North Carolina, United States
    NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary

    Dixie Arrow

    Best months: Jul–Sep

    Protected Area

    NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary

    Why dive here

    With 42+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles - Dixie Arrow offers some of North Carolina's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 12-28°C, warmest July, August, September.

    Best timeJul–Sep
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeSea Turtles · 42+ species recorded
    Water12-28°C · warmest July, August, September
    CharacterWreck dive

    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.

    Safety Notes

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

    Today06:0517:3611h 31m daylightGolden hour 17:02

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Dixie Arrow

    Dixie Arrow Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Dixie Arrow, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (34.6, -76.6) (0km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    23°C

    73°F · Range: 19.9–26.4°C

    Air Temperature

    20°C

    67°F

    Wind Speed

    1.8 m/s

    3.5 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1016.7 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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