NC Inland Diving

Well no nice springs (that I know of), but the quarry diving is tolerable year round (gets down to around 40F in February) and is rather toasty in the summer (75+).

Quarries, Lakes, etc

Lake Rawlings

More and more it seems Lake Rawlings is the place to go. It's in Virginia, I know, but with the ever spiraling (up) prices at some quarries, Lake Rawlings is looking like a more economical alternative for the Raleigh area folks.

$12 to dive all day, no surcharge for night dives. Air fills $4.

Gear rental available. Approx 90 minutes from Raleigh.

Directions: Take I85 to exit 39 (in VA). Hwy 712(?) north. Then down US1 south. (so you could just go up US1 fron Raleigh). Turn right onto 629 (diver flag at intersection), to Quarry Rd. Turn right down dirt road which ends where you are supposed to be. Vis is reported to over 40ft even on crowded weekends. Camping is $6.

Alternative recommended lodging is at the Nottoway Motel at the intersection of US1 and I85 (exit 39).

Here is a basic map of the lake.

Thanks to Lisa and Art for much of this info.

Blue Stone

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

BAlexan530@aol.com has drawn up a very nice map. (Thanks Bert!) Take a look.

16 acres, Max depth 90', platforms, nav/bouyancy course, other fresh water wrecks

Take I-85 soth to Thomasville. Exit 103 in Thomasville, left onto NC109 (south or east). Proceed 4.5 miles, then right onto Mt. Zion church road, left on Cunningham road, Quarry is on your left. (thanks to Andrew Brill for the directions).

Recent facility upgrades include a bunkhouse at $15/night. Also word is that nitrox is available.

Skully's Blue Hole

20 mins outside Gastonia NC, off of I-85S, 704-864-0097

Approx. 75 Acres. Depths 15-270+. 30 - 50 ft visibility. Good for all cert levels. Lots of good snorkeling sites 15-20 ft deep. For further info visit Skully's Di ve Shop Web Site.

PDRA (Piedmont Dive Rescue Association)

The PDRA operates 4 quarries/Lakes in the state.

Lake Norman in Mooresville, Lake American in Salisbury, Lake Blanch in Yanceyville, and one in Siler City. For more info call PDRA officer Bob Horn at Piedmont Divers Supply, 910-226-5206. Lake Norman quarry (thanks to Bruce for info) is a quarry 30 mins north of Charlotte. It has 3 platforms, a school bus, a cabin cruiser, a few other small boats and serves as a training site. Must be a club member to have access.

Fantasy Lake

Rollesville (near Raleigh), NC, 919-556-1803

From Ral: head N on US1 to US401N. Take this 10-15 miles until you reach Rollesville. Go past the Hardees (on your right) and take a right at the next light onto Rollesville Rd. Go past a few churches and back into a 55mph zone. Take a left on Quarry Rd. The quarry will be on your left. 55 acres. Most is 30-60 deep, some deeper. The cost for day diving $15, and night dives cost an additional ammount. The cost reminds me of Ginnie Springs... the vis does not...

Other Lakes

Lakes, well we've got plenty but I've yet to be in one with viz above 2' here in eastern NC.

But never fear, thanks to Bruce I've been told that Lake Jocasse (in Oconee County) (western part of the state near SC border) has 20-50' viz, training areas and a graveyard at 130'. Si Ballenger has sent along a scan of a map. (Many thanks!) (its oversized for now untili can sharpen up some of the text) Please take a look at the established protocol for diving the graveyard. Have also heard there is a (buoy-marked) "Chinese Junk" in 55-65' of water over by the "The Wall" which is the site of an old rock quarry prior to the construction of the lake. As of 1992 there was an area adjacent to the Devil's Fork boat ramp that was setup for divers. In the cove there was a dive platform at approx 23 ft and a deep dive station with a bouy and a line down to the bottom at approx. 126 ft. The conditions are usually steep, deep, and cool (as in temperature). (thanks to Si Ballenger). Bruce has written more recently to say that the graveyard buoy is gone, but looks like you can still find the rope floating near the surface, but you'll have to have more of an idea of where to start looking.

Have also heard that Lake James (near Morganton off of I-40) has some good viz and covers some previous populated areas (before it was flooded).

Another contributor reports 15' viz in Belews Lake, in Stokesdale.

(Feel free to email me other NC fresh water dives, I'm only listing the ones I know or have been told about....)

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