AR-368 - 10 Railroad boxcars

Protected Area

Lea Island

Why dive here

With 42+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles - AR-368 - 10 Railroad boxcars offers some of North Carolina's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeSea Turtles · 42+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive

We’ve got a soft spot for the AR-368 boxcars, a site that’s often overlooked in favor of North Carolina’s bigger wrecks. Ten hulking railroad cars, sunk deliberately as part of an artificial reef project, now sit upright in about 30 meters of water. There’s a beautiful desolation to them, like a ghost train at the bottom of the ocean. The boxcars are surprisingly intact, offering plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into. We particularly love the way light filters through the missing roofs, illuminating schools of baitfish that swirl inside. You’ll often find large amberjacks circling the entire structure, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a sand tiger shark or two cruises by, using the boxcars as a resting spot. It’s a great dive for those who appreciate the slower pace of wreck exploration and don't mind a bit of a current, which can sometimes be strong out here. Our top tip: aim for slack tide if you want to explore the interiors comfortably. Bring a good light; the deeper sections can get quite dim, enhancing that eerie, cavernous feel we enjoy so much.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

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AR-368 - 10 Railroad boxcars Wreck History

Vessel Type

unknown

Cause

scuttled

Part of the sprawling AR-368, known as the “Starship Reef,” these 10 railroad boxcars create one of the most unusual underwater landscapes a diver can explore. Sunk intentionally to enhance the artificial reef system, they have none of the tragic history of a shipwreck, but all of the allure. Resting in about 120 feet of water, the boxcars are scattered across the seafloor, appearing like a ghostly, submerged freight train. Their large, open doorways provide perfect swim-throughs for divers and ideal habitats for marine life. Each boxcar acts as a self-contained ecosystem, offering shelter to everything from schools of spadefish and black sea bass to larger grouper and patrolling sand tiger sharks in the cooler months. It's a surreal and rewarding dive that turns industrial scrap into an underwater playground.