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scuba diving
- Thread starter eholceker
- Start date
I usually just do beach dives. I started a 55 gallon tank in my basement to quarantine a bunch of fish I catch. I have no idea what I am going to do with all of them, but I will give them away to lfs and to anyone who wants any. I need to think of a good game plan because I cant even catch a damsel in a 75 gallon tank so i dont know how hard it would be to catch a butterfly fish in the ocean. I am planning on using that 55 gallon tank as a FO/ w live rock tank to keep some of the butterflys.
Where do you do your beach dives from? I used to dive the twin wrecks in Long Branch but the convent right in front of the beach access point started cracking down on divers cutting through their property. I also did the wreck off of the Manasquan inlet, but holy cow was that a long walk across the sand and then a grueling swim to the wreck! And that was like 15 years and about 40lbs ago! I don't think I'd try that one now.
As far as catching fish out in the wild, yeah that may be tough. I doubt we'd be able to remove all of the rock to get to them!
As far as catching fish out in the wild, yeah that may be tough. I doubt we'd be able to remove all of the rock to get to them!
catching tropical fish in new jersey is 100% legal. Since they dont live past November u can take as many as you would like. I usually go off of L Street in Belmar because of the time restrictions in shark river. Back bay is only 20 feet deep max and pretty quick walk from the beach to the dive site. you can dive there any time. At shark river there is no diving betwee 830 am and 530 pm.
I'm pretty sure I did a night dive there once. It was pretty cool, and you're right the walk isn't so bad. If I remember correctly, you have to try to be there around slack tide otherwise the current can be a bit strong.
When are you thinking about doing this?
When are you thinking about doing this?
the best time to go is high tide towards slack tide. The current can get a little strong but not dangerously bad. There is another exit at the other side of the beach if you get caught in the current. I was planning o going on Sunday to check out to see if any of the tropicals have made it up yet. As of 2 weeks they werent here yet.
I usually rent my tank, but i own everythig else. I just checked the tide charts as well and it looks like we are going to have to either do early mornings or late late afternoons. The best time to go is dead high tide 30 minutes before and 30 after. The curret should be the weakest at this point. I will keep everyoe posted on the dates but as of right now, i am liking August 13th.
Actually, right now August 13th is the only day I'm free. If all of my tanks pass their Hydro and I can make it, you could use one of mine. I'd still need to rent a wet suit because I swear neoprene shrinks when not used for a few years. I can't believe that thing ever actually fit me!
I have a really retro BCD, too. Top o' the line back in the 70's! It's borderline horse-collar in a groovy rainbow color. It still works, so I stick with it.
Keep me posted as the date gets closer. I'd like to give it a shot. I doubt I'd be able to catch anything, but what the heck it would stil be cool to dive there again.
I have a really retro BCD, too. Top o' the line back in the 70's! It's borderline horse-collar in a groovy rainbow color. It still works, so I stick with it.
Keep me posted as the date gets closer. I'd like to give it a shot. I doubt I'd be able to catch anything, but what the heck it would stil be cool to dive there again.
It all depends. I don't exactly have the strongest constitution, so the conditions have to be pretty calm for me to want to do a boat dive. The advantage to them is you get to go to a lot of really cool and deep offshore wrecks. All you have to do is carry your gear from the car to the boat, wait a while, suit up, jump in and follow the anchor line to the wreck. It's not a lot of physical excertion.
Beach dives on the other hand take a lot more effort. You have to carry all of your gear from the car to the beach. Then lug it all the way down to the shore line. Suit up, take either a compass heading or a natural navigation heading out towards the wreck and then swim for like fifteen weeks until you get close. You do this on the surface, fighting the current, to save air. Once you get in the area, you drop down and search for the wreck.
This dive won't be so bad because you can park relatively close to the entry point, and if I remember correctly, you climb down a small rock wall and dive right along the inlet channel. There was a lot of life along the rock work last time I was there. The one thing that stuck with me is that horseshoe crabs have a great life. They are ALWAYS hooked up with another one. Lucky dogs!
Beach dives on the other hand take a lot more effort. You have to carry all of your gear from the car to the beach. Then lug it all the way down to the shore line. Suit up, take either a compass heading or a natural navigation heading out towards the wreck and then swim for like fifteen weeks until you get close. You do this on the surface, fighting the current, to save air. Once you get in the area, you drop down and search for the wreck.
This dive won't be so bad because you can park relatively close to the entry point, and if I remember correctly, you climb down a small rock wall and dive right along the inlet channel. There was a lot of life along the rock work last time I was there. The one thing that stuck with me is that horseshoe crabs have a great life. They are ALWAYS hooked up with another one. Lucky dogs!