In some ways this may be the most useful page I have :-) I think clubs are actually an important part of a diver's education (bear with me on this....). Especially when you are new, you learn something on every dive, and the more you dive, the more you learn (hopefully). One of the other big issues when you are new (or just new to an area) is finding duve buddies... clubs are great for that. I highly recommend them.

This page attempts to be as completea as it can be. I'll add any shop, club, or company that people send along. I live in the Raleigh area so excuse the bias... its geographical, not intentional...As always if a shop of club is not listed its not on purpose, its simply because I don't know about it (yet).

Also the shops are primarily inland (no charter services) so you know where to buy gear, get air fills when you are not at the coast. Check the Charter Services list for shops at the coast.

If you are new to NC or a new diver...

My suggestion is to hook up with a dive club. Maybe even try several (if there are several near you). Clubs can vary in many ways. Some are shop-run, some are run by election of Joe and Jane Diver. Each type (IMO) has its pros/cons. Some do lots of local (coastal) trips, some jet off to exotic locations. But whichever, clubs are at least a great way to meet other divers and get diving.

Alamance Dive Club

A PDRA club. Check with Burlington Dive Center for meeting location and times.

Bluestone

Thomasville (near Greensboro) NC, 336-474-0674

pumps nitrox. See inland/quarry page.

Burlington Y Divers

A PDRA affiliated club. Check with Piedmont Divers Supply for more information.

The Cape Fear Descenders

Meets 2nd Tues of the month at the Hurricane Lounge. Open Directors mtg at Southport McDonalds on the 4th Tues of each month.

Christian Divers Dive Club

Contact Reggie Bynum for more info.

Down Under Scuba Club

Meets 1st Tuesday of the month at the shop. 7pm dinner, 8pm program. Contact Down Under Scuba for more info.

Ghost Fleet Finatics

Meets the 2nd Wed of every month at the Kitty Hawk Pizza Restaurant in Kitty Hawk. Check with Gene Berry for more info.

Gypsy Divers

Meets 2nd Monday of the month. Social/food 7pm, program 8pm. Call Gypsy for location.

Inland Sea Divers

Call The Sea Diver for location and time. A PDRA affiliated club.

Ocean Quest Dive Club

Meets the last Monday of each month in Morehead City. Check with Mark Ackerman for more info.

Poseidon Dive Club

Checking to verify that they are affiliated with Mermaid Aquatics. Talk to Marianne or Al Smith at the shop.

PDRA

The PDRA is an association of many Piedmont-area dive clubs. They own or lease access and thus have exclusive access to several NC quarries (ie. you must be a PDRA member(or guest) for access).

Rec divers

Meets 1st Wed of the month. Check with Reef and Ridge

Sea World Divers.

Meets 2nd Tues of the month. Call Sea World Divers for meeting location and time.

Tarheel Tankers

PDRA affiliated club. Serving the Hickory, NC area. Contact thedeep@interpath.com for more info.

Triangle Dive Club

Meets first Tues of the month.

Underwater Buddy Association (UBA)

Dive outings and parties. Contact Pro Scuba for more info.

Uwharrie Divers

PDRA affiliated. Contact J. Cooper's Scuba Center for more info.

Shops

Aquatic Safaris

Wilmington, NC, 910-392-4386

Bills Scuba

Raleigh, NC, 919-847-6169

NAUI, IANTD. Nitrox Fills

Bottom Time-Wilimington

Wilmington, NC, 1-800-NITROX1

Pump nitrox. ANDI shop. Also have a shop in Jacksonville.

Burlington Dive Center

Burlington, NC, 910-229-0793

PADI, Indoor heated pool. Owner: Wayne Weatherford.

Home of Alamance Dive Club.

Carolina Divers

Charlotte, N.C. 28217, 704-523-4029

Jim Tuttle , Owner , PADI 5 Star Facility

Chapel Hill/Carrboro Dive Center

Carrboro, NC, 919-942-3353

Tusa, Apollo, Bare, Henderson

Diamond Shoals Diving

Hatteras, NC 1-800-261-2029 (outside NC), 919-995-4021 (local)

Pumping nitrox.

The Dive Shop

Claremont, NC, 1-800-848-3467, 828-459-7440

PADI. 4 boats for Lake (James and Jocasse) diving. Charter boat in Pompano Beach, Fla.

(The) Dive Site

High Point, NC, 910-886-8654

NAUI, PADI, IANTD. Nitrox.

Divocean Dive Center

Atlantic Beach, NC, 252-726-3575

Full service shop and charter facility. Nitrox.

Down Under Surf and Scuba

Raleigh, NC, 919-852-5333

PADI

East Coast Discount

Top Sail Island, NC, 910-328-1887

contact: Chris Medlin (103246,1602@compuserve.com)

Gypsy Divers

Raleigh, NC, 919-833-9810

SSI.Home of Gypsy divers dive club.

Matthews Water Sports

Matthews, NC, 704-847-8998 (near Charlotte)

SSI, IANTD, Scubapro, SeaQuest, Zeagle.

J. Cooper's Scuba Center

Asheboro, NC 27203, 910-625-8687

PADI, TUSA gear, home of Uwharrie Divers.

Mermaid Aquatics

Siler City, NC, 1-800-366-3445

YMCA. Home of Posiedon Dive club.

Ocean Outfitters

Southport, NC, 910-457-4776

Outer Banks Dive Center

Nags Head, NC, 252-449-8349

Located around from mile post 13

Paradise Island Divers

Charlotte, NC, 704-525-9234

NASDS, PADI, ANDI and lot's more...

Piedmont Divers Supply Inc.

Burlington, NC, 910-226-5206

PADI. Home of Burlington Y Divers.

Pro Scuba Center

Rocky Mount NC, 919-985-3951

PADI 5-Star. Saequest, Dacor, U S Divers.

Reef and Ridge

Raleigh, NC, 919-851-6662

PADI. Scubapro. Home of Rec divers.

Sea World Divers of Hickory

Hickory, NC, 704-328-DIVE

Home of Sea World dive club.

SEAduction Dive Center

Dunn, NC, 910-892-7878

INATD, TDI, AATED. Nitrox, Trimix.

The Sea Diver

Mooresville, NC, 704-663-4837

PADI. Winter operating hours: 5p-8p M-F and 12p-6p on Sat. Home of Inland Sea Dive Club

Southport Scuba

Southport, NC, 910-232-1190

VisionQuest Dive Center

Sneads Ferry, NC, 910-326-0245

Terry has a charter boat and will accept up to 6 divers per charter.

Water World

Durham, NC, 919-596-8185

PADI 5-star. US Divers, Sequest, Sherwood, Mares.

Wreckreational Dive Center

Atlantic Beach, NC, 919-240-2244

Has accomdations.

Underwater Imaging

Offering photography classes, trips and more...

Raeford Brown's Underwater Photography page.

Thanks to Joe Everett, DrJeklHyde, Chris Medlin, Gary Cameron, and many others for providing shop and club information.

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