TIDES | SCIAA | IN DEPTH
Home

Cooper River Charters

SCUBA Fossil & Artifact Hunting
"Adventure Diving South Carolina Style"

Yes, many horror stories abound, but most ALL of it is because of inexperience or lack of knowledge of the river! I have dove the river, maybe 60 times, & the boat Capt. [USCG lic.] has maybe 300 dives there. You must calculate the times of the dive down to a close degree. Unlike here in Fl. Rivers, Cooper River tides fluctuate 6 feet, making for a wild ride if you hit it wrong. Many divers just go there, put boat in & go upstream, & dive without even looking at the tide charts. Current can be 5 knots!!

We calculate the tides, accounting for the difference in time from Charleston Harbor, to 30 + miles upriver, [ where diving is done], get there early at the dive site, & allow the current to slow down & make the dive. You are diving near the end of the low tide & just beginning of the high tide. If current gets too strong, it is time to come up & we will bring the boat to you. Drift diving is the plan.

Dives are black water, you should have advanced or equivalent experience, a GOOD dive light & knife are a must. Vis. is 2-4', depths max out around 60', but many times are no more than 35'. Usually 2 dives are all that can be done in a day. 30-60 min. each. You can dive much farther upriver, & get into less current problems, shallower depths, & much better vis. But, more " critters" & most finds are artifacts, bottles, rather than fossils. Most divers do not buddy up because of the conditions, but it can be done.

Conditions

Visibility - Typically 2 - 4 feet

Currents - yes, sometimes strong but we dive at the time that the current is most manageable

Depths - never deeper than 60 feet - usually at 35 feet or less - some as shallow as 12 feet

Fees
Deposits are required to reserve a date. Deposits are $30 per day and are non refundable within 30 days of charter date.

· Two tank days $75.00 per PERSON FOR 6

$85.00 PER PERSON FOR 5*

$95.00 PER PERSON FOR 4*

$120.00 PER PERSON FOR 3*

$150.00 PER PERSON FOR 2*

$300.00 PER PERSON FOR 1*

*WE WILL TRY TO FILL BOAT IF LESS THAN 6 SO COST PER PERSON WILL BE LESS

· For your group of 1-6 people