AR-372 - 2 220 barge

Protected Area

Masonboro Island

Why dive here

With 42+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles - AR-372 - 2 220 barge offers some of North Carolina's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeSea Turtles · 42+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive

The AR-372 barge, sitting off North Carolina, isn't some ancient galleon, but it's a fantastic example of how nature reclaims things. We love dropping onto this site, finding it often a bit silty on the surface, but clearing up as you descend. It’s essentially a large, broken-up cargo barge, probably scuttled here deliberately. What you get is a spread of metal sections, some upright, some toppled, creating all these nooks and crannies. We often spot schools of baitfish shimmering over the larger plates, and if you look closely into the shadowed areas, you’ll likely find nurse sharks resting. Our favourite part is navigating the scattered framework, pushing through gaps where the plates have bent and twisted, revealing fat grouper lurking in the shadows. It’s a gentle wreck dive, perfect for those comfortable with navigating a spread-out site rather than a compact ship. Keep an eye out for lionfish; they’re pretty common here, unfortunately.

Safety Notes

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

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AR-372 - 2 220 barge Wreck History

Year Sunk

1986

Vessel Type

barge

Cause

scuttled

This 220-foot barge is another key feature of North Carolina's Artificial Reef 372, located off the coast of Wrightsville Beach. Sunk in 1986 alongside railroad boxcars and other materials, the barge was deployed as part of a state-led initiative to enhance marine ecosystems and create new fishing and diving destinations. Its large, simple structure was chosen to provide a stable and durable foundation for a new reef community to grow upon.

The barge rests on a sandy bottom and provides a significant vertical profile, making it a magnet for marine life. Divers can explore its large, open deck and peer into its cavernous holds, which now provide shelter for schools of baitfish and larger predators like grouper and amberjack. The steel surfaces are covered in a thick layer of marine growth, transforming this industrial object into a vibrant, living reef. It serves as an excellent multi-level dive, with the deck being shallower and the seafloor offering a slightly deeper exploration.