North Carolina Wreck Diving: The Bruse Reeb
North Carolina is often called the Graveyard of the Atlantic, home to hundreds of shipwrecks scattered along its coast. While the famous wrecks like the U-352 and the Spar get most of the attention, some of the most memorable dives come from the lesser-known sites hidden offshore.
https://youtu.be/wu43_h92tZA?si=uVu-PeLl8Nb3fNWb&t=581
On a recent trip with Gotham Divers, aboard Atlantis Charters out of Beaufort, NC, we headed out to a site nicknamed the Wreck of the Bruse Reeb – Bow Section. It’s not one of the marquee wrecks you’ll see in guidebooks, but that’s exactly what made the dive so interesting—quiet, atmospheric, and full of life.
Exploring the Wreckage
The bow section of the Bruse Reeb lies scattered across the seafloor, its remnants slowly being reclaimed by the ocean. Rusting beams and plates provide structure for schools of fish that weave through the wreckage. Though modest in scale compared to other North Carolina wrecks, it offered plenty of details to notice and film, making the dive feel like a mix of history and marine life.
Crossing Paths with Another Diver
Also on board that day was Squalus Marine Divers, who was filming the dive for his own channel. Around the 10-minute mark of his video, he was capturing footage of a perfectly camouflaged summer flounder when I drifted into the frame. Flounders are masters of disguise. You usually won’t notice them until they shift or flick their fins. It was a fun, unscripted moment to have both of us filming the same fish from different angles.
Why North Carolina Diving Stands Out
This dive was a reminder of what makes North Carolina wreck diving so special. Beyond the well-known sites, there are countless smaller wrecks scattered offshore, each with its own atmosphere and ecosystem. From Beaufort to Morehead City, operators like Atlantis Charters make these sites accessible, giving divers the chance to experience both the legends and the hidden gems of the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
To get a closer look at the wreck and the marine life around it, check out the full dive video from Squalus Marine Divers above. About ten minutes in, you’ll spot the moment when we both film the same summer flounder. This is one of those small, unscripted underwater encounters. Such experiences make dives like this so memorable.
https://youtu.be/xo1DoNMFjQw
#ecotourism #fluke #northCarolina #ScubaDiving #shipwreck #summerFlounder