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Dive Site Descriptions:
Visiting
divers to our area are asking, "What is there to dive
off Wrightsville Beach?" PLENTY!!
We
are fortunate to have available to us a wide variety of sites from
World War II sites to beautiful rock ledges. Time and space
prevent us from listing them all, however, here is a brief
rundown of some of our favorite sites: |
| Alexander Ramsey: Sunk
in 1974 as part of the artificial reef program, she is also
referred to as the Liberty Ship. Over 400' long, she rests in 50
feet of water. Many varieties of marine life are
present, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.
Visibility averages 10-15' and occasionally reaches 30-40'. This
site is one of our favorites for training. |
| 6 Mile Ledge, Dallas Rock, 8 Mile
Ledge, 18
Mile Ledge, 23 Mile Ledge:
These
are but a few of the numerous rocky outcroppings that we are
fortunate to have access to. Inshore ledges generally don't have
the vertical relief of the offshore ledges, however
extended bottom times more than make up for the size. Sea life
proliferates around ledges, and among other things, the
offshore ledges have been known to house a lobster or two as well
as some great game fish for spear fishermen. |
| Old Dredge Wreck: Carrying
a load of fire bricks, this steam powered barge
sank in 60 feet of water. Unfortunately, not much more is known
about this wreck. Visibility ranges in the 40-60'
category. Sea Turtles, amber jack, Barracuda, Grouper, Spanish
Mackerel, and Green Eels are just a few of the species seen here. |
| Stone & Pocahontas: These
two tugs lie in close proximity to the Old Dredge Wreck and make
a great second dive. Sunk as part of the
artificial reef program several years ago, both tugs sit
upright in the sand. Ease of navigation and astounding marine
life make these sites a favorite night dive of the
Aquatic Safaris crew. |
| Hyde: The
Hyde, a 215 ft ocean going
hopper dredge, sits upright in 85ft of water 18 miles from Masonboro
inlet. It was sunk by NC Division of Marine Fisheries in 1988.The
Hyde is one of the most popular wrecks in our area. The ship
sitting upright on the bottom makes
it very easy to navigate. The
deck is around 65-70 ft which makes this a good dive for a novice diver
wanting a little more experience. During the summer months this
wreck
is well populated with sand tiger sharks, which make for incredible
dives. |
| Markham:
Sunk
in
the fall of 1995, this wreck is the latest and greatest addition to
the artificial reef program. Sitting on her side in 80' of
water, her massive hull stretches to within 40 feet of the
surface. The Markham has shown many of us how fast the ocean
can make art of iron. Marine life including schools of bait fish,
amber jack mackerels and barracuda as well as the occasional
Sand Tiger Shark make this dive a must-see!! |
| John D. Gill: Also
known as WR-4, the Gill was sunk March 14, 1942 by
U-158. She now rests in 90' of water with her large deck section
rising to within 60' of the surface. Space prevents us from
adequately describing just how good this dive
is, so don't take our word for it, visit her
yourself!! Visibility is rarely less than 40', and 60-80' is
more the rule here than the exception.; Tropical fish,
Rays, Sea Turtles, Corals, Grouper, and Barracuda of what can
be seen here, not to mention that it seems every summer someone brings
up an overlooked piece of brass. This is a definite MUST
DIVE!! |
Cassmir:
This wreck was sunk on February 26th 1942 by a collision with the
tanker R.P.
Resor. Today she rests in ruffly 118 ft of water. The parts
of the wreck that are most notable are the stern section that lies over
on its side as will as the "columns to nowhere" that once supported the
deck. The bow lies ahead over a short sandy section so the wreck
is not completely continuous. Marine life is abundant and the
wreck beautiful. It is a must see to be sure. The viz is
comparable to the Gill but you might see lionfish here where we have
yet to see them on the Gill. More often here than at the Gill the
viz can be exceptional due to the decreased distance to the Gulf
Stream. The Stern will have the most vertical relief of anywhere
on the site. If you have see her if you have yet to have the
opportunity.
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Normannia:
This wreck went down January 17, 1924 from the forces of mother
nature. This Danish freighter encountered a fierce storm that
proved too much for her hull and pumps to handle. Today most of
the hull has been torn away and the vertical relief is lower than that
of the Cassmir, but age of the wreck means marine life is
exceptional. The dominant features of the wreck are the engine
and boilers . This is considered by many of us to be the
"prettiest"
of the wrecks we commonly dive. The depth is a little shallower
than the Cassmir even though it is in fairly close proximity.
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Aquatic
Safaris is currently operating two
USCG inspected vessels. The Aquatic
Safaris I is a custom built 48'
dive boat (not a converted fishing vessel) that has a wide beam, making
it a stable dive platform. Twin
diesels ensures a quick comfortable ride to and from the dive
site. She cruises fully loaded ~23-25 knots! Custom fins-optional
ladders with extra wide steps make exiting from
the water easier than ever!! The Aquatic
Safaris II is a custom
built 30' dive boat. Both boats have the transom cut to deck level to
provide a walk-thru, enabling a
giant stride entry!! A descent
line at the stern of the boat drops down 15 feet to the hang bar,
then lead to the anchor line canceling surface swims as well as
acting as a hang line. Tank racks behind the bench seats
are equipped to hold any size tank!! Group rates are
available for groups of 6-21 so give
us a call at (910)392
4-FUN!
Current
Charter
Bookings 
