SCUBA

About the Scuba Experience in WILMINGTON NC

Aquatic Safaris operates from Wilmington, with its retail and training center on Wrightsville Avenue and its scheduled dive charters departing from Bridge Tender Marina near Wrightsville Beach. The company works with everybody from first-time students learning in a pool to experienced recreational and technical divers heading dozens of miles offshore. Its scuba program includes Discover Scuba experiences, Open Water certification, refresher training, advanced and specialty courses, professional instruction, equipment rental, cylinder fills, gear servicing, guided training dives, and regular charter transportation to local wrecks and ledges.

Unlike a warm-water resort where every dive follows the same easy reef, diving here can change quite a bit from one site to the next. Some charters visit shallow wrecks only a few miles offshore, while others run 40 to nearly 60 miles into the Atlantic. Depths listed by the company range from roughly 25 feet to 130 feet. Divers may encounter sand tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, barracuda, amberjack, baitfish, rays, sea turtles, grouper, tropical fish, lobster, coral growth, and the remains of vessels lost or intentionally sunk along the Cape Fear coast.

What Makes Diving Here Special

The biggest draw is Wilmington-area wreck diving. The Hyde, an upright hopper dredge resting in about 85 feet of water, is one of the best-known local sites and often attracts full-grown sand tiger and sandbar sharks during summer. The nearby Markham rests on its side and rises from about 80 feet to within roughly 40 feet of the surface, creating a large structure covered with marine growth and schooling fish. Other trips range from the shallow Liberty Ship and Socony wrecks to sites such as the John D. Gill, Normannia, Rosin, Frying Pan Tower, City of Houston, Fossil Ledge, and 18 Fathom Wreck.

Aquatic Safaris operates two custom dive boats rather than converted fishing boats. The 48-foot Island Hopper has a wide beam, twin diesel engines, a cruising speed of about 20 knots, and broad ladders designed so divers can climb aboard without removing their fins. Both active boats use walk-through stern entries, tank racks, descent lines, and hang bars positioned at approximately 15 feet, making entries, ascents, and safety stops easier than they would be on a basic open-deck vessel.

Operating Season and Hours

The heart of the offshore charter season generally runs from spring through fall, with boats scheduled daily—and sometimes more than once a day—during the core summer period. Actual departure times depend on the destination, weather, boat assignment, travel distance, and the charter schedule. Current listings include departures as early as 7:00 or 8:00 a.m., along with later morning trips for closer sites.

The company’s homepage currently lists these regular shop hours:

• Monday through Friday: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• On charter weekends, the shop opens at least one hour before the scheduled boat departure.

A separate seasonal-hours page lists mid-season Saturday hours beginning at 10:00 a.m. and peak-season weekend hours beginning as early as 7:00 a.m. Because those two official pages do not completely agree, visitors should call before making a special trip, particularly for an early charter, Sunday equipment pickup, winter visit, or holiday weekend.

Classes are offered on scheduled dates rather than as a daily drop-in activity. The published 2026 calendar includes evening classroom meetings, morning pool sessions, weekend checkout dives, and two-day Advanced Open Water schedules, so students should review the exact course itinerary before registering.

Charter Prices

Charter prices cover boat transportation only unless a particular training package specifically says otherwise. Divers must provide equipment, cylinders, weights, gas, and any specialty items themselves or reserve rentals in advance.

Nearshore Wrecks

• Alexander Ramsey, also called the Liberty Ship: $90
• Socony: $90

Approximately 14 Miles Offshore

• Dredge Wreck: $120
• Stone Tug: $120
• Pocahontas Tug: $120

Approximately 18 Miles Offshore

• School House Barge: $130
• Hyde: $130
• Markham: $130
• Brian Davis Wreck: $130

Intermediate Offshore Sites

• John D. Gill: $145
• 23 Mile Ledge: $145
• Sue’s Ledge: $160

Longer Offshore Runs

• Lobster Ledge: $170
• Esso Nashville: $170
• Stacey’s, Anna’s or Dew’s Ledge: $170
• Normannia: $170
• Rosin Wreck: $175
• Cassimir: $175
• Ed’s Lobster Wreck: $190
• Frying Pan Tower: $190
• Greg MicKey Wreck: $190
• Fossil Ledge: $195
• City of Houston: $200
• 18 Fathom Wreck: $220

Fossil Ledge requires a wreck reel and surface-marker tube. Published depths vary by site, with some of the farthest wrecks and ledges reaching approximately 120 to 130 feet.

Published Course Prices

Course schedules and final charges can change, but Aquatic Safaris currently publishes these examples:

• Open Water Diver: $525 per student. The price includes PADI eLearning, pool work, basic scuba equipment, an ocean wreck charter, certification e-card, and most required training services. Students supply their own properly fitted mask, fins, and snorkel; students receive a 10% introductory discount on those personal items when purchased from the shop. A $25 Fantasy Lake entry charge may apply when the first checkout dives are conducted there.
• PADI ReActivate Refresher: $170. Includes online materials, basic scuba equipment, a pool session, and an updated PADI e-card; students bring their own mask, fins, and snorkel.
• Advanced Open Water: $525. Includes eLearning and two charters; full-course equipment rental is currently listed at an additional $90.
• Rescue Diver: $460. Fantasy Lake admission and transportation are additional.
• Enriched Air Nitrox: $170, with the eLearning code included.
• Wreck Diver: $225, plus the cost of two required charters. Optional full-set equipment rental is listed at $90 for the two charters.
• Deep Diver: $225, plus required charter costs. Optional equipment rental is listed at $80 for the course.
• Drift Diver: $150, plus the required ledge charter.
• Underwater Navigator: $200, plus the required charter and any rental equipment.
• Emergency First Response CPR and First Aid: $85.
• PADI Divemaster: $995, with a $500 deposit securing the course and training materials.

Discover Scuba, private instruction, professional instructor courses, DAN programs, and some specialty classes do not have a dependable current public price displayed. Those should be quoted directly by the shop. Private instruction is subject to availability and may carry a surcharge.

Equipment-Rental Prices

Published daily or charter rental rates include:

• Regulator set: $20
• Regulator with dive computer: $25
• BCD: $20
• Wetsuit: $20
• Weights with or without belt: $5
• Mask, fins and snorkel package: $25
• Dive boots: $10
• Hood and gloves: $5
• Air and nitrox-compatible dive computer: $20
• Two-tank full air set: $65
• Two-tank full nitrox set: $75

Rental Cylinders

• Aluminum 80-cubic-foot air cylinder: $12
• Aluminum 80-cubic-foot nitrox cylinder: $16.50
• Aluminum 100-cubic-foot nitrox cylinder: $18.50
• High-pressure steel 100-cubic-foot nitrox cylinder: $22.50
• High-pressure steel 120-cubic-foot nitrox cylinder: $24.50
• High-pressure steel 130-cubic-foot nitrox cylinder: $24.50

Technical Equipment

• Double high-pressure steel 100s with bands and manifold: $60
• Double high-pressure steel 120s with bands and manifold: $70
• Technical setup with double 100s, backplate, harness and wing: $85
• Technical setup with double 120s, backplate, harness and wing: $95

Some cylinders, computers, and technical equipment are available only for use aboard Aquatic Safaris charters. Reservations and availability should be confirmed before arrival.

Discounts and Group Pricing

Group rates are available for larger parties, dive clubs, and other dive shops, but those rates are quoted individually. Open Water students receive a 10% discount on the required personal mask, fins, and snorkel when purchasing them through Aquatic Safaris. The company also advertises vendor promotions, clearance merchandise, and occasional packaged dive-travel specials.

How to Book

Charters are booked by calling the dive shop during business hours. Staff members review the requested destination, certification level, experience, equipment needs, rental cylinders, and available dates before creating the reservation. A confirmation email is then sent with the trip details, and divers should read it carefully to make certain the date, departure time, number of spaces, destination, rentals, and cancellation deadline are correct.

Individual walk-on divers are welcome and do not need to arrive with a complete group or prearranged buddy. Full charters may have a waitlist, so it is worth asking to be added when a preferred date is sold out. All charters depart from Bridge Tender Marina. Reserved tanks and weights are placed aboard the boat, but regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, computers, and other rental equipment must normally be picked up from and returned to the Wrightsville Avenue shop.

Courses can be reserved through the company’s published class schedule or by contacting the shop. Payment secures the student’s place. Most courses require at least ten days’ notice for cancellation or rescheduling; changes made with less notice may result in a $150 fee. Classes must begin within one year of purchase, unused classes are not refundable after six months, and redeemed PADI eLearning codes are nonrefundable.

Charter Cancellation Policy

Cancellation deadlines depend on the number of people in the reservation:

• Groups of 1–5: by noon five days before departure
• Groups of 6–11: by noon seven days before departure
• Groups of 12–15: by noon fourteen days before departure
• Groups of 16 or more: by noon twenty-one days before departure
• Destinations more than 25 miles offshore add five days to the applicable cancellation period

Cancellations must be handled directly with staff by telephone. The company states that email and voicemail cancellations are not accepted. A guest who cancels late remains responsible for the reserved spaces unless the shop is able to rebook them.

A no-show is charged the charter price plus a 15% crew gratuity. When rental cylinders were transported to the boat, a no-show may also incur a $10-per-cylinder transportation charge. If the company cancels because of weather or another operational reason, there is no charter charge.

Rules and Things to Know Before Going

Every diver must carry a physical certification card or a verifiable electronic certification card. Certification is checked aboard the vessel, and anyone unable to provide proof may ride on the boat but will not be allowed to dive and will still owe the charter price.

Standard passengers may bring two primary cylinders—either two single tanks or one set of doubles—plus one pony or stage bottle no larger than 40 cubic feet. Extra cylinders are permitted only when the trip is specifically advertised as a technical or three-tank charter. Large storage tubs and oversized hard cases should be left ashore; gear needs to fit into a bag or container that can be stowed neatly.

The boats carry large coolers with ice and water. Personal coolers must be small enough to fit beneath a seat. Firearms and illegal drugs are prohibited. The company’s posted boat policy also prohibits personal GPS devices and specifically refers to phones with built-in GPS, so passengers should ask the shop how that rule is currently handled before bringing a phone aboard.

The captain controls the final destination, number of dives, and whether the charter leaves the dock. Sea conditions, currents, visibility, weather, mechanical matters, and diver safety may require a site change or cancellation. When an alternate site is selected, the company says the fare will be prorated to the destination. A diver who chooses not to enter the water because of seasickness, personal equipment problems, or another individual reason remains responsible for the charter cost.

North Carolina offshore diving can involve long boat rides, rough water, current, thermoclines, limited visibility, depth, and open-ocean ascents. Divers should choose sites that match their certification, recent experience, gas planning, equipment, and comfort level. Extended-bottom-time plans must be cleared with the captain, and all recreational profiles must remain within the diver’s gas supply and applicable no-decompression limits.