USA - Philly, NY, NJ where to dive?

[Paul Morris]

Hi,

It looks as though my job may be taking me to East Coast USA for a week in mid-July. I'm thinking of extending my stay for a week or two.

Any decent diving to be had around Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York area?

Ideally I'd like to hook up with a BSAC club, I see one listed on the BSAC branch list but the details look a little sketchy. Otherwise, can anyone reccomend any good operators around this area? Any must dives?

Cheers,
Paul.

[Glenn Ford]

You could start your search here
http://www.njscuba.net/index.html

[Glenn Ford]

Another option would be to travel a little further north and dive in the Great Lakes. The cold fresh water has preserved many wooden schooners and similar vessels. There are very few places where intact wood shipwrecks from the 19th century can be seen other than in these lakes.
http://www.wrecksandreefs.com/newpage1.htm
http://www.scubaq.ca/ontarioscubadiving/

[Adrian Kelland]

Another option would be to travel a little further north and dive in the Great Lakes. The cold fresh water has preserved many wooden schooners and similar vessels. There are very few places where intact wood shipwrecks from the 19th century can be seen other than in these lakes.
http://www.wrecksandreefs.com/newpage1.htm
http://www.scubaq.ca/ontarioscubadiving/ Yep, I've seen some great pics of the Canalers. A shame the zebra mussels have colonised many of them even though they do clear the viz, but there is at least one lake with a low calcium content - the shells can't develop.

Love to do them one day.

Adrian

[Paul Morris]

Thanks Glenn, looks great. Have you dived there yourself? Can you reccommend any dive operators?

[Glenn Ford]

Thanks Glenn, looks great. Have you dived there yourself? Can you reccommend any dive operators?
I am not able to help you with USA East Coast diving except for the Florida Keys but if you are interested in diving in the Great Lakes, especially Ontario I can help. Please PM me. Heading down to the Bahamas tomorrow so may not be able to get back to you for a week.

Glenn

[Alison Boler]

Thanks Glenn, looks great. Have you dived there yourself? Can you reccommend any dive operators?

Have you had a look at our trip reports on diving the Great Lakes?

http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports
One thing to REALLY bear in mind is that air temps in the summer months can be well into the 90s even 100F but once you are below about 3m the water in the Lakes will be freezing cold (that's why the wrecks are in such good shape). Regardless of how uncomfortable you feel as you get dressed and get in, you will need a drysuit and a hood and gloves.


There is some excellent diving (wreck) off New Jersey and also off New England too. There are dive clubs up there.

Have a look on this site

http://www.njscuba.com/

Let us know how you go on.

Allie

[Glenn Ford]

One thing to REALLY bear in mind is that air temps in the summer months can be well into the 90s even 100F but once you are below about 3m the water in the Lakes will be freezing cold (that's why the wrecks are in such good shape). Regardless of how uncomfortable you feel as you get dressed and get in, you will need a drysuit and a hood and gloves.


Allie
Many divers in the Great Lakes use wetsuits during the summer months but temperatures can vary a lot. High 40's to low 50's are quite common at depths of about 70 feet but you can also get the occassional mid 30's as well. Last summer was quite hot and I experienced temperatures of high 50's and low 60's in areas that are usually much colder. Some crazy people even ice dive in wetsuits but having done it once I do not think I will try it again.

[Alison Boler]

Well, hats off to those hardy Yanks (sorry, just checked your profile :) ) and Canadians too!! :D I rarely feel cold in the water having plenty of natural insulation :) But I can well remember my first GL dive: sweating all the way down to the lake edge in my drysuit, feeling like I was going to explode with the heat, the relief of getting into the water and then the extreme pain around my face and ears due to the fact I had forgotton my hood! If it's possible to scream underwater, that's what I did! Anyway, it was the shortest dive in history while I scrambled redfaced back to get the forgotten item. Didn't make that mistake again...

You're talking thick wetsuits!

Allie

[Glenn Ford]

Yes, 2 piece 7mm wetsuits and in my case a generous layer of bioprene