Shipwreck Diving in Cape Hatteras

Sailing from Hatteras Inlet, the D/V Akyla visits shipwrecks located from north of the Diamond Shoals and south to the waters off Ocrakoke Island. There are a wide variety of shipwrecks to visit for your diving adventures each offering a unique experience. Of course the depths in the brief descriptions are approximate - always use your gauges!

Australia: Texaco Oil company lost a large tanker to the U-332 on 3-16-42. She’s in two sections at a depth of 100’ to 110’. If you like artifacts and sharks, this wreck's for you.

British Splendour: A British Tanker sunk 4-6-42. Laying at 100’ to the sand, the stern section rises high and is a great penetration dive into the machinery spaces. Vis is usually very good on this wreck.

Dixie Arrow: One of our most popular dives, this Tanker is in only 90’ of water. She is very easy to dive and navigate around having high relief and a very defined layout.

Empire Gem: Another British Tanker, the Gem lays at 145’ with the bow section upside down. The stern is on the port side though with the decks rising to appx 110’. One dive here and you will know why she’s affectionately called “the Gem”.

1942 Chart of Hatteras and the Diamond Shoals F. W. Abrams: This Tanker was a victim of "Friendly Fire" when she struck several mines in the Hatteras Minefield. Now she sits 80 feet deep and is a great dive site.

Hesperides: The Hesp is less than 1/2 mile from the Northeastern on the shoals and is also very intact. Swimming between the decks at just 30’ is a neat treat.

Kassandra Louloudis: When she went down the Loulou was carrying a large mixed cargo of war materials for the Brits. She’s in 75’ to 80’ of water on the outer Diamond Shoals and is one of our personal favorites.

Katherine Monohan: A four masted sailing schooner that went down in 1910 in 100’ of water.

Keshena: This tug went to the bottom in 1942 after striking a mine. She’s at 90’ and still yields artifacts.

Lancing: This large converted Whaler is laying upside down at 160’. A great dive for the experienced.

Liberator: A freighter that caught a torpedo in ‘42, she lays at 110’ not too far from the Australia.

Manuela: Freighter sunk by U-404 on June 24th, 1942. She was loaded with sugar and is at 150’ to 165’- a sweet dive.

Northeastern: This small tanker foundered on the Diamond Shoals in 1904. Today she sits upright and very intact in just 45’ of water. A splendid dive with lots of fish and bottom time.

Proteus: Laying less than 1 mile from the Tarpon, this Luxury Liner went down in 1918 after a collision. She is large wreck with big fish, lots of artifacts, and normally great vis at 120'.

Tamaulipas: A German torpedo sent this tanker to the bottom with 10,200 Tons of oil on April, 10th, 1942. A long way from the inlet, she rarely gets dived, but is a spectacular site with depths to 160'.

Tarpon: A WWII U.S. Submarine which foundered while under tow, she is now resting in the sand at 140’ with the decks at just 115’. This boat is still very intact and is a very popular dive for the advanced.

U-701: The German Submarine U-701 is located 10 miles East of the Diamond Shoals Tower, with the majority of the wreck site covered by the sand. When conditions allow a dive, she is exciting to see due to the history and uniqueness of the wreck.

Veturia: An old steamer, she lays on the outer Diamond Shoals sometimes covered by the shifting sands.

Wetherby: This Steamer stranded on the Southwest point of Outer Diamond Shoals in 1883. Today the engine, boilers and pieces of the hull are in 25' to 30' of water when not covered by the shifting shoal.

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