AR-372 - 2 220 barge - North Carolina

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.

Location
North Carolina, United States, North America
Coordinates
34.104168, -77.746666
Type
wreck

Wreck History - AR-372 - 2 220 barge

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.

Marine Protected Area: Masonboro Island

Nearby Dive Sites in North Carolina

Nearest Dive Centres to AR-372 - 2 220 barge

Marine Life in North Carolina

Home to 42 recorded species including 38 reef fish, 2 clams & mussels, 2 other.

Notable Species