North Carolina

Brunswick County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States



3.0 nm from the Shallotte Inlet sea buoy

AR-460 - 330' barge is also known as Fishermans Reef AR-460 - 330' barge.

Ocean Isle Beach

AR-460 - 330' barge

Railroad boxcars: 10
33° 50.100' / 078° 21.000' 
33° 50.084' / 078° 22.132' 
33° 49.993' / 078° 22.071' 
33° 49.960' / 078° 22.146' 
33° 49.959' / 078° 22.087' 
33° 49.892' / 078° 22.059' 
33° 49.897' / 078° 22.117'

Reef Balls®: 100 in two groups of 50
33° 50.267' / 078° 22.050'
33° 50.267' / 078° 22.000'

Reef Balls®: 100 In four groups of 25
33° 50.241' / 078° 22.000'
33° 50.241' / 078° 22.048'
33° 50.200' / 078° 21.967'
33° 50.150' / 078° 21.983'

Concrete pipe
33° 50.183' / 078° 22.083'
33° 50.167' / 078° 22.083'

Concrete pipe: 126 pieces, 24" by 8'
33° 50.183' / 078° 22.100'

Concrete pipe: 105 pieces, 30" by 8'
33° 50.179' / 078° 22.106'

Assorted manhole sections: approximately 360 tons
33° 50.238' / 078° 21. 904' 
33° 50.236' / 078° 21. 900' 
33° 50.234' / 078° 21. 904'

Concrete pipe: 64 pieces
330 50.213' / 0780 22.143'

Concrete pipe: 40 pieces
33° 50.210' / 078° 22.138' 
33° 50.227' / 078° 22.165'

3.0 nm from the Shallotte Inlet sea buoy

AR-460 - Buoy is also known as Fishermans Reef AR-460 - Buoy.

AR-460 - Buoy



10.6 nm from the Cape Fear River sea buoy

AR-455 - "PAWTUCKET" is also known as Dale Ward Reef AR-455 - 102' US Navy tug "PAWTUCKET".

AR-455 - "PAWTUCKET"

Railroad boxcars: 10
33° 47.010' / 078° 17.850' 
33° 46.990' / 078° 17.810' 
33° 46.990' / 078° 17.870'

Concrete pipe: 600 tons
33° 47.083' / 078° 17.933' 
33° 47.050' / 078° 17.900'

Concrete manhole sections: 150 pieces
33° 47.043' / 078° 17.788'

Reef Balls®: 100 in three groups of ~33
33° 47.000' / 078° 17.867'
33° 47.033' / 078° 17.900'
33° 47.050' / 078° 17.933'

Concrete pipe: 65 pieces, 36" by 8'
33° 47.033' / 078° 17.783'

Concrete pipe: 74 pieces
33° 47.000' / 078° 17.767'

Reef Balls®: 100 in four groups of 25
33° 47.000' / 078° 17.942'
33° 46.967' / 078° 17.938'
33° 46.957' / 078° 17.982'
33° 46.992' / 078° 17.991'

Concrete pipe: 230 pieces
33° 47.017' / 078° 17.800' 
33° 47.000' / 078° 17.800'

"Dale Ward Ultra Ball Reef" 
Ultra Reef Balls®: 51
33° 47.100' / 078° 18.000'

Assorted concrete items: 58 pieces
33° 47.093' / 078° 17.973'
33° 47.078' / 078° 17.956'

Assorted concrete items: 27 pieces
33° 47.106' / 078° 17.955'

Assorted concrete items: 272 pieces
33° 47.080' / 078° 17.957'
33° 47.079' / 078° 17.857'

Concrete pipe: 155 tons
33° 47.021' / 078° 18.016'

Concrete pipe:154 tons
33° 47.024' / 078° 18.026'

Concrete pipe and manhole sections: 156 tons
33° 47.024' / 078° 18.008'

Concrete pipe: 175 tons
33° 47.021' / 078° 17.998'

Concrete pipe: 160 tons
33° 47.037' / 078° 18.006''


10.6 nm from the Cape Fear River sea buoy

AR-455 - Buoy is also known as Dale Ward Reef AR-455 - Buoy.

AR-455 - Buoy



2.7 nm from south jetty at Little River Inlet.
1 buoy marks the reef.


Little River Reef

It is a 65' tug boat which sunk in May-93.

4.5 nm from the Lockwood's Folly Inlet sea buoy

AR-440 - "COOPEDGE" is also known as Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef AR-440 -  "COOPEDGE".

AR-440 - "COOPEDGE"

It is a 65' tug boat which sunk in May-93.

4.5 nm from the Lockwood's Folly Inlet sea buoy

AR-440 -  "A.T. PINER" is also known as Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef AR-440 -  "A.T. PINER".

AR-440 -  "A.T. PINER"

Railroad boxcars: 7
33° 49.660' / 078° 13.050' 
33° 49.710' / 078° 13.030' 
33° 49.720' / 078° 13.040'

Boiler pieces: 4
33° 49.777' / 078° 13.053'
33° 49.691' / 078° 13.061'
33° 49.715' / 078° 13.060'
33° 49.727' / 078° 13.082'

Concrete pipe: 150 pieces
33° 49.817' / 078° 13.100' 
33° 49.833' / 078° 13.083'

Concrete items: 4 pieces, 60 tons
33° 49.825' / 078° 13.068'

Reef Balls®: 100 in 2 groups
33° 49.775' / 078° 13.051'  
33° 49.745' / 078° 13.075'
33° 49.780' / 078° 13.050' 
33° 49.797' / 078° 13.028'

Concrete pipe: 204 pieces, 30" by 8'
33° 49.753' / 078° 13.091'

Concrete pipe: 210 pieces, 30" by 8'
33° 49.733' / 078° 13.095'

Concrete pipe: 151 pieces 24" by 8'
33° 49.884' / 078° 13.058'
33° 49.889' / 078° 13.070'

Concrete pipe, various sizes: approximately 130 pieces
33° 49.807' / 078° 12.922'

Concrete pipe, various sizes: 219 pieces
33° 49.803' / 078° 12.956' 
33° 49.807' / 078° 12.923' 
33° 49.800' / 0780 12.919'

Assorted concrete items
33° 49.735' / 0780 12.986'

4.5 nm from the Lockwood's Folly Inlet sea buoy

AR-440 - Buoy is also known as Brunswick County Fishing Club Reef AR-440 - Buoy.

AR-440 - Buoy

10 train cars

9.3 nm from Lookwood's Folly Inlet

AR-445 - Train Cars is also known as Dale McDowell Reef AR-445 - Train Cars.

AR-445 - Train Cars



9.3 nm from Lookwood's Folly Inlet

AR-445 - ADMIRAL CHARLIE is also known as Dale McDowell Reef AR-445 - ADMIRAL CHARLIE 55 Tug.

AR-445 - ADMIRAL CHARLIE



9.3 nm from Lookwood's Folly Inlet

AR-445 - JELL II 174' vessel is also known as Dale McDowell Reef AR-445 - "JELL II" 174' vessel.

AR-460 - 330' barge

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at AR-460 - 330' barge