North Carolina
United States · East Coast
North Carolina's Outer Banks coast earned its nickname the Graveyard of the Atlantic for good reason — more than 5,000 ships have sunk in these waters over four centuries. WWII wrecks lie in remarkable condition just offshore, drawing divers who want history and big wildlife in equal measure.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
25 species across the dive sites here
Knobbed Whelk
Seen 24 days ago
at Caribsea
White Ibis
Seen 24 days ago
at Caribsea
Least concern
Thinstripe Hermit Crab
Seen 26 days ago
at Caribsea
Sand Tiger Shark
Seen 27 days ago
at Caribsea
Critically endangered
Emperor Helmet Snail
Seen 1 month ago
at Caribsea
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Seen 3 months ago
at City of New York
Vulnerable
White Grunt
Seen 8 months ago
at U-352
Least concern
Almaco Jack
Seen 10 months ago
at U-352
Least concern
Grey Triggerfish
Seen 10 months ago
at U-352
Vulnerable
Tomtate
Seen 10 months ago
at U-352
Least concern
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Seen 11 months ago
at Caribsea
Least concern
Black Sea Bass
Seen Jul 2025
at City of New York
Least concern
Atlantic Spadefish
Seen Jun 2025
at Caribsea
Least concern
Great Barracuda
Seen Jun 2025
at USS Tarpon
Least concern
Spotfin Butterflyfish
Seen Jun 2025
at City of New York
Least concern
Spanish Hogfish
Seen Oct 2024
at City of New York
Least concern
Spotfin Hogfish
Seen Jul 2024
at USS Tarpon
Least concern
Greater Amberjack
Seen year round
at USS Tarpon
Least concern
Lionfish
Seen year round
at U-352
Least concern
Moray Eel
Seen year round
at Caribsea
Least concern
Spiny Lobster
Seen year round
at City of New York
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
Seasonal visitor
at City of New York
Vulnerable
Spadefish
Seasonal visitor
at U-352
Least concern
African Pompano
Rare sighting
at USS Tarpon
Least concern
Atlantic Moonfish
Rare sighting
at U-352
Least concern
Dive sites
U-352
sand tiger shark · spadefish · lionfish · almaco jack
USS Tarpon
greater amberjack · great barracuda · sand tiger shark · white grunt
Caribsea
sand tiger shark · atlantic spadefish · moray eel · white ibis
City of New York
loggerhead sea turtle · atlantic goliath grouper · spiny lobster · sand tiger shark