This absolutely the best dive center in Eastern North Carolina! The staff are so professional, knowledgeable and courteous. I began diving with them in May 2025 and each and every visit to the pro shop is awesome. There is no better captain, boat or crew around. Every dive is an amazing adventure and makes you yearn for the next dive! Enthusiastically recommended for anyone wanting to dive regardless of experience! read more

Well run dive center, experienced team, with safety at the center. When the weather is good it's some of if not - the - best diving in the continental US. Want schools of fish so big you can't see because too many fish - check. Want sharks - check. Want big fish - check. We have returned every year for 4 years - been to the sub 4 or 5 times - sometimes do it multiple times per trip. To address some of the other reviews complaints - these folks don't control the weather - it is highly variable and the wrecks are off shore - so it gets blown out sometimes, but they do the best to get you out to where you will have a good time and will try to get you to the wreck you want if they can. read more

After months of anticipation booking this dive through my local dive shop, I left Morehead City disappointed with my experience. While Olympus Dive Center can't control the weather, there were no onshore options provided when offshore conditions were bad and diving was canceled. Four days of diving and I saw the same damn wreck three times. Guess that's called "Captain's choice." For what we paid, I call it BS. Thank God it wasn't the JJF tug! Our group was sold a submarine and were given a tug boat. Keep in mind IF you decide to book dives through this shop chances and high you won't see the U-352. We did, but only at Pine Knolls Aquarium. Some of us saw the Indra, three times. Not the most exciting wreck to dive after back to back days being canceled. When you are canceled here's a list of things to do since the dive shop provides nothing: NC Aquarium at Pine Knolls Fort Macon The birthplace of Pepsi in New Bern Topsail Beach to look for sharks teeth USS North Carolina battleship in Wilmington New Bern Civil War Battlefield Park While our trip was planned for 3 days and 6 dives we got only two dives in 3 days, due to the weather conditions. Even Friday when we went out on our first day the ocean was very rough! Olympus didn't provide any assistance in setting up tanks or gear. Not to say their people weren't helpful, a few were. We had to carry our tanks onboard and could not set up gear or leave it on the boats. Guess that was a COVID-19 and security thing now. Onboard, Clint was excellent! Very knowledgeable and friendly asking divers how they were and helping when he could. Not that the other mates didn't come to mind but Clint stuck out to me. Nice guy, friendly with a good attitude. Being my first dive on wrecks, Friday, our first day was neat! I wore a 7mm wetsuit but could have used a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit due to the temperature of the water. We hit the JJF and the Indra with 70-72 degree water and 35-40 feet of visibility! The next two days were canceled and most of our dive party said "F*ck it" and went home. I had paid for a fourth day of diving prior to arrival and we picked up on other diver who decided to stay. Our fourth dove was disappointing, after the front blew through, oxen was still rough with strong winds. Under the water, temperatures were similar but visibility was 12-15 feet. Comfortable with that visibility but had much higher expectations. All in all, I've already made the decision not to return in August because of the sh*t we experienced in May. The accommodations were worth the price but rough. You had a fridge, microwave and Kerig in the dive lode with 2-4 bunk beds in 5 rooms, men's and women's bathroom facilities. For the price, it's right. Food in and around the dive shop was plentiful, some rather highly priced. Next door is a pub and oyster bar called Shuckin' Shack and Tightlines Pub & Brewery next to that. Both are worthwhile, good food and beer...affordable. Other restaurants we hit, Floyd's 1921 (expensive), great food. Ruddy Duck, another good seafood restaurant, but make reservations early for both. Off the Hook was accommodating and had some good food as well. We also did Beach Bumz, a pizza joint, affordable and decent pizza. Afford Sanitary Fish Market, not good Yelp reviews and they never had a wait. To sum up, so be sold on a sub, you might only get a tug. If it were not for the group I was with, this trip would have been a complete disaster. They made the trip enjoyable, not the diving. read more

Olympus Dive Center - The front of Olympus Dive Center. - Dive Shops Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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This place is well stocked with great quality dive gear - hence the 1 star. A group of us flew across the United States to dive a submarine. Olympus was contacted and advised they could fulfill the trip. We arrived checked in and had to load the boat with the shops rental tanks. We all paid money for diving and tank rentals, without service. You would think that they could at least provide a deck hand to carry some paid for tanks. After all it's they're equipment and service the customer is renting. Advised the captain we came all this way to dive a German u-boat. This is marketed s as do advertised as such. Following day went out for two ok dives but no U-boat. Our group took over the boat and you would think that's called a "charter." Captain and crew were again advised we came to and want to see a u-352. "Charter: the reservation of an aircraft, boat, or bus for private use." We were taken to two different wrecks and advised by the crew "this was captains choice." Whatever happened to the paying customers choice AKA charter? Maybe they wanted our money but didn't want to burn their diesel fuel. Signs all over the boat saying "crew works for tips." They don't work that hard as they expect the customers to load and unload the tanks and weights. All while being advised multiple times by multiple persons that we traveled all this way to dive the U-352. Crew was non engaging and only hung out in wheel house minus the post dives offering. Frozen otter pops. We still left hefty tips considering the lack of service. Directed to offload our rental tanks and weights. Following two days we had planned to dive. Arrived back at the dock and gave crew hefty cash tips. Cash in non working deck hands that is. Deck hands say: "Captain has some information to tell us.... we will not be diving the following day due to weather." No plan B for alternate dive sites? Common... most operations plan for the best, expect the worst and always have a backup and secondary backup plan. But not this place, especially when your the only game in town (monopoly). Third day go down and attempt to pay for rental tanks. Was advised that there was an 85% chance of dive boat departing following day. Advised that they wouldn't charge us until morning prior to depart. Next day bad weather and dive is canceled 15 minutes prior to departure. I understand nobody controls weather but don't provide false hopes. Just say we're shut down for weather or whatever rather than false hopes. Or better yet have an alternative dive option. Bunk house a block away from dive shop was conveniently located. This place is rough with no kitchenette sink. The bathroom sinks backed up throughout our stay. Bunk beds were short and needed to double stack the plastic wrapped mattresses. Luckily our group took over the bunk house for the majority of our stay. Plan for contingency's if diving is canceled. Our odds were bad and I've had better luck in casino than with Olympus Dive Center. Better off going somewhere else. Will not be back! Apparently they gauge your skills and only dive the u boat on Monday after a previous dive. Take your money elsewhere that provides actual service and dive excursions, rather than BS false hopes! read more

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This is my favorite Dive center in NC. I have really enjoyed looking at the artifacts from the U-352. We took our deep certification class here and had an amazing experience. If you want to see NC sand tiger sharks go with these guys in the summer! They do an annual shark shootout. Their boats are spacious and have a sun deck and a place to sit inside. They don't overcrowd the boats and the crew is awesome. Every time we've gone with them it's been an amazing experience. They have a bunkhouse that's super cheap to stay at if your a lone traveler or don't want to spend a lot of money on hotels. read more

Olympus Dive Center - Me on the U-352 - Dive Shops Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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I will start with the fact that after several cancelled NC dives, I got to go diving in NC! I dove the Aeolus and the Spar wrecks. Beautiful! Both were teeming with life--seemingly even more so at Spar, which isn't far from Aeolus--and Sand Tigers (lots of divers bring back teeth!). On the Spars, there were so many fish, that it literally affected the viz! It was amazing! Otherwise, the viz that day was great. The current was a bit strong, especially at the surface, but if my 110lb self could handle it, so can you (provided you're in halfway OK cardio shape)! These two dive sites have left me wanting more of NC diving. I'm an experienced diver: Rescue, current DMit, low-viz water, colder water, etc. So I'm not expecting "Cadallac service", but man, for the cost of these dives with EAN and tanks, you'd think the crew could at least load and unload your tanks for you. I'm sure you've read several people mention this. Second, for the cost again, at least serving some cut fruit would be nice. It's pretty standard, in fact. They did have a single large container of water on board; I'm sure that can easily run out. So, be prepared. Bring your own drinks. Bring your own snacks and/or food. They do have a cooler to put your lunch/drinks in. Now, having said that, I thought the staff was all super friendly and helpful. I stopped in the night before to prep my tanks and one of the staff came out to ensure I knew how to use their nitrox analyzer. He ensured it was calibrated, so that was nice. The boat itself (there's 2) is nice! It's nice and big with a spacious diver deck, a sun deck, and an interior cabin area to hang out if you're dry. I was also very appreciative of a bathroom on this boat! A boat like this is what you need for those long trips out to sea in potentially rough NC waters. I have not yet been to the more shallow dive sites. I don't know if the waters are calmer there or not. But overall, please keep in mind that you truly need to be an experienced diver to enjoy yourself. That means you can handle currents, you know how to properly plan your dive, you watch your air, you watch your NDL (unless you're deco diving), you don't take risks you shouldn't such as penetrating a wreck without proper training/equipment, etc. Basically, remember your training! There was a young lady on the boat with us who I noticed coming up the line quite quickly at the end of the first dive. I didn't allow this to make me feel pressured and ascend faster; I instead extended out from the line and let her pass. Turns out, she was low on air. I don't know how low, but she should know that the shallower she goes, the slower she'll consume air. She also had her buddy with her. There was zero reason for her to be rushing up the ascent line like that and risking getting bent. Be a good diver, especially in these unforgiving waters! Another note of the shop/staff, it seems they ask you as a boat where you want to go that day. There doesn't seem to be pre-planning. So I guess unless you could fill a boat with your own friends, you'd be at the mercy of the majority decision. I would like a way to at least somewhat guarantee (as long as weather allows) going to a certain site (such as the U-352) before driving 6 hours. But all in all, defintely go here. They will really show you some great diving. And... PRO TIP: Even if you typically don't get sea sick, TAKE SOME DRAMAMINE! There are "less drowsy" ones. Take one the night before when you go to bed *AND* take it again the morning of the dive. Don't risk getting too sea sick to dive especially after paying all that money. read more

Brought 3 tanks in for VIP and fill. Was told it should be a couple days and most likely same day as no boats went out and VIP guy was coming in. Four days later the work wasn't done and I picked them up to take to a good dive shop. As I was leaving, I heard them talking that the VIP guy was there and about to do them but I guess Dottie was being spiteful and didn't want to tell me. Just really horrible customer service. read more

Most well established and professional dive shop in the Southern Outer Banks. They charter larger groups than other dive centers, which could be perceived as a good or bad thing, but you know you are in safe, capable hands. They supply well maintained rental equipment, which is an area other dive shops nearby were lacking. They will not allow inexperienced divers to dive the open ocean for safety reasons. This was nonnegotiable, but I commend them for this as it is a testament to their commitment to safety. We still had a great time diving at the inland wreck site. They had great recommendations for food and things to do, which we followed closely and enjoyed throughout our trip. read more

I dove with Olympus on 11 Sept 2020 on a two-tank dive trip to the U-352 and the USCGC Spar wrecks. I was very impressed with their operation and attention to detail. It was clear they were focused on safe and enjoyable diving. Their NITROX check station was perfectly set up and easy to use, which made verifying the air mix a snap. I've never seen another dive operator pay so much attention to mix verification and documentation and to me, the 'by-the-book' attention to detail speaks volumes of their safety culture. Their pre-dive briefs were informative and pertinent and they took multiple roll calls at the conclusion of each dive to make sure all divers were aboard. They made sure everyone knew how each dive would go and what to do if it didn't. I was on the Midnight Express dive boat and it was the most comfortable dive boat I've been on. Since it takes two hours to get out to the U-352 it was nice to have a sitting area with comfortable bench seats and air conditioning where you can relax on the way to and from the dive locations. We evidently lucked out on the dive as the visibility on the U-352 was around 80 feet and the wreck was covered in fish. It was a great dive. The visibility on the Spar was around 30-35 feet but it was still a good dive and there were several large Sand Tiger sharks on the wreck. I've only dove with Olympus and another operator in Wilmington and between the two Olympus is clearly superior. I highly recommend them and would dive with them again. read more

Brought some tanks in to be worked on. They said it would be a couple days which was in my time frame for needing them back. I was first in line. My friend who would be diving with me on my boat brought his in later that same day and said he needed them by Saturday. They bumped my tanks out of line and did his but not mine. I called Friday afternoon and asked to talk to management to complain and the women on the phone, Dottie I think, was unapologetic. Said it was my fault for not asking for Saturday despite being told they would be done by then. Didn't offer to do them that day despite VIP guy being there( I know because I talked to him that night when picking up another tank). Didn't offer to set me up with rentals, just said "the other guys tanks would be sitting there just like yours if he didn't say Saturday". Bad management with bad attitude. read more

I needed to have a tank hydo-tested and filled. The company that performs the work for Olympus was late getting the testing completed. I was leaving on a boat trip over the 4th of July. The team at Olympus pushed the testing company to complete the work and then sent one of the Olympus team to pick up the tank on Friday so I could have it for my trip leaving the next day. Thank you Olympus for the extra effort. Craig V. read more

Warning - 20% chance of actually going out and diving. And you won't get to dive the U boat the first day. So if you actually want to do the U boat, you'll want to stay at least a week. And if they move your check in time to 8 am, that's code for dive tomorrow is cancelled. We were supposed to dive for 3 days but only did 1 day. Oh, don't forget you have to load your own tanks. Dive shop isn't that transparent about weather conditions either. They cancelled the second day of our trip and we asked multiple times about the 3rd day as the forecast wasn't looking too good. "As of now, dive tomorrow is a GO" and "Oh we moved check in back to 8 am so you'll have plenty of time". Understand we are the mercy of Mother Nature though it would be better for them to be more upfront. If you got some down time, Fort Macon and Atlantic Beach are worth trying out. I'd skip the aquarium and the maritime museum though. read more

Couldn't have asked for more from my trip to NC to dive with Sand Tigers (well, always want more sharks), but the team at the Dive Center were EXTREMELY professional and accommodating and the dive boats were very well run operations and everyone had a great time. Not sure when I'll make it back to NC to dive, but I'll be back with Olympus when I do. read more

Olympus Dive Center - Sand tigers and wreck diving! - Dive Shops Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

Been diving with Olympus going on 4 years now and have 37 boat dives with them . I like how they run things and the fact that Safety comes first . They are Good People & Great Diving ... read more

The Olympus Dive Center is a highly professional outfit with good boats and equipment. The early dives start at 6:00 a.m., with the boats leaving the dock at 7:00 a.m. The center and the crews do their best to deal with the unpredictable weather. We did not get to drive the U Boat, which was weather dependent and no one's fault. I've dived all over the world and am normally used to the crew handling the tanks etc. That wasn't the case here but also was not a problem, once that was understood. I honestly would give these guys 5 stars were it not for the fact that many of the divers that come here are highly experienced and the crew has little tolerance for recreational divers wjo only dive ince or twice a year. We had had a year long drought from diving and encountered little in the way of understanding when we signalled that we wanted a little help with the Nitrox calcs or the gear. It was 6:00 a.m. so 3:00 a.m. in the morning as we were on West Coast time and my request for a little assistance was met with: "This is North Carolina where real divers dive," which I didn't appreciate at that time in the morning. On the other hand, Frank was incredibly helpful when my BCD blew a fitting. I highly recommend this outfit to five in this area. Highlight was the Carib Sea, which was crawling with wildlife including sand sharks. read more

I came with a large group from Columbus, Ohio. We all wanted to dive the U-253. The employees were great. The boat crew was very experienced, friendly, professional and safety conscious. To my knowledge, everyone in our group loved the trip. I didn't hear of one complaint from anyone throughout the trip. I personally had a great time and if I ever get down here again, I would definitely go through Olympus Dive Center again. Great job guys. Thanks for helping to get one off of the bucket list. read more

The main drawback is the lack of water on the all day boat. There is fountain but you can't fill a bottle from it. This to me is super important and I don't think it's that difficult to put water on the boat especially in the heat of the summer or start of summer. Come on guys...Just put a jug on the boat. Also...put more than one bean bag chair on the boat...it will fit plus you advertise that. Now for the good...you are going to see interesting wrecks. I unfortunately went on a finicky weather weekend and did not see sharks. But I still had good dives as dives go. Any time I can get in the water, I will. Lastly...I'm going to talk about the one female dive guide that I thought ignored her customer. This guy paid for a guide (hence she's getting paid to be a guide). On the first dive she spoke with him to get him ready which was great....after they came up from the first dive...he was completely ignored...the reason this bothered me is that as we are getting ready for the second dive (literally have our gear on) and then she asks "have you changed over your tanks?" There was no talking after the dive or what did they see. I don't expect the full boat for attention to be on the customer...but if I were him I would have been ticked. Especially, since her attention was another crew member the entire time. The customer was a nice guy too and you could see he wanted to be involved so i chatted with him. I'm sure some of the crew noticed and I'm hoping someone said something. All in all I would go back with them. read more

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I have made Morehead City a yearly stop on my dive agenda, mostly in part to this facility. The diving is incredible, boats are well equipped and maintained, the crew friendly and knowledgable, and a shop that is ready to provide anything you need to have a great charter. Training options include open water through trimix. They also bank 30% nitrox and can custom blend any mix required. Also offer trimix fills. They also own a bunk house you can stay in for a very reasonable price while diving with them. If you want to dive the Crystal Coast look no further!! read more

Olympus Dive Center - Dive Shops Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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I've dove with Olympus many times, Bobby and his crew are top notch. Safety is very important to this outfit and they choose their dive sites and manage the boat with safety in mind. I have dove with several dive centers in the outer banks region and they all follow typical north east dive protocols which is very different from vacation diving. You set up your own gear, dive without a guide, and are responsible for yourself. That is not to say that they won't do anything within their scope to help you and make sure you have an enjoyable experience. I could not recommend them enough read more

I think it's important to separate the diving from the dive operator. The diving gets four starts, the operator gets one. The main reason is that there is a huge disparity between the price and the level of service. Really, Olympus is more of a transportation service than a dive operator. Basically what they do is deliver you to the dive site and sets up a few lines for the divers to follow. It really is the bare minimum in terms of service. The diver has to carry/setup/breakdown all their gear, bring all their own snacks and drinks, navigate the dive site alone, etc. etc. Just to be clear, I don't expect them to do everything for me and hold my hand, but if I'm going to do all the work then the price should reflect the level service, and it doesn't. These are very expensive dives. You can dive in West Palm Beach, FL for less than half the price from a boat with a guide, and snacks, fresh towels, and a crew that will handle your gear and tanks. It's a shame Olympus couldn't work out a better business model. I'd certainly go back and dive there again if it were a better value. The fundamental problem is that they have enough business and they don't need to provide better service or offer a more reasonable price because there are people out there who are willing to pay a fist-full of cash for a boat ride. read more

The crew at Olympus are great. Bobby, Travis and Thomas did a great job of running the boat and getting us back to the dock safely. The weather didn't cooperate as well as everyone would have liked but that's life. The boat is in great shape and an awesome boat to dive off of. Can't wait to be dove with them again. read more

I wanted to give this company a much better rating because there were lots of good things about it, but these guys were pretty rude to me, and all it takes is one act of rudeness to make a dive awkward. I dove with these guys about 3 years ago on the anniversary sinking of the U-352, a Nazi U-Boat. John Chatterton did the dive with is, and he was so cool and not full of himself at all. Really, just a nice, laid back guy, and it was a pleasure diving with him. Now the boat itself was very nice. It has a great sundeck with bean bags, which is realy nice for those 2 hour boat rides. The boat was also in great condition, and clean. Now for the part that really pissed me off: When I contacted these guys to book my dives, I told them I was a college student on a budget, and wanted to make sure there were no surprise charges. I was told their wouldn't be any. When I got there (I had already paid in advance) they wanted me to pay more because all the proceeds were going to DAN. I reminded them that I was on a detailed budget for my trip, that I already paid after being told there would not be extra charges, and that I had even put aside tips for the Divemaster. I said as a result I couldn't make any donations to DAN. The guy huffed and hawed and rolled his eyes at me. i mean, he treated me like I was a cheap piece of crap. I said sorry, and walked out tot he boat. The crew never spoke to me on the boat. It was obvious that the idiot in the shop told them I didn't donate, but these guys didn't know my circumstances. I was traveling to attend a seminar at Yale where I had applied for my PhD, and I had every cent budgeted for this road trip, and my dives. And if they wanted me to donate to DAN, they should have bloody well told me when I booked with them on the phone and asked if there was any further costs. Lame. So here is my advice for those considering a dive with these guys: the boat is awesome, and the sites are cool, but if these guys ask you to donate money to something, you had better cough up the cash or else you will be treated like a pariah. read more

I just want people to know what to expect, this is a zero-frills dive charter. 1) Customers lug the dive center's tanks to/from the boats while dive staff/mates play on phones and chat. (Tip expected!) 2) Very crowded; we had 20 divers on our boat. 3) They stopped to gas up the boat on the way back, with 20 divers on board --within sight of the dive center. (seriously) 4) No food on boat, small gatorade bucket of water was empty before the first dive. This really got me, it was a double dip on 100 ft wrecks, we all know about hydration/dcs. 5) No weights on boat, I am glad I asked before we left the dock.. 6) No real rundown of emergency procedures. Bare minimum dive briefings, if possible, take a NC wreck book, because they don't know what sites they dive till they leave port. 7) It was hard to find staff on the boat, at one point I had to ask the captain in the wheel house where cups were because everyone wanted water but there were none. In the end I had to root around under the seats to find the cups, but at least the other divers were cheering when I emerged with them. Double dip wreck dive was 130 USD, tanks were over 20 USD each for rental/nitrox (AL100) Bring your own everything, this includes water. TRIPLE check everything, we arrived the night before and got our tanks, but they told us to load them onto the wrong boat. This actually made coming the night before *worse* than showing up late in the morning, as we had no spots together and had to track down our stuff and transfer it. Now knowing what to expect, I would use them again and have a more enjoyable experience (three star), so I hope this review helps you have a more enjoyable trip! read more

Let's make this short and simple if you're considering Olympus Dive Center a good place to dive: *Are they a reputable outfit that keeps safety at the forefront of each dive? CHECK! *Do they have the rigs to carry you to the best dive sites on the east coast? CHECK! *Are their people respectful of all different skill levels and make everyone feel comfortable with pre-dive pow wows? CHECK *Are sharks, subs and turtle sightings included in each excursion? You bet (but you have to keep your eyes peeled). *Are tasty frozen treats served at the end of each dive to make the trip home even more memorable? CHECK! Basically, for this is the best dive shop I've seen on the east coast. If you have a chance to have to dive here then do it.....you will not be disappointed. read more

Olympus is a first class dive operation. They put you on top of some of the world's best dive sites while always making safety their top priority. Their large boats and well-placed navigation and safety stop lines make it easy to jump into the otherwise intimidating world of offshore wreck diving. If you're traveling into the area to dive these wrecks, you need to understand that the dangerous and variable conditions here (the reason there are so many awesome wrecks to dive on) mean that there is a high likelihood of dive trips getting canceled on any given day. It's a good idea to have some back-up adventures planned. read more

I've been diving with Olympus for several years - SCUBA diving in NC is amazing - great water temps, visibility, and awesome ocean critters. The wrecks aren't bad either! ;) The staff at Olympus are fantastic! They are attentive to your needs, and always make safety a priority. Their dive boats are well equipped and comfortable. They bank 30% Nitrox, but will also do custom mixes. Some of my most memorable dives have been in NC with Olympus! read more

Having been certified since 93 I have been with a lot of dive ops, and none hold a candle to Olympus. It is the best organized shop run by the nicest and most knowledgable people that I have ever experienced. I have been diving with them for 5 years now and every person I have ever brought with me can not wait to come back. The amount of life offshore NC is beyond compare and there is no better or safer way to dive it than with Olympus. Small example of the oozing awesomeness - last week I was diving with them and my fin tore at the joint. Instead of just selling me a new pair of fins, they said they wanted to contact the manufacturer to see if they would replace them as this was a known problem. Instead of making a $180 sale, they want to work for me for free because it's the right thing to do. If you like fantastic people and epic diving, give these guys a shot. They will exceed all your expectations. read more

Best dive outfit in Morehead City. 3 great days of diving this weekend even tho the sea was rough. Travis and John were awesome mates and really helped me (I have issues) without making me feel bad about my disability. Buck was a great captain making the best out of the rough seas and low visibility. Dove 5 different wrecks, swam with some really awesome sharks, barracuda and tons and tons of bait fish that were in such thick schools they would actually block out the light at times. Diving in NC is definitely harder than the Caribbean but I'm so glad we went with Olympus. Travis definitely has a dry sense of humor that can be misinterpreted at first and he's all business, which in a situation where you can die it's a good way to be. The dynamic of the pair with John was a great balance. The shop and rental stations were ran very efficiently so you weren't waiting around to pay and pick up what you needed. Made it a lot easier to get on the boat and out on the water ahead of schedule. This outfit has it down to a science! Nitrox is a must when diving NC, you get a lot more bottom time bcuz of the depth. Regular air you're not down long enough before you have to turn around and come back up, just a tip if it's your first time diving wrecks in NC, it's just not worth it without nitrox. Boats have seating at the back in the open with the gear, dry seating down below where you can stay dry and a top area with a long bench and large seating area on the floor in the sun so no matter how you're feeling there's a place for you to go. On-board bathroom, fresh water hot/cold shower, defog spray for your goggles, fresh pineapple in between dives, chocolate and frozen ice pops provided. Be sure to bring a cooler with plenty to drink and food for lunch and snacks during your surface interval. I need lots of water/Gatorade, fruit and something salty like pretzels so pack generously if you aren't sure what to bring. Make sure you have what you need to dive (must have a dive computer) and Olympus will make it an unforgettable amazing trip! read more

We dive with Olympus a few times a year. I would be there every weekend if I lived closer. This operation is top notch in every way. Booking the reservation is very easy both on line and in person. Everything is followed up on in a timely manner. The facilities that they have (shop, tanks,boats) are all really nice. The crews are always professional, helpful and fun which makes for an enjoyable trip. They are also very accommodating on what sites you visit. The sites are second to none. Great wrecks and a lot of sharks. I would highly recommend using Olympus for all of your diving needs. read more

DIVERS BEWARE! I had booked an Advanced Dive charter with Olympus dive center hoping to make it out to the U-352. My father and I had tried years ago and the weather was not conducive for diving that day, so they canceled on us. The winds and weather can be very fickle around the Outer Banks, so it was understandable. This time the winds were very light and the ocean was glassy. I drove up from Wilmington, North Carolina the night before and stayed in an Airbnb, and my dive buddy drove all the way down from New York and stayed the night as well. This was his bucket list dive. This dive shop advertises the U-boat as their premier dive as you will see it with all of the pictures and memorabilia displayed all around their whole dive shop. They even have a picture of the sub on every scuba tank they own. To say that this dive shop will nickel and dime you on rental gear is an understatement, and they even charge $1.50 for a K cup of coffee in the morning. Upon boarding the boat, neither my dive buddy nor I were ever asked where we wanted to go. My dive buddy approached the captain before we left the dock asking about the chances to dive the U-boat, and he replied that he wasn't sure where we were going yet. They chose to take us to a wreck called the Caribsea for two dives, even though the seas were calm enough to access all of their dive sites. As we arrived to the wreck their sistership of the dive shop was tying up to the same dive site. At no time did any crew member mention to stagger the dives to avoid congesting the dive site with divers from both dive boats. I can say from vast experience that no diver likes a congested dive site (I have been a dive boat captain and a scuba instructor for 16 years). They continued to do the same with the second dive, splashing divers at the same time from both dive boats to congest the dive site once again. I overheard one of the crew members saying that it was a major gamble to go to the dive site because the visibility can be "hero or zero", and if the dive site was zero they would have no other options in the area even though the majority of their sites were available down south near the u boat. Later I found out some of the customers had requested to see sharks, that some of the wrecks offer within the range of the U-boat. At no point did they ever offer any explanation, remorse or even a hint of attempt to appease all of the divers on their boat. This dive shop will lure you in with hopes of diving the U-boat, and even if the weather is more than ideal they may take you to another spot. When I called to talk to a manager to express my discontent they said the manager was busy but they would call me back soon. One of the crew members that was on our boat called me back and tried to explain to me that they had divers on the boat with a skill level less than the U boat standards. Then why do you even have an "advanced" dive boat with certain dive requirements prior to boarding the boat? At one time during conversations with the crew while on the dive boat they said dive site conditions change daily. Then later talking to the "manager" I was told that they chose the wreck dive because it had great visibility the day before, and did not choose the U-boat because it had current the previous day. The contradictions and bad decision making was baffling. From my professional experience I have to say that their decision-making was subpar. Olympus dive center is bush league, and they don't care about their customers after you pay the money and board their boat. I will never dive with them ever again and will warn all of my customers on my own dive boat from here on out. I cannot be more disappointed with Olympus dive center, and their lack of attention to paying customers desires on their boat. Book at your own risk. read more

Responsive, friendly, organized, knowledgeable, and just plain awesome. I come to Olympus every year and am never disappointed. I've have never heard anything but praise from every person that I have brought here or sent here. I've been diving for over 40 years. Olympus is one of the very best dive operations that I have encountered. They insure that your dive experience is the best possible. The staff is first rate. The boats are clean and well maintained. The rental equipment is plentiful, in great condition, and affordable. The diving is spectacular. If you are diving in North Carolina and not diving with Olympus, you are making a mistake. read more

All I have to say about this place is..Aside from the people being unfriendly, We rented dive gear and the prices are ridiculous...We wont rent from there again. read more

Well this place has no competition in the immediate area and it shows! They don't even provide WATER on the boat for you. They do have two large empty coolers however (we checked). I have been on some questionable dive boats before and even they, at the bare minimum brought water for their passengers. This really irked me! Also, don't expect the crew to help you with anything. You will lug your own tanks and gear onboard while they stand watching you. When we went the boat was extremely crowded and we had no elbow room to get ready at all. Also do not expect to be guided at all. You are on your own here! read more

I completely concur with Christopher E.'s comments below. We had four members in our party, three of which were dive professionals (dive masters/instructors/boat captains). I am not a professional, but have dove all over the world in both developed and Third World countries. All of us were appalled at the lack of service at Olympus. We noticed the exact same issues that Christopher E. pointed out so I won't take up space to reiterate. I will add that the daily rate of $130 pp+ tanks is highway robbery for inland dives. We were told that conditions were bad offshore (despite the gorgeous day) and were kept inland where viz was awful (A similar two-tank dive trip in SFL usually costs $65+ tanks, and they haul the tanks and provide snacks!) We fully understand that diving requires that we check our expectations when nature is in control. However, one should be able to expect much in regards to customer service at the price being charged here. Were our lives ever put in danger? No. But the whole experience left us feeling like we got fleeced. I suppose when competition is slim in the immediate area, there is no sense of need to excel on service. However, we'll seek other options when/if we return. read more

The man who started this business, George Perfoy, is the reason we have recreational wreck diving in North Carolina. He found many of the wrecks that are commonly dove on off Morehead. Today, his son Bobby owns the business and captains one of the boats, and it is an awesome place. The boats are always clean and well maintained, they leave and return on time, and in every way, they are as squared away as any operation you will ever find. The crew is extremely helpful, they remember me from one trip to the next (maybe 2 trips a year), and I always feel safe on the boat. The shop is run with the same customer focus and professionalism. The staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. They also have a dive lodge across the street where you can sleep for about $30 a night. One thing I really like about these guys, is that it is the closest dive shop to the inlet. You will save at least 20 to 30 minutes travel time each way over some of the other shops. It's also only about 50 feet from where you pick up your tanks to where you set them down on the boat. Some other places have you hauling tanks and gear a very long way. I dove with other area shops for a very long time, and switched over here about three years ago. I'm glad I did. read more

I have been leading dive trips to North Carolina from my home State of Pennsylvania for 27 years ... been using Olympus almost exclusively all those years ...and this year will be my 28th year of the same ... to not make this review extensive ... I adopt and repeat all the great things other 5 star reviewers stated. You could not ask for a smoother more experienced outfit in this area. Sometimes, when running a tight operation, and safety is as much a concern as keeping customers happy, staff can occasionally appear a bit "less" friendly ... NOT EVRYDAY IS THIS WAY ... but some days are difficult due to weather, and other uncontrollable conditions-events ... when you get to know these folks and what they have to do everyday you can really appreciate them and what they strive to do for their customer. read more

Really went out of their way to make sure we had fun and stayed safe. Can't wait to go again. K. Kelly was an absolute great guide definitely hiring her for my next dive read more

Buyer beware!! There is a common theme among the comments here that should be noted. The dives are great along the crystal coast but there are better companies to dive with. Companies who will not treat you as a nuisance and an after thought. I have been diving for over 20 years at locations across the globe and I can honestly say that I have NEVER been treated in such a manner. Quite a disappointment too because I had such high hopes. I truly love diving and can put up with a lot of inconveniences in order to get in the water but I will not settle for such poor individual treatment and I post this so you are well advised. If you choose to dive with this company, demand to be treated as a valued customer or you will become an inconvenient number. read more

Olympus Dive Center has an amazing team (staff in the shop, mates on the boat, dive instructors, guides, boat captains, owner). This is where I have received most of my SCUBA training, so I compare all my diving experiences to Olympus. I did my OW checkout dive through Olympus and now have I just begun my Tech Training with them. The team treats each diver with respect while always watching out for your safety. Each person on the boat is a trained diver so you load your own gear, check your kit, bring your food/water, check your gases, but the Olympus Team is there if you have any questions. In North Carolina you experience hardcore diving. The conditions could be amazing, you could see sharks or a manta ray, you can see wrecks, or not. Each dive through Olympus has been memorable and taught me how to be a better diver/person. If you are new to NC diving or nervous, I would suggest hiring a guide. It is totally worth it! The diving in North Carolina is beautiful and demanding, so it means so much. Olympus Dive Center is a team worth diving with and getting to know. read more

Horrible operation, Dive store staff unfriendly, unwelcoming, over priced tanks and fills. 2 100s nitrox 40 bucks really!!!! Never got to dive U352 bucket list. No reason given, weather was perfect. Had to dive on same wreck as shops sister boat. Too many divers 30+. Whole operation focused on running divers through their mill as fast as possible empty there pockets. Need to return to get the afternoon operation out.... repeat. Never Again save your money and dive time go else where. PADI diver. read more