What I gather is that I can take scuba diving just as a class (PE 226) but if I want to get certified, I also have to sign up for PE 229, which involves field trips to open-water dives. PE 229 has three sections, one that goes to only the Quarry, one that goes to the Quarry and the NC Coast, and another that goes to the Quarry and the Florida Keys.

So... my question is, for anyone that has taken this class or knows someone that has taken it... when are these trips (quarry, nc coast, and/or FL Keys)? 'Cause I would love to get certified, but FFS I'm not giving up my spring break to do it.

Please no rumors, say something only if you know for sure.

Also... why do they call it the Quarry? Aren't quarrys usually on land?

9/29/2006 6:19:21 PM

it is on land, i guess (or it was)

it's a flooded mine pit...a lake of sorts

[Edited on September 29, 2006 at 6:28 PM. Reason : ;]

9/29/2006 6:26:31 PM

I took the class last year. When I took it the trips for the open water certifications were after exams. I think the quarry quarry people did it in like one weekend. The quarry coast people went on two different weekends or something, and when I did the quarry keys trip we went to the quarry the first weekend after exams then the following week we were in the keys for a whole week...i would highly recommend this package. You get to go to key largo for a week and make 10 dives (one @ night). Its a pretty sweet deal and not too expensive for what you are getting. If you have any other questions hit me up.

9/29/2006 8:16:21 PM

Thanks! Aw sweet, after exams? Trip to the keys = graduation present to myself! I'm guessing that means that the grade for the class isn't based on the open-water dives at all.

Is there anything else you have to do that's outside of class? Like all it is is meeting at the pool twice a week, and then the trips after exams, right?

9/29/2006 8:26:37 PM

Everybody goes to the quarry for three of their dives. One dive is without a tank, one is navigation, and one is just to make sure you are comfortable underwater. I didn't do the driving, but IIRC, it's about 30-60 min from Raleigh. I know in fall semester they do the keys trip after the semester is over. The NC/quarry trip are done during the semester over a weekend.

I personally opted for the North Carolina dives. The quarry wasn't bad, but really wasn't much fun to have a true dive experience. North Carolina cost brought up to a wrecked ship about 60 ft depth. Two dives on the same day. Got to see a LOT of sea life down there. This is also probably the "roughest" of the three, with 2-4 foot swells and the weather ... you are cold when you go down but hot when you come (and stay) out in your skin. Made some folks sea sick ... regardless of whether they took pills or not. I personally loved it and glad I chose it of the three.

Also, you need to be a mid-level swimmer if you take this course. Need to be able to swim half a mile in the pool (16 full laps) by the end of the semester. There is "required" outside of class swimming to help with this ... some with mask/fins/snorkel, some without. There is also "required" practice time outside of class to help with things to that don't require a tank (bouyancy, clearing snorkel, etc. skills).

[Edited on September 30, 2006 at 8:23 AM. Reason : .]

9/30/2006 8:19:14 AM

I did quarry/keys.

If you take PE 226, you HAVE to take one of the 229 classes...it's not an option.

We went to the quarry for our first few dives about 2 weeks before graduation...then the weekend after graduation we went to the keys. It was fantastic.

9/30/2006 11:25:20 AM

There are a few things that I can clear up.
First, you do not have to take PE229 if you take PE226. It's highly recommended though, and required if you wish to be certified.


Recently a few things have changed in the past year or two so this might conflict with what other people have said, but it is the most current information:

The Quarry/Quarry section of PE229 is done over a two-day period. It costs in the $60-$75ish range, and does not cover the cost of renting equipment, which is another ~$80. There are two dives per day, for two days. To my knowledge, all are scuba dives, none are done "without tanks." I've never been out to Fantasy Lake with an NCSU group and had any of the dives be skin dives...all have been scuba. So in total you get 4 dives at the quarry.

The Quarry/Coast section is ~$125. Again you have to rent your own gear for the quarry, but I believe that your gear might already be paid for out on the coast. I'm not 100% sure though but I'd be happy to check. You go to the quarry and do exactly what the Quarry/Quarry section did--two dives per day for two days. Then on the third day you go to Morehead City and go offshore with Olympus Dive Center to the Indra, an artificial reef (ie, it was suck on purpose). The Indra is a good dive for beginning divers and for someone who isn't familiar with offshore NC wreck diving. It's approx. 60ft deep to the sand, although there's no need to go that deep since you can't see much of the ship at that depth other than the sides. If you're shallower you'll see the decks, etc. You do two dives on the Indra, so that's 4 at the quarry and two on the Indra for a total of 6.

The Quarry/Coast section was ~$360 last time I checked although it varies on a semester basis due to the cost of the hotel. You have to pay for your gear on the quarry dives, but down in Key Largo your rental equipment is paid for with the money you paid for the trip. Again, just like the Quarry/Quarry section, you go out to the quarry for two days and get in two dives per day. Then sometime after the end of the semester you go down to Key Largo, FL. (You must provide your own transporation) Usually it runs like this--get there and check in by Monday afternoon, 3 dives on Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday, then you head out on Thursday. The 3 on Tuesday are broken up into 2 dives during the day and one night dive. All three of those on Tuesday are reef dives. The first dive on Tuesdays is on the wreck of the Benwood, with the last dive being another reef. In total you get 4 dives at the quarry and 5 off of Key Largo for a total of 9.

General Info:
Getting certified here at NCSU is done through NAUI; you'll receive your Open Water and Nitrox certifications.
The quarry is not considered by most people to be a "great dive", although it's a great training environment. When the basic scuba courses go, it's usually a bit chilly for most people's standards, usually in the 60s. The visibility isn't spectacular, perhaps 20ft at the most, depending on where you are. You'll be a in a thick restricting wetsuit and probably have unfamiliar gear. Don't be discouraged--it's really as good as you make it. I've been with people who whined and moaned about how horrible it was, and they had horrible dives. I'd been with people who make the best of a situation and they had a great time. It's all about your outlook.
The coastal dive is usually good if the weather cooperates. Sometimes the weather won't cooperate, but when it does, you'll have an incredible experience. The visibility should be good and it should be warmer than the quarry, probably in the 70s.
The Keys dives are usually good. Visibility can run anywhere from 40-80+ft depending on weather conditions and the dive site. The water will be warm--probably in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Links:
PE226: http://courses.ncsu.edu/pe226/common/
PE229: http://courses.ncsu.edu/pe229/common/
Quicktime view of the quarry: http://pe.ncsu.edu/hlbrown2/Fantasy_Lake/qtvr_with_labels.mov
Indra: http://www.nc-wreckdiving.com/WRECKS/INDRA/INDRA.HTML


If you need any more info feel free to PM me.

9/30/2006 10:28:14 PM

Damn I type up this long ass reply and no one responds.

10/3/2006 10:44:32 AM