AR-376 - 10 Railroad boxcars - North Carolina

The AR-376 site, with its ten railroad boxcars, isn’t your typical upright wreck dive. These aren't pristine, intact structures. Instead, they're scattered, broken fragments, and that's precisely why we love them. Picture a jigsaw puzzle thrown from a height, pieces strewn across the seafloor. What you get are these fantastic, chunky metal habitats, perfect for critters. We've spent hours here, just finning slowly, exploring the nooks and crannies. You'll see schools of baitfish shimmering around the jagged edges, their scales catching the light. Our favourite spots are where the boxcar walls have collapsed in on themselves, creating these dark, cavernous spaces that always seem to hide a grumpy tautog or a curious cubera snapper. The sheer volume of metal means there’s always something new to peek under or around. This site really suits divers who enjoy a more exploratory dive, not just ticking off an intact wreck. It’s a photographer’s dream if you like playing with light and shadow, and for those who appreciate seeing how the ocean reclaims human objects. We'd suggest aiming for a calm day; visibility can be a bit variable, but even on a greener day, the sheer scale of the wreckage makes for a dramatic dive.

Location
North Carolina, United States, North America
Coordinates
34.054450, -77.660286
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
15-30m

Wreck History - AR-376 - 10 Railroad boxcars

Year Sunk
1986
Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
scuttled

The 10 railroad boxcars at AR-376, known as the Meares Harris Reef, were purposefully sunk in 1986 to form the backbone of a new artificial reef. This project, managed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, aimed to increase biological productivity and provide new recreational opportunities for divers and anglers off Wrightsville Beach. These boxcars, stripped of any hazardous materials, were placed on the seabed to mimic the hard-bottom habitats that attract a wide variety of marine species.

Diving on the AR-376 boxcars is a fantastic experience. They are scattered in about 60 feet of water, creating an intriguing and easily navigable dive site. Some cars landed upright, while others lie on their sides, offering interesting swim-throughs and hiding spots for marine creatures. The site is renowned for its dense fish populations, including sheepshead, black sea bass, and spadefish. It's also a known location for spotting sand tiger sharks in the late summer, making it a premier dive in the region.

Marine Protected Area: Masonboro Island

Nearby Dive Sites in North Carolina

Nearest Dive Centres to AR-376 - 10 Railroad boxcars

Marine Life in North Carolina

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

Notable Species