Although captains will make every effort to sail, North Carolina's coast can be extremely windy and water conditions very rough, so you might have to sit out a day or two. Prior wreck diving experience is highly recommended (and sometimes required) and don't forget to bring your C-card. Not all dive operators allow decompression diving. Dive season runs from May through early fall. Water temperatures range from the low 70s to the mid-80s; thermoclines are rare but are sometimes noticed on deeper wrecks. A wetsuit is mandatory, particularly when diving early or late in the season. Additionally, it will protect you from scrapes and cuts. Drysuits, sans long underwear, can also be worn. Visibility offshore can exceed 100 feet when the Gulf Stream washes over the dive site; 70 to 80 feet is average offshore. However, visibility can drop drastically under adverse conditions. State laws prohibit the taking of artifacts within 3 miles of shore. RESOURCES: General North Carolina info: 800-VISIT-NCOuter Banks: 800-446-6262 Crystal Coast: 800-SUNNY-NC Boats/Dive Operators:HATTERAS: Capt. Art Kirchner, Margie II, 201-361-3018 Hatteras Divers, 919-986-2557 MOREHEAD CITY/BEAUFORT: Discovery Diving, 919-728-2265; www.discoverydiving.com Olympus Dive Center, 800-992-1258 (offering nitrox fills) SEAduction Dive Charters, 910-892-7878; http://www.seaduction.com(tech diving/mix)