North Carolina

Carteret 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



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - Aircraft: A-4E (2) is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - Aircraft: A-4E (2).

Atlantic Beach

AR-315 - Aircraft: A-4E (2)



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - Aircraft: CH-46 & OV10 is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - Aircraft: CH-46 & OV10.

AR-315 - Aircraft: CH-46 & OV10



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - Aircraft: F-4 #1 is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - Aircraft: F-4 #1.

AR-315 - Aircraft: F-4 #1



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - Aircraft: F-4 #2 is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - Aircraft: F-4 #2.

AR-315 - Aircraft: F-4 #2

Sunken in 1974 as part of the North Carolina Artificial Reef project. This is a 440' liberty ship.

Olympus runs out to the Parker. It's about a 30 minute ride.

AR-315 - THEODORE PARKER is also known as 440' Liberty Ship "THEODORE PARKER".

AR-315 - THEODORE PARKER

Tires: 177,168
Throughout area N of Liberty Ship

Atlantic Beach Bridge rubble
34° 39.967' / 076° 45.050' and 
34° 39.983' / 076° 45.033'

Atlantic Beach Bridge steel framing
34° 40.350' / 076° 44.583' 
34° 40.383' / 076° 44.583'

Concrete rubble: 80 tons
34° 40.383' / 076° 44.650' to 
34° 40.383' / 076° 44.667'

Concrete pipe: 150 tons ~60 pieces

34° 40.305' / 076° 44.516' 
34° 40.305' / 076° 44.503'

Reef Balls®: 100
34° 40.383' / 076° 44.500' to 
34° 40.400' / 076° 44.517' and 
34° 40.400' / 076° 44.500' 
34° 40.400' / 076° 44.483'

Concrete pipe: Newport DOT
34° 40.316' / 076° 44.804'

Concrete pipe: Newport DOT Miscellaneous concrete items, Radio Island pilings
34° 40.330' / 076° 44.793'

Radio Island ramp pilings, T.D. Eure Construction 
(6-12' length ~500 pieces in each of two areas)
34° 40.280' / 076° 44.534'
- NE end, and 
34° 40.217' / 076° 44.617'
- SW end

Concrete pipe (Heavy Concentration) Carteret County Sportfishing Association
34° 40.243' / 076° 44.600'

Radio Island ramp pilings, T.D. Eure Construction (Round Dispersal Pattern)
34° 39.908' / 076° 45.189'

Miscellaneous concrete scrap and ramp pilings: approximately 190 tons
34° 40.329' / 076° 44.792' and 
34° 39.911' / 076° 45.188'

Scrap concrete ramp pilings: 87 pieces
34° 39.903' / 076° 45.177'

Scrapped USCG buoy anchors
Center point is 
34° 40.333' / 076° 44.770' 
spread between "THEODOR PARKER" and "TAKOS"

22 pieces concrete scrap
34° 40.200' / 076° 45.187'

Reef Balls®: 50 Ultra Reef Ball®: 1
34° 39.955' / 076° 44.800'

Bay balls: 2
34° 40.206' / 076° 44.767'

Assorted concrete pipe and headers
34° 40.200' / 076° 44.499'

Assorted manhole boxes & risers: 74 pieces
34° 39.996' / 076° 44.640'

Concrete pipe: 157 tons
34° 40.297' / 076° 44.525'

Concrete pipe: 160 tons
34° 40.368' / 0760 44.477'

Concrete pipe: 162 tons
340 40.336' / 076° 44.487'

Concrete pipe: 161 tons
34° 40.384' / 076° 44.459'

3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - Buoy is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - Buoy.

AR-315 - Buoy



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - 104' US Navy tug "TAKOS" is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - 104' US Navy tug "TAKOS".

AR-315 - 104' US Navy tug "TAKOS"

60' lash barge with 450 tons of concrete rubble

3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - 60' lash barge 1 is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - 60' lash barge 1.

AR-315 - 60' lash barge 1



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - 60' lash barge 2 is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - 60' lash barge 2.

AR-315 - 60' lash barge 2



3.5 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-315 - "FINEST KIND" is also known as Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - Steel-hull sportfishing vessel "FINEST KIND".

AR-315 - "FINEST KIND"

Atlantic Beach Bridge rubble: 2 rows running N to S 100' E and 300' W of "NOVELTY"
34° 39.483' / 076° 48.450' to 
34° 39.400' / 076° 48.450' and 
34° 39.517' / 076° 48.433' to 
34° 39.517' / 076° 48.467'

Atlantic Beach Bridge, steel truss span
34° 39.483' / 076° 48.450' to 
34° 39.517' / 076° 48.467'

Concrete "Waffle-Crete"® units
34° 39.543' / 076° 48.452'

Concrete manhole sections: 33 units
34° 39.341' / 076° 48.405' to 
34° 39.307' / 076° 48.405'

7.3 nm from Beaufort Inlet at the Fort Macon jetty

AR-320 - Buoy is also known as Clifton Moss Reef AR-320 - Buoy.

AR-315 - Aircraft: A-4E (2)

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at AR-315 - Aircraft: A-4E (2)