Hatteras
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Hatteras diving is about the best there is on the mid-Atlantic coast. We have the beautiful water, the best shipwrecks, and an island unmarred by the development and growth onslaught seen in other seaside resort towns. If you’re thinking it would be a nice mini-vacation for the family while you are on-board the boat diving all day: you’re right! Hatteras is very family oriented with plenty of topside activities; swimming, surfing, windsurfing, Kiteboarding, fishing, birding, antique hunting, sightseeing, or just relaxing. It is home to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which is controlled by the US Park Service.
The choices for lodging are many, ranging from campgrounds where you can pitch a tent to rentals of beachfront homes that sleep 20 people. There are locally owned motels and many have efficiency apartments that the whole dive group can share. Listed below are several choices for your stay on Hatteras. Dining on Hatteras Island also runs the gamut from a burger and fries, a pizza at the Gingerbread House or a meal that gets close to 5-star Restaurant. We will gladly point you in whatever direction your palette and pocketbook requires. AccommodationsHere is the basic information on accommodations available in the Hatteras area. All Motels are within a five minute drive of the dock except for the Buxton hotels, which are 15 minutes away. All have rates that vary throughout the season. Several have efficiency rooms with several sleeping quarters. They are presented in no particular order or recommendation.
Rental Houses:The island has a wide variety of beach houses and cottages available for rental year round. There is a wide range in price from several hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars per week, due to the accommodations, location and level of luxury. Any of the listed Realtors can assist with rental houses and they all have WWW sites.
The most important question of any dive trip. So here are a few of our favorite places for Eats&Treats in Hatteras. Groceries and drinks are available at the Red&White in the village, Conner's Market in Buxton or the Food Lion in Avon. Prepared sandwiches at several deli shops and the Red&White in the Village. How do I get there? Directions
from the Washington Area: Drive 95 South until just before you reach Richmond, VA. Take 295 East toward Norfolk, Virginia Beach (left side exit). Approximately 11 miles later, take 64 East towards Williamsburg. Right before Hampton, in fact you will see the Hampton Coliseum on your left, take Monitor-Merrimac Bridge - Route 664 (this routes you around the congested Va. Beach area) and follow 664 until you see signs where it rejoins Route 64. Pass over the Elizabeth River then in approximately 2 miles take Route 168 south exit - clearly marked as the route to the outer banks. Pay the $2 Toll, it is worth it for the time savings. Follow 168 South into North Carolina where it becomes Rt. 158 several miles down the road in Barco. Stay on 158 South and you will go across the Currituck Sound on the Wright Memorial Bridge. Congratulations!! You have arrived on the Outer Banks - but you’re not done yet. Stay on 158 South through the villages of Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. At Whalebone Junction, take Route 12 South. It is a wide stoplight intersection and after the turn there is a brick sign that reads, Cape Hatteras National Seashore. If you find yourself crossing the bridge to Manteo, you missed the turn. Follow 12 South approximately 48 miles after crossing the New Basnight Bridge that replaced the Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet, until you reach Hatteras Village at milepost 70 - the southern most tip of Hatteras Island. When you drive through the villages on Rt12, try and watch the speed and stay alert - during the summer there are a lot of kids and other beachgoers that just walk along or cross the road without regard to their own safety. (Off season the speed goes up to 45). Once you get into Hatteras Village look for the Burris Red&White grocery store on the right and the Fire Station on the left at the intersection with the flag poles. Turn here on Kohler Drive and then an immediate left onto Saxon Cut just before the Weather Station building that is painted bright yellow. Saxon Cut takes you behind the Red&White and towards the sound. Look for the dive signs at the driveway on the left and turn into the private marina next to the fish house. The Lion's Paw will be in a slip in the middle of the bulkhead. There is always plenty of parking. Take a few minutes to look at the map before you depart. Don’t be fooled by the “alternate route” signs advising to travel to the banks on Rt. 17 south of the Va Beach area - this route is slower and longer by over 1 to 2 hours. If the drive starts to get long for you just think about the incredible diving you are about to partake in. Airport Information: The outer banks are accessible by air to a General Aviation airplane, after all the outer banks is the birthplace of flight. There are five airfields on the banks and the closest airfield to us is Billy Mitchell / Hatteras field. Rental cars are available at Manteo which is about an hours drive or you can rent a dune buggy or small motorbike nearby. There
is private air service that serves all of the Outer Banks and will fly
to any of the fields listed below. Please take a look at the Outer
Banks Air web site for details. Hatteras / Mitchell Field, KHSE, is 7 miles from the boat up in Frisco. 3000' strip has plenty of tie-downs but no lighting, services or fuel. If flying into Mitchell make sure you have enough fuel to get back out - Av gas and Jet-A at MQI or ONX (self serve). Give me a call for a pick up if you don't have a ride. Manteo / Dare County Regional Airport, KMQI, Attended days, 2 rwys, 3303' and 4300', PCL with REIL and PAPI, 100LL and Jet-A full or self-serve, A&P on field. Rental cars available with prior arrangement, 252-473-2600. Norfolk
International Airport, KORF, is 3 1/2 hours from Hatteras
Village. Served by major airlines. |
If you are interested in Coastal
Lighthouses, Lifesavings Stations and the like, you are in luck.
You can see several on the Outer Banks; Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, and
the Ocracoke Lights are all sites open for tours as well as the 