get you 20-25 ft viz as long as it hasn’t rained in a while. 4Ki is just under 9 miles out of the Stono Inlet, that inlet can be tricky though if you don’t know it well. Another option is the Freddy Day which is middle way between the Nearshore reef and the Charleston 60. Its not a big wreck but holds some interesting fish sometimes. The 60 obviously has the best visibility and structure but is pushing the limit for a bay boat. I used to run my 19ft CC out to all of these before I sold it this year.Everyone on here was inexperienced at one point or another at boating or diving so don’t pay attention to the sarcastic comments. The only way to get experienced is to get out and do it.
If you dive the 60, do it on a small incoming tide. Be sure you have a dive flag out. Try to get over a barge stay on it during your first descent. The water will be clearer at the bottom. See if you can swim the perimeter of the whole barge and then go back up your anchor rope. watch your anchor - I would use something you might not mind losing and dropping it on the barge. Reef anchors work well. Be you sure you have people in the boat that pay attention to having drifted, and are paying attention in general. When you swim out of sight of that anchor…you will find it can get really real really quick. It is easy to get disoriented on a 200’ barge in 50’ visibility and not find the line again, and then wonder if its gone. Don’t worry about spear fishing if your new, just enjoy the sites. It is a great first dive spot, you might want to consider a dive shop that takes trips out as well. Avoid new and full moons, the current can be tough. You will want someone in the boat that has experience with dive trips.
Just to let everyone know I am good friends with the OP. Just saw an opportunity to mess with him. Looks like I helped him get a lot of good advice. Good times on a slow Tuesday.
You can also do blackwater diving. put in at cyprus gardens, there are a lot of fossil beds for big sharks teeth, musket balls, arrow heads, things of that nature. cooper river diving is fun if u like fossil diving
That is some good advice. I became disoriented while spear fishing at the Charleston 60. I couldn’t find my dive partner or the rope attached to the boat once the tide changed. The tide was very strong and visibility turned poor quickly. I made my decompression stop alone with no rope to hang onto and no buddy. I kicked against the current to stay close to my location and when I surfaced I was a solid 300 yards away from the boat. Scary feeling swimming around with blue above, below and on all sides. Don’t lose sight of that rope!
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
Thanks to everyone for your ■■■■■■■■. Good advice is always appreciated! I definitely want to get as many dives in as possible before I even attempt to go offshore by myself. If anyone is interested in tagging along on any of the shallower dives, just let me know, & I would be more than happy to take my boat.
All solid advice…the only thing I might add is to bring some EMT shears with you. As a former public safety diver, I can tell you that they can make quick work of an entanglement and are a lot more efficient if braid or wire is involved
Best advice I got was make sure your diving is Second Nature before picking up a gun and shooting at and animal. Lots of unplanned things can happen when you pull that trigger.
That said, starting out where the animals are small is good.
Once saw an inexperienced spearo shoot an Amber Jack and it almost drowned him at the anchor line. Tangled him up and ran out his air. His buddy saved his life that day.
quote:Just to let everyone know I am good friends with the OP. Just saw an opportunity to mess with him. Looks like I helped him get a lot of good advice. Good times on a slow Tuesday.
Fail.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.