184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400
Why dive here
With 42+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles - 184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400 offers some of North Carolina's richest wreck diving.
The Capt. Greg Mickey, an old menhaden fishing boat, sits upright in the sand, a proper wreck dive off the North Carolina coast. We love a wreck that still holds its shape, and this one does, with the bow and stern mostly intact. You can swim into the wheelhouse and down into the engine room if you’ve got the right training and a good guide. It’s dark in there, properly atmospheric. Schools of baitfish usually swirl around the superstructure, and we often see sand tiger sharks cruising the perimeter, especially in late summer. It's a solid intermediate dive, nothing too crazy, but the currents can pick up. We’d suggest going with a local charter who knows the best slack tide windows. Our favourite spot is the stern, where the prop shaft usually hosts some big sheepshead.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400 Wreck History
Year Sunk
2012
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
scuttled
The Capt. Greg Mickey spent its working life as a 184-foot menhaden fishing vessel, navigating the Atlantic in pursuit of its catch. After years of service, the ship was retired and prepared for a new purpose. In 2012, it was purposefully sunk as part of the North Carolina Artificial Reef program. It now rests on the seabed off the coast of Carteret County, designated as the centerpiece of Artificial Reef 400 (AR-400).
Unlike historic wrecks lost to storms or war, the Capt. Greg Mickey was sunk in a controlled manner, ensuring it would land upright and be safe for exploration. This makes it a fantastic dive site, especially for those new to wreck penetration. Sitting in the famed 'Graveyard of the Atlantic,' the vessel has rapidly transformed from a clean steel structure into a vibrant, living reef. It attracts an incredible amount of marine life, including large schools of baitfish, amberjack, and the occasional sand tiger shark, offering divers a dynamic and fish-filled wreck experience.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for 184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400
184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400 Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for 184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Lake Murray SC (262km away)
August Averages
Air Temperature
27.2°C
81°F
Wind Speed
2.2 m/s
4.3 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.7 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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