frequently asked questions
Here are some questions that people often ask about. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, feel free to give us a call at (848) 448-6849, or use the form to submit a question by email.
What do I bring?
Please bring all necessary equipment for the dives, but keep your extra gear and items to a minimum. Also, don’t forget to pack a lunch and snacks for the day. We will have plenty of cold water on board.
How long does it take to get to the site?
The Ledge tender is a fast dive boat, typically cruising at 23-25 knots. For offshore sites (40 miles), it takes roughly 1:45 minutes. For sites in the 18-20 mile range, travel times are roughly 45 minute (Sea state depending).
How is the visibility?
Viz can vary greatly in North Carolina, especially on inshore sites. There is no guarantee on visibility, and conditions can change at the drop of a hat. That being said, typically the visibility ranges from 40 ft to well over 100 ft on most days. But, it can also be as little as 10-20 ft. currents can also be a challenge, especially on offshore sites. Offshore North Carolina diving is for Advanced divers who are prepared to dive in a range of topside and underwater conditions.
What is the water temperature?
Water temperatures in the spring (March-April) are typically colder with avergaes around 60-70 degrees. In the summer and fall months (May-November) water temps. are much warmer with averages of 75-85 degrees. Keep in mind, that thermoclines can always exist at any time of year. For real-time sea surface temperatures, click here:Frying Pan weather buoy
Where is the boat?
Ledge tender is located at Bridge tender Marina. The address is 1414 Airlie road Wilmington NC. When you pull into the parking lot, you will see the boat sitting on the marina bulkhead directly in front of you. The crew will help you load your gear in the morning. There is also free parking at the marina.
Do you have rental gear?
Currently, we only rent steel tanks filled with NITROX. We have steel 100’s and 120’s available in DIN or Yoke. There are also extra weights on the boat. If you need tanks for a trip, you must reserve them when you book. Tanks are $25 each.
We also rent LeFeet underwater scooters for our Megalodon tooth dives. These are $50 per day.
How many people does the boat carry?
Ledge Tender is a 6 Pack vessel, meaning we only carry a maximum of 6 divers and a crewmember. We are NOT a cattle boat and you will find that the experience is more personal.
Is there a divemaster in the water with us?
No. the captain and crewmembers do everything in terms of setting the anchor, rigging a john line and tag line, and helping with divers entering and exiting the water. Your safety is our number one concern, and we are there for surface support. We do not guide divers underwater. You are responsible for planning and executing you OWN dive. We will provide detailed site briefings and help out as much as we can from the surface.
What weather conditions will result in cancellation of the trip?
This is the most asked question, and the answer is not as straightforward as you may think. Offshore weather in North Carolina changes rapidly, and sometimes it is very hard to predict. Wind is our worst enemy when we have to travel 40 miles to get to a dive site. Typically, winds greater than 15-20 knots will result in us cancelling a trip. Also, wind direction and timing is very important. NE and NW winds are the worst for our location. Sometimes we will cancel when NE winds are forecasted at 10-15 knots. Also wave height AND wave period are very important. The shorter the wave period, the rougher the seas. For example, we will typically have no issues running in 6ft seas that have a 13 second period (swell), but will cancel a charter for 3ft seas on a 4 second period (chop). Rain in the forecast doesn’t effect us, we are getting wet anyway! Thunderstorms and lightning are a different story, and sometimes we have to cut the day short, or turn around. It is best to call us a few days ahead of your trip if you have concerns. for real time wind and wave data, click here: Offshore Buoy Data
SUBMIT A QUESTION
Send us your question here, we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re back on dry land long enough!