wreck

Log This Dive

Papoose (Wreck)

The Papoose is one of those North Carolina wrecks that just gets under your skin. Lying in 34 metres, she's a big tanker, torpedoed in 1942, and you can really feel the history as you descend onto her. We love the sheer scale of the ship, how the bow points north and the stern south, a testament to the U-boat's devastating hit. You'll often find sand tiger sharks cruising through the holds, their toothy grins a thrilling sight against the filtered light. For us, the penetration into the engine room is a highlight, but it’s for experienced wreck divers only. Inside, it’s dark and moody, with schools of baitfish swirling around the machinery, creating an almost hypnotic effect. Outside, the superstructure is draped in soft corals, and you’ll spot huge goliath groupers lurking in the shadows. We’d suggest hitting this site on a calm day, as the current can pick up, making the descent a bit of a workout, but it’s always worth the effort for a proper piece of history.