| DIVE THE GRAVE YARD OF THE ATLANTIC SELECT A LOCALE Chincoteague - Atlantic Mist. (100 fsw).
- David Atwater. (75 fsw) A 2,438 ton collier torpedoed by U-552 on April 2, 1942. The wreck lies on its port side.
- Bone Wreck. (60 fsw).
- Bottle Wreck. (80 fsw).
- Captain's Revenge. (90 fsw).
- Jug Wreck. (110 fsw).
- Light Ship. (90 fsw).
- Marine Electric. (125 fsw) This 605-foot bulk carrier sank in a storm in 1983. The ship is broken into three sections. The stern section lies on its side and can be penetrated by divers. Because of its fairly recent sinking, most of the wreck is easily recognizable. However, it did not take long for lobsters to find a home in this wreck.
- Middle Ground Wreck. (100 fsw).
- Mona Island. (90 fsw).
- Monroe. (90 fsw).
- Page. (90 fsw).
- Powell - Stern. (80 fsw).
- Sub Wreck. (70 fsw).
- Wood Schooner. (70 fsw).
Back to Top Chesapeake Bay - Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands.
(32 fsw) Also known locally as CBBT, sits within the view of the Atlantic from the Chesapeake Bay. The series of four islands support the bridges and tunnels for the CBBT to the Eastern Shore of Virginia from Hampton Roads. It provides an interesting diving experience with the great variety of marine life. There are always muscles, oyster, and clams on the bottom or around the tunnel islands.
- Chesapeake Light Tower. (42 fsw) Also known locally as "The Tower" is located approximately 12 miles east of Rudee Inlet of Virginia Beach and north west of the Virginia's artificial reef. The structure consists of four huge legs extending into the bottom. The legs and cross members are teaming with various types of marine life including muscle, soft corals, octopus, tropical fish
(summer), and many others. Many varieties of fish are found around the tower especially schools of Spade Fish. The Reef area is nearby.
- William D. Sanner.
(60 fsw) 260 ton Maryland Pilot Boat sunk after colliding with the British freighter Levernbank on December 1, 1938 just inside the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. Prior to being a Pilot Boat, the William D. Sanner was the luxury yacht Carmina. Many interesting artifacts have been recovered including the helm, two telegraphs and numerous portholes. Although the conditions are generally not great, this is a great dive.
Back to Top Norfolk/Virginia Beach
The following is
a list of some of the Virginia Beach area wrecks. This is by no means a definitive list, but it does lists the more common and well-known sites. Email me if you have comments or would like to see something added. - 1800 Line.(90 fsw) This wreck sits right on the 1800 LORAN line. Its' identity is uncertain, but it is believed to be a WWI Coast Guard Cutter.
- 4A Drydock.(75 fsw) This is a sunken drydock.
- Anglo African. (25 fsw) A 4,186 ton freighter sunk after being stranded on Cape Charles on January 5, 1909. Although seldom dived because of the usually less than favorable conditions near the
Cape, this can be a very interesting wreck.
- Brass Spike Wreck. (70 fsw) A wooden hulled steam assisted sailing vessel that we discovered in 1994. A brass sexton was found laying in the sand. This vessel has brass spikes (thus the name) in the hull and contains some of the biggest tautog you will ever see. The treasure of this wreck is waiting to be discovered.
- Buarque. (250 fsw) A 5,152 ton passenger freighter sunk after being torpedoed during on Feb. 15, 1942. This is an extremely interesting wreck which requires further investigation as it has only been dived a couple times. Some think this may actually be the Mexicana.
- Cuyahoga. (120 fsw) 320 ton USCG Cutter that sank after colliding with the 12,762 ton MV Santa Cruz II near Smith Point, Va. on October 20, 1978. Eleven men lost their lives in the collision. The Cuyahoga was raised and later sunk as an artificial reef. The wreck is upright, intact and interesting to explore.
- Doxie Girl. (60 fsw) An
intact clam boat that sank during the 1970s. Although frequently dived, the bell, complete with the clapper and davit, was recovered not long ago by diver Dave Etchison.
- Ethel C. (190 fsw) 2,847 ton freighter sunk on April 16, 1960 after it's cargo of scrape iron shifted while enroute from New York to Newport News, Va. The wreck is upright, intact, and visually
spectactular. There are three levels of superstructure amidships. The navigation bridge rises to 140 fsw. The engine room is located in the stern and is now accessible through the skylight, which collapsed sometime during the winter of 1994/1995. As of October 1995, most of the portholes in the stern superstructure are still there. Because the amidships section is so interesting, the stern is explored less frequently. There are still many interesting artifacts to recover.
- Eureka.
(115 fsw) 3,531 ton four masted steam schooner sunk after colliding with the British steamer Benison on May 6, 1888. The Eureka, a wooden coastal cargo vessel, was enroute from New York to New Orleans with a cargo of general merchandise. Some of the artifacts recovered include porcelain dolls, miniature sets of china, numerous types of bottles-- including Florida water bottles, medicine bottles and snuff bottles--, steam gauges, deadeyes, portholes, a small bell, a silver lantern, a gold pocket watch, and an ornate capstan cover. This is a fascinating wreck, full of cargo. Dive this wreck and you will probably find an artifact. This wreck was discovered and identified in 1989 by the recovery of the capstan cover.
- Frankfurt. (425 fsw) A 5,210 ton German light cruiser that was one of eleven ex-German warships sunk as targets off of the Virginia coast after WWI. This is a very impressive wreck.
- Gulf Hustler.
(75 fsw) A fishing trawler that sank during high seas in 1974. The wheel house is open, fun to explore, and great for u/w photography. The upper portion of the wreck is coated with mussels and a number of large Atlantic green eels live in the engine room.
- Margret Hanks.
(70 fsw) A clam dredge that sank in rough seas southeast of Rudee Inlet. The wreck is intact and upright with a slight list to port. This is a fun wreck to dive.
- Kingston Ceylonite.
(60 fsw) A 448 ton British ship that was loaned to the USA at the beginning of WW II for escort and mine sweeping duty. The ship sank on June 15, 1942 and it is unclear as to whether she hit a German mine or was struck by a torpedo from the U-701. The wreck is largely broken up but still an interesting dive. It has been wire dragged.
- Kurn.(95 fsw) This is a
particularly popular part of the Tower Reef, with lots of lobsters. It is a Navy tanker that broke amidships. The bow sits perfectly upside down. The stern sits upright 100 feet away but lists. There is a debris field between them.
- Lillian Luckenbach.
(105 fsw) 6,369 ton freighter built in 1919 and sunk on March 27, 1943 after colliding with the SS Cape Henlopen. The wreck lies on it's port side. The bow and stern are recognizably intact, the amidships section is more broken down. The superstructure is scattered in the sand. This a very interesting wreck but often overlooked in favor of the nearby John Morgan. Bugs are known to come up from a dive on this wreck. Look for the 8ft open end wrench in the stern.
- Merida. (210 fsw) 6,207 ton passenger freighter sunk on May 12, 1911 after colliding the SS Admiral Farragut. The Merida is rumored to have gone down with a significant amount of silver and copper. Over the years there have been numerous attempts to recover treasure, one reportedly dating back to 1917. If any of the attempts were successful, it was kept quiet. In recent years, with sport
divers venturing ever deeper, the Merida is easily accessible but seldom dived.
- John Morgan.
(110 fsw) 7,176 ton Liberty ship sunk on it's maiden voyage on June 1, 1943 by being cut in half after colliding with the SS Montana. The John Morgan was loaded with lend-lease cargo which included trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, P-39 airplanes, 10 Valentine tanks, artillery guns, ammunition, and tons of assorted weapons. This is one of the most interesting wrecks off of the Virginia coast to explore. This is the best-known of the Virginia wrecks. It was built in Philadelphia in 1942. The stern sank quickly in 100 fsw with a long rubble field in front of it. The bow remained afloat for some time and its whereabouts are still uncertain.
- Ocean Venture. (170 fsw) 7,174 ton freighter sunk after being torpedoed by U-108 on February 8, 1942. The hull is basically upright, the stern is listing to port. The engine and boilers are most impressive. The bridge is upside down just off of the port side. The helm, telegraph, numerous portholes, and many other artifacts have been recovered - including lead
ingots and brass portholes. The Ocean Venture is one of the best dives off of the Virginia coast. This is a dive for experienced divers only due to the depth of 170 fsw.
- Francis E. Powell. (90 fsw) 7,140 ton US tanker full of gasoline and home heating oil torpedoed by the U-130 about 20 miles from Rudee Inlet on January 27, 1942, losing 4 crewmen. The wreck is
broken into at least two sections. The stern section is off of Parramore Island in 90 fsw. The section frequently dived off of Virginia Beach is almost unrecognizable as either the bow or midship section. If, in fact, the wreck is in more than two sections, one section remains to be found. The stern sank quickly with the bow staying afloat until the Coast Guard later sank it. Many consider this the best wreck dive in Virginia.
- Captain Rick's. (80 fsw) An intact fishing trawler sitting upright. The wreck is covered with all kinds of marine life. Rick's is a good wreck for u/w photography.
- Santore.
(55 fsw) 7,117 ton US bulk cargo carrier sunk after striking a mine layed by the U-701 on June 17, 1942. Many of the crew died. The starboard gunwale was awash after sinking and subsequently the wreck was reduced to an enormous pile of debris. Although there is little resemblance to a ship, the Santore is frequently dived. Interestingly, the helm wasn't recovered until the mid-1990s years ago by Mike Boyle and Lynn Castaganola. This is a good site for artifacts, lobsters, spearfishing, and u/w photography.
- Tiger.
(60 fsw) 5,992 ton US tanker sunk after being torpedoed by the U-754 on April 1, 1942. The bow is recognizable as a ship and the boilers stick up out of the sand almost 20 feet. The rest of the wreck is broken up and extends almost 500 feet. Though little else is recognizable, the Tiger typically has good conditions and is a popular inshore site, particularly for new divers and students.
- Tower Reef.
(50 - 95 fsw) An area south east of the Chesapeake Light Tower that was created as part of Virginia's artificial reef program. This reef contains a variety of barges, tanks, ships, and other items. There are too many wrecks to list individually, though the Kurn is particularly popular. The wreckage is a combination of small ships and large barges donated by the US Navy and local industry. All of the wrecks attract a wide variety of fish. The Kurn's (95fsw) broken bow sits upright, with debris scatterred behind it. The stern is about 100 feet away.
- Triangle Wrecks. (95 - 120 fsw) This is an artificial reef composed of four liberty ships that were stripped of all superstructure to the main deck. The typical depth to the main deck is 100 ft. The following are the names of the ships and the date that they were sunk: George P. Garrison - January 20, 1984; Edgar Clark - March 13, 1977; James Havilon - March 19,
1976; and Webster - August 28, 1974.
- USS Washington. (290 fsw) 32,600 ton US Battleship sunk as a target on November 25, 1924. The Washington is upside down and, to my knowledge, has only been dived three times.
- Winthrop. (60 fsw)
189 ton tug foundered on July 20, 1920. The wreck is upright and listing slightly to port. Many interesting artifacts have been recovered from the wreck including the helm, portholes, a sextant, a vintage camera, the builders plaque and one anchor.
Back to Top North Carolina Wrecks - Abrams Outer Banks area. - Australia
(110 fsw) A 510-ft tanker sunk by the U-332 on March 16, 1942. The wreck is broken into two large sections and has been partially demolished. There is about 20 feet of relief on the stern section which is separated from the bow by a large debris field. Strong currents have been observed while diving on this wreck.
- City Of Atlanta (90 fsw) This 380-ft
passenger-carrying freighter was torpedoed on January 19, 1942. The wreck rises 20 feet from the bottom and the bow and stern are clearly discernable.
- Atlas (130 fsw) lies off Morehead City. It was sunk by a U-boat in WWII. Stong currents have been seen at this site too.
- British Splendour (100 fsw) This 440-ft tanker is a spectacular dive as you can actually swim through or under the wreck. It was also a victim of the 1942 German U-boat attacks. The wreck lies upside down, but there are large holes in the stern section, especially in the engine room areas.
- Byron D. Benson (105 fsw) A 465-ft tanker which was torpedoed in the infamous year of 1942. The stern rises 30-ft and is exposed to view along with gauges and machinery. The large anchors rest in the sand.
- Caribsea
(86 fsw) lies off Morehead City. It was sunk by a U-boat in WWII. The bow is fairly intact. Mid and aft sections are broken up. It sits on a perfect magnetic north-south axis.
- Chenango.
(140 fsw) A wreck believed to be the Chenango lies upside down just south of the Virginia / North Carolina border. The wreck is broken into two sections. The stern section is mostly intact. The prop has been salvaged. The forward section is broken down with little relief. This wreck is infrequently dived and deserves further exploration.
- Chilore.
(60 fsw) 8,310 ton ore carrier torpedoed by the U-576 off Cape Hatteras, then struck an allied mine, and finally foundered near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay while under tow. Being in shipping channels, the wreck is a hazard to navigation and was subsequently reduced to an enormous unrecognizable pile of rubble. Consequently, the Chilore is seldom dove.
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E. M. Clark. (240 fsw) This 500-ft long tanker was sunk by torpedos in 1942. It lies on its port side and is mostly intact. Visibilty averages 100 feet, but the area is subject to strong currents.
- Dixie Arrow
(90 fsw) A 470-ft tanker which burned extensively before sinking in a 1942 U-boat attack. The bow section rises to a height of 20 feet and trails off to a large debris field leading to the stern where the rudder is clearly visible.
- Empire Gem
(140 fsw) This 465-ft ship was just a few months old when she was torpedoed. The stern is the most interesting to dive. The bow is upside-down while the stern sits upright with its massive diesel engine exposed to view.
- Equipoise
(140 fsw) A 430-ft freighter sunk in 1942 by a U-boat. This ship sits upright except for the bow which is broken off and rises 40-ft from the bottom. Because of its location, it is seldom dove. See Mexicana.
- Kassandra Louloudis
(70 fsw) This ship was torpedoed by U-124 on March 17, 1942, 14 days after U-124 sank the Papoose. The wreck is a pile of rubble encrusted with coral, but it attracts a large fish population.
- Lancing
(160 fsw) This 470-ft former whaling factory ship was torpedoed in 1942. This ship is upside-down and rises 30-ft from the bottom. The rudder and propeller are prominent as well as the hole blasted in the ship's side by the torpedo.
- Malchace
(206 fsw) This 335-ft freighter was torpedoed and sank in 1942. The wreck is pretty much intact and lies on its side. The wreck is not often dived and should be a good site for artifacts.
- Manuela
(155 fsw) This is another victim of the 1942 U-boat attacks. This 395-ft freighter is broken into 3 sections. The forward part is intact and rises 25-ft off the bottom. The stern section also has 25-ft of relief and the propeller can be seen rising out of the sand.
- Mexicana
(140 fsw) This ship has been previously been identified as the Equipoise but we believe it is the Mexicana. The wreck sits upright, but most of the deck and hull plates have fallen away giving the appearance of a skeleton of a ship. This has become a popular wreck for divers out of Virginia Beach.
- Mirlo
(110 fsw) A 425-ft tanker sunk in 1918 by a mine laid by a U-boat. This site is rarely visited by divers. The stern rises 20-ft from the bottom and can be entered from a break forward in the hull.
- Norvana(York)
(110 fsw) This 225-ft freighter was one of the first of many ships sunk by U-boats in 1942 off NC. The ship was previously named the York and Mike Hillier recovered the brass letters spelling YORK in 1991. The bow is intact and rises 40ft with the anchors still attached. The stern is broken and rises 25-ft.
- Papoose
(120 fsw) lies off Morehead City. This US tanker was sunk by U-124 on March 3, 1942. The vessel is intact. The bow sits upright. Mid and aft sections are upside down. The hull rises about 30-ft off the bottom. It is 400 feet long, interesting, and usually hosts sand tiger sharks. See Kassandra Louloudis.
- Proteus
(120 fsw) Theis passenger-freighter sank in 1918 after a collision with the Cushing. Both ships were running without navigation lights because of the wartime conditions. The stern rises 30-ft from the bottom. The rudder and propeller are clearly visible.
- San Delfino
(200 fsw) Another tanker sunk by a U-boat in 1942, this 465-ft wreck sits upright on the bottom and rises 40-ft. This is a good dive for deep dive training with good relief and visibility for a cold water wreck.
- USS Tarpon
(140 fsw)lies near Cape Hatteras, 20 miles south of Ocracoke Island. This US submarine sank 9 Japanese and 1 German ship in WWII and then broke free of its tow line while being towed to the scrap yard in 1957. It sits upright and lists to port. The conning tower has slid off the deck and lies in the sand. Sand tiger sharks congregate here in large nubmers and seem to breed here.
- U-85 (100 fsw) sits off Kitty Hawk, 17 miles off Oregon Inlet Nicknamed the "Wild Boar", this was the first German sub sunk by the US in WWII. It was sunk by the Navy in 1942, a year of great Allied shipping losses caused by U-boats. It sits upright and lists to one side. The conning tower and deck gun point skyward, presenting a startling picture. After diving many of the close-by U-boat victims (ie, Allied ships), the U-85 is an eery sight to behold.
- U-175 (fsw) Outer Banks area.
- U-352
(115 fsw) sunk in WWII and lies near Morehead City, 26 miles off Beaufort sea buoy. Fairly intact. The first German sub sunk by the Coast Guard in WWII. Diving the U-boats make you wonder how such small vessels could cause so much damage to other ships, but they did!
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