[Topsail Angler]

I have done some spearfishing although it's not usually my primary focus when diving. I use a float with a big saftey pin like device attached to it - that works as the fish stringer, then I attach a 20' line to it which I fasten to my gear with a q. That way the fish are well away from me should a toothy critter decide to have lunch on me. If you aren't comfortable with that, I have no problem leaving the speargun at home. With thousands of dives under my belt, I just enjoy being underwater.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Mike, Memorial Day weekend is a usual "going home weekend". Might even be able to make it an extra long weekend.

60's-70's....brrrrr! Does your favorite dive shop rent full wetsuits? All I have that I can still wear is a shorty. I guess I'm spoiled with tropical/carribbean waters that are around 85.

I'll look up the wrecks to get familiar. Sounds like bottom fishing hotspots. Is there a problem with that? Can folks fish off the "dive boat"? Never done it or seen it, but Seabiscuit might be interested if that's a possibility.

Yes, most diveshops rent wet suits. You might want to find a shop nearer to you as the shop I use is in Sneads Ferry - I can pick one up but it would be better if you tried it on first as size labels vary widely with wetsuit makers.

The dive boat in this case is my boat, I always take a fishing pole with me. Sea Biscuit is welcome to join us depending on how many divers we end up with (most likely will just be three of us divers so there would be room for a fisherman too).

Diving here in NC is wonderful but the conditions aren't always as ideal as in the tropics. Hopefully we will have calm seas and clear, if not warm, water.

 

[Topsail Angler]

PH - no problem on the diving experience, I have been diving for over 25 years and have thousands of dives under my belt. If conditions are not right, we won't dive.

As to spearfishing - we'll play that by ear then.

 

[Topsail Angler]

Yeah - I want to see that one too. I usually like to do at least two dives on a trip. The three of them are within 2 miles of each other so we could do two dives on the Indra or switch for a second dive to the Hutton or Suloide. We don't have to decide till we get there.

By the way, last year's hurricane took the main deck of the Indra off and "set it down" beside the hull. So it is very open now plus you can still dive on the deck.