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6 Outstanding Wreck Dives of North Carolina

6 Outstanding Wreck Dives of North Carolina

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on November 22, 2015

Shipwrecks are not only found in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean or off the Florida coastline. The Atlantic seaboard of the US has been a major shipping thoroughfare since the first explorers set foot on this patch of North American soil. The waters off the coast of North Carolina boast an extensive collection of accessible wrecks, some of which date back to the early 20th century. Here is a list of six top wreck dives of North Carolina.

WWII Era Wrecks

Naeco

Sunk by a German U-boat in 1942, this tanker now rests on the bottom about 38 nautical miles due south of Morehead City. The 411-foot ship lies in three pieces, each about a mile apart, at depths ranging from 90 to 140 feet. The Gulf Stream water flowing into this area provides good visibility, and a wide variety of tropical fish call this site home. Sand tiger sharks are also frequent visitors.

Atlas

Like the Naeco, the Atlas was a large tanker torpedoed by a U-boat just a few weeks later. She lies in about 115 feet of water near Cape Lookout. Visibility can sometimes be reduced to just 20 feet, but in clearer conditions this wreck is stunning. Replete with marine life, large schools of sand sharks patrol the vessel, some up to 10 feet in length.

Caribsea

Not far from the Atlas lies an NC favorite, the Caribsea, which sits in 90 feet of water on the east side of Cape Lookout Shoals. Low visibility plagues the site for much of the year, but when bluer waters push in, you’ll get some stunning views of the 251-foot freighter and her large family of sand tiger sharks. Some shark biologists believe this breed of shark uses the spot as their summer mating ground.

U-352

With all the ships brought down by torpedoes during the war, it’s only fitting that the Allies scored as well. Taken out by the USCG Cutter Icarus, U-352 was unsuccessful in her attempts to sink that ship, coming to her own end in 110 feet of water about 28 nautical miles south of Morehead City.

Earlier Wrecks

Proteous

A 390-foot luxury liner, this ship went down in August 1918 after colliding with the SS Cushing. This is another shark hot spot, as well as home to many large species of fish. Gulf Stream waters provide good visibility for this dive, usually at least 60 feet. The remains of the ship and debris field lie at about 110-120 feet.

USS Schurz

A captured WWI gunship, the Schurz was lost in June 1918 following a collision with the SS Florida. The wreck went unexplored until its rediscovery in the 1980s, and has become a popular dive spot filled with dense populations of fish, as well as colorful reef plants and corals.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

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