North Carolina Wreck Diving

August 8^th – August 13^th, 2010

with Divers Two

 Divers Two is heading south this summer to one of the premier wreck diving locations in the country – known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic for the historic shipwrecks found there. We’ll have 4 days of 3 tank boat dives on many of the choicest wrecks in the area. 

North Carolina wreck diving is known for its stunning combination of warm water, great visibility, and marine life.  In August, the water temperatures will be in the upper 70’s to low 80’s with visibility generally in the 40-100 ft range.  

The trip will be based out of Beaufort, NC. We plan on driving down to Beaufort on Sunday, August 8^th. Weather permitting, we’ll have 4 days of boat diving aiming for 3 dives each day. There may be time to fit in a shore dive before heading back north on Friday. 

Most of the diving will be somewhat advanced recreational diving, and AOW certification and/or NJ wreck diving experience is required. If you like NJ wreck diving, you’ll love this.  

Divers on the trip must have DAN medical insurance or equivalent coverage. 

The cost of the trip is $1050 which covers the boat charter and hotel (double occupancy room) for 5 nights. The hotel offers breakfast. Divers will need to bring lunch and drinks for the boat. Travel costs, additional food, and air/nitrox fills are not included. If we are unable to dive because of weather conditions, partial refunds of the dive charter cost will be made. 

Divers will need to have their own diving equipment (including tanks and weights) or rent it. We strongly recommend using a pony bottle or other redundant air supply source.  

There are numerous restaurants in the area for the evening’s dining pleasure.

 The boat charter service we’ll be using is Discovery Diving, http://www.discoverydiving.com. Their associated dive shop can supply air/nitrox fills and oxygen fills for rebreather divers. The hotel we’ll be using is the Buccaneer Inn located a short distance away in Morehead City, NC.

 The trip is limited to 18 divers on a first come, first served basis. A non-refundable $400 deposit is required to reserve a place. The remaining balance is due by July 1^st, 2010. Trip insurance is available through DAN. 

For more information contact:

  Carl Muhlhausen (darthmuhl@harvestwoodworks.com) or at the shop (732) 776-7755.

 Photos courtesy Jim Lyle and Discovery Diving Company, Inc.

Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon and Palau with Divers Two

January 20th - February 7th 2012

How about a week of diving in what has been called the best wreck diving location in the world aboard a first class live-aboard dive boat?  

Or would you prefer a week diving in one of the most pristine tropical diving locations in the South Pacific while staying in a deluxe full service resort?

How about doing them both on the same trip? 

We’re talking about Chuuk Lagoon (formerly known as Truk lagoon) and Palau.

Our first destination is Chuuk Lagoon for 7 nights with 6 days of diving on the Odyssey live-aboard dive boat. The Odyssey is considered the best live-aboard operation serving Chuuk Lagoon. We’ll have up to 5 dives a day exploring the historic wrecks of Chuuk.  Accommodations are in the spacious air conditioned staterooms aboard the Odyssey. All meals and beverages (including beer and wine) are included. For diving, tanks, weights and free nitrox for EAN certified divers are included.

Rebreather divers can bring their units, including tanks, and the Odyssey will provide at extra cost O₂ fills and scrubber. 

 Details and more information on Chuuk and the Odyssey can be found at the Odyssey web site. 

After a week in Chuuk, we’ll fly to Palau. Palau has it all – reefs, wrecks, drift dives, big fish, little fish. It is one of the most biologically diverse diving destinations in the world. We’ll spend 7 nights on the island based in the nicest full service resort there – the Palau Pacific Resort .

On Palau, we’ll have 5 days of two tank dives with ample time to explore the land based attractions of the island or to add on additional dives.  

The cost of the trip is $6400*.

Considerably more expensive than your usual Caribbean-style dive trip, but this is a very special trip to two of the top locations in the world. 

*We are offering an early signup bonus. Divers who sign up and pay the initial deposit before July 31^st, 2010 can save $300.00. Their net cost will be $6100. 

The $6400 cost includes: 

·         7 nights and 6 days of diving in Chuuk aboard the Odyssey. (Double occupancy)

·         7 nights and 5 days of two tank diving in Palau with double occupancy accommodations at the Palau Pacific Resort.

·         Chuuk and Palau taxes and dive permits.

·         Side trip to historic Peleliu while in Palau for two dives and a tour of the battle site.

·         Kayak trip on our last day surface interval in Palau.

·         Free Nitrox (for certified divers) or air for all diving.

Not included are: 

·         Air fare and hotel accommodations to and from Chuuk and Palau. (See below)

·         Lunches and dinners in Palau.

·         Scrubber and O₂ fills for rebreathers.

·         Tips for dive crews.

 Closer to the departure date we will investigate group airfare rates and suggested flights.

Based on current flights a tentative itinerary is as follows: 

·         Depart Newark Friday, January 20, 2012.

·         Overnight in Houston.

·         Depart Houston on Saturday, January 21^st.

·         Arrive Chuuk and 9:30 PM Sunday, January 22^nd.

·         7 nights and 6 days of diving aboard the Odyssey.

·         Return to Chuuk on Sunday January 29^th AM.

·         Depart Chuuk for Palau via Guam 2:30 AM January 30^th.

·         Depart Guam for Palau 6:30 PM.

·         January 31^st – February 5^th diving in Palau.

·         February 6^th – No fly day in Palau, kayak tour.

·         Monday, February 7^th depart Palau shortly after midnight.

·         Monday, February 7^th arrive Newark around noon.

 It may be advisable to leave a day earlier, on Thursday, January 19^th and spend a day in Chuuk before boarding the Odyssey. This leaves some leeway for flight delays and luggage mixups and some time to recuperate from the long flight.

 The trip is limited to 15 divers. A $1000 deposit is required to secure a spot.

The payment schedule is as follows:

• November 2010 - $1000
• March 1, 2011 - $1000
• June 1, 2011 - $1000
• September 1, 2011 - $2400* (balance)

 *$2100 if you sign up with an initial  $1000 deposit before July 31^st, 2010.

 All payments should be considered non-refundable unless the trip is overbooked or a substitution can be arranged. Trip insurance is highly recommended in the event of cancellation due to medical or other serious emergencies.  Trip insurance is available through DAN.

Because of the remote locations, all divers must have DAN medical coverage or its equivalent.

 If you have questions contact Carl at the shop 732.776.7755 or send email to darthmuhl@harvestwoodworks.com.

 This is going to be a great trip.

 Thanks,

 Carl

 I told people that diving Cocos Island would be the trip of a lifetime. For most of us I think it lived up to this expectation.
Highlights were swimming in blue water with schools of hammerheads above or below me, seeing a whale shark, doing a night dive with "wolf" packs of whitetip sharks hunting in the reefs, and swimming in the midst of an enormous school of big eye jacks.

The Undersea Hunter operation was first rate, the crew magnificent, and our group of hardy divers the best companions imaginable.
Midway through the trip we began hatching plans for a return.


 

 I came away awed by the experience and with the firm conviction that any serious diver should do whatever they can to dive in this incomparable location.
So I guess you can say I had a good time.

Here's some links with other reports, pictures, and videos from our trip.

Blair Svihra Jr.'s videos:

http://www.jeepguide.com/cocos/cocos-24meg-large.wmv

http://www.jeepguide.com/cocos/cocos-12meg-small.wmv

 Reports from our trip on the Undersea Hunter site:

http://www.underseahunter.com/uh.htm and click on Trip & Guest reports,
28 Oct - 7 November 2008

 My edited pictures from the trip:

http://picasaweb.google.com/darthmuhl/CocosIslandOctNov2008

 Sterling Levie's comprehensive website devoted to the trip:

http://homepage.mac.com/sterlinglevie/Sites/2008/DivingCocos/Home.html

 Carl

St. Lawrence River (Brockville, Ontario)
August 9^th - August 14^th, 2009

Divers Two again returns to the mighty St. Lawrence River in 2009. Join us in diving what many consider the best fresh water wreck diving area in the world. We’ll have 4 days of 3 tank boat dives with ample opportunities for afternoon and night shore dives over the entire 6 days in Canada,