Dixie Arrow - North Carolina

The Dixie Arrow, a torpedoed WWII oil tanker, sits in a sweet spot off North Carolina, usually bathed in that lovely Gulf Stream current. We love this wreck for its sheer scale and how completely marine life has taken over. You're dropping onto a massive steel canvas, often with visibility pushing 20 metres, and the stern section is our favourite for exploration. Black sea bass are everywhere, swirling around the propeller like a living cloud, and we often spot sand tiger sharks patrolling the deeper sections of the wreck, sometimes just hanging motionless in the current. The wreck itself is well broken up, but the structure is still impressive. It makes for some fantastic swim-throughs if you're comfortable with overhead environments, especially within the engine room. We'd suggest aiming for a slack tide if you want to explore inside, as the currents here can be robust. It’s a site that rewards multiple dives; you can spend an entire dive just on the bow section and still feel like you've only scratched the surface.

Location

North Carolina, United States, North America

Coordinates

34.900185, -75.749535

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary