White Reef - Bay of Islands

We love diving North Carolina wrecks, and the LCU 1468 is a perfect example of why. It’s not just a pile of metal; this landing craft is a genuine piece of history, and you feel that as soon as you drop down. The structure is still largely intact, offering easy penetration for those with the right training, and plenty to explore on the exterior for everyone else. Look for the massive schools of baitfish that swirl around the bow, often herded by amberjacks darting in and out of the shadows. Our favourite part is the engine room, if you can squeeze in, where the machinery is encrusted in anemones and small corals. We’d suggest a good dive light to pick out the details and the smaller critters, like the blennies peering from every crevice. Visibility can be a bit variable here, so pick a calm day if you can, and be prepared for a bit of current. It’s a classic North Carolina wreck dive: gritty, full of life, and just plain cool.

Location
Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-35.193000, 174.297700
Type
wreck

Wreck History - White Reef

Year Sunk
1980
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
385 tons

The LCU-1468 served a long career with the U.S. Navy as a Landing Craft Utility. These flat-bottomed workhorses were designed for a single, crucial purpose: to ferry troops, vehicles, and equipment from larger ships onto hostile shores. With its large, open cargo area and a bow ramp that could be lowered onto a beach, the LCU-1468 was a vital link in amphibious military operations for decades.

After being decommissioned, the vessel was given a new mission. In 1980, it was cleaned and purposefully sunk off the coast of North Carolina to become part of the Onslow Bay Reef, designated as artificial reef site AR-145. Today, the LCU-1468 sits upright and intact on the seabed, its military past still clearly visible in its distinctive shape. The open well deck creates a fantastic swim-through for certified divers, and the entire structure is heavily encrusted with marine growth.

As part of the famed 'Graveyard of the Atlantic,' this wreck attracts an incredible amount of marine life. It is a favorite haunt for schools of amberjack and is frequently visited by sand tiger sharks, sea turtles, and goliath groupers. The LCU-1468 is a superb wreck dive, offering a piece of military history that has been fully reclaimed by the sea.

Marine Protected Area: Oke Bay

Nearby Dive Sites in Bay of Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to White Reef

Marine Life in Bay of Islands

Home to 172 recorded species including 100 reef fish, 22 sharks & rays, 11 whales & dolphins, 10 other, 6 crabs & lobsters, 4 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species