Scuba Diving the Graveyard of the Atlantic and North Carolina Coast

The incredible number and variety of shipwrecks along the coast of North Carolina lures many scuba divers from around the world. It’s estimated there are thousands of wrecks, dating as far back as the Spanish fleets of the 1500s. The area truly earned the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” and it even boasts a museum of the same name in Hatteras.

North Carolina diving isn’t limited to shipwrecks, however. Around the Wilmington area, divers can find massive fossil shark teeth, as well as huge grouper. Abundant lobsters are also much larger off North Carolina than those typically found in the Caribbean.

Learning to dive is relatively easy and well worth the time and effort. Dive shops all along our coast and inland across our state offer varied dive certification classes, as well as snorkeling for those not yet certified. Experienced divers will also want to seek out deeper dives, drift dives, night diving and more (advanced certification sometimes required). The dive season usually lasts from May to October or November.

From the Outer Banks on the northern stretch of the North Carolina coast to Wilmington and beyond down the coast, here’s an overview of scuba diving opportunities.

1 Roanoke Island Dive Shop

1 Roanoke Island Dive Shop

ManteoSee on map

Along with several popular dives right off the beach (including the Carl Gerhard, the Kyzickes, the Huron and more), Roanoke Island Dive Shop offers dive charters daily during the season, with dive sites including the German U-boat U-85, the Advance, the Jackson, the Bedloe, and the 65 and 102 Degree Towers. Co-owners and founders Matt and Pam Landrum are dive instructors (they offer a variety of classes), spearfishing specialists, kayakers and cyclists — and they bring their passion for the Outer Banks and all of these pursuits and more to this full-service dive center.

Website(252) 473-1356Directions

2 Discovery Diving

photo: Discovery Diving

2 Discovery Diving

BeaufortSee on map

Discovery Diving’s regular in-season weekend scuba diving charters are as popular as ever with veteran and new divers, as are half-day one-dive trips, weekday diving packages and specialty trips along the Crystal Coast. Depending on the conditions, possible dive sites (with shipwrecks, ledges and more) include the U-352 U-boat, the Caribsea, the Spar, the Aeolus, the Papoose and the Naeco. As a full-service shop, it’s also active with a shark identification program with the nearby North Carolina Aquarium, as well as coral reef restoration.

Website(252) 728-2265Directions

3 Olympus Dive Center

3 Olympus Dive Center

Morehead CitySee on map

Another long-time and equally beloved Crystal Coast dive operator, Olympus Dive Center also runs a wide range of charter trips out to the area’s numerous wrecks. Olympus is a full-service center, providing a wide range of dive boats, charters, instruction, gear rental and sales, air fills and more – including great advice on diving the Graveyard of the Atlantic, thanks to thousands of dives by their experienced crew.

Website(252) 726-9432Directions

4 Aquatic Safaris

4 Aquatic Safaris

WilmingtonSee on map

Aquatic Safaris operates daily trips from spring to fall out of Wrightsville Beach onboard two custom dive boats. The company also heads to a wide variety of dive sites off the Wilmington-area coast, including all of the popular wrecks and many stunning ledge dives. The experienced team, including boat captains and crew members, makes sure everyone is safe and comfortable during trips. It’s introduced thousands of people to the underwater world through their PADI Open Water diver course, where the adventure of exploring the Graveyard of the Atlantic begins.

Website(910) 392-4386Directions