Wachapreague Reef - North Carolina
The Wachapreague Reef in North Carolina is an artificial reef, designed to attract marine life and create new dive opportunities. While specific depth and difficulty vary across the reef, we generally find a good collection of Atlantic species here, like spadefish and sea bass. It’s a solid choice for local divers looking for a convenient wreck or reef experience without venturing too far offshore. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss, typical for the Atlantic coast, so pick your day carefully.
- Location
- North Carolina, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 37.550835, -75.544720
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-20m
Marine Protected Area: Dawson Shoals Fee
Nearby Dive Sites in North Carolina
- 184 menhaden vessel CAPT GREG MICKEY AR-400 (wreck)
- Aeolus (Wreck) - 31m (wreck)
- AR-220 - Buoy - 20-35m (wreck)
- AR-225 - Buoy
- AR-255 - Buoy
- AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY (wreck)
- AR-366 - Buoy
- AR-368 - 10 Railroad boxcars (wreck)
- AR-368 - 241 barge LC-16 (wreck)
- AR-368 - Buoy
- AR-372 - 10 Railroad boxcars - 15-30m (wreck)
- AR-372 - 2 220 barge (wreck)
- AR-376 - 10 Railroad boxcars - 15-30m (wreck)
- AR-376 - Buoy
- Atlantic Beach Reef AR-315 - 104 US Navy tug TAKOS (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Wachapreague Reef
- All About Diving
- Aquatic Safaris - ["PADI"]
- Bay Breeze Dive Center
- Broadreach Adventures LLC - ["PADI"]
- Bubbles or Not Scuba
- Carolina Dive Center - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in North Carolina
Home to 42 recorded species including 38 reef fish, 2 clams & mussels, 2 other.
Notable Species
- Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) - Reef Fish
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- American Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) - Clams & Mussels
- Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) - Reef Fish
- Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
- Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris) - Reef Fish
- White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) - Reef Fish
- Threadfin Shad (Dorosoma petenense) - Reef Fish
- Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) - Reef Fish
- Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) - Reef Fish
- Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis) - Reef Fish
- Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) - Reef Fish
- Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) - Reef Fish
- Fringed Flounder (Etropus crossotus) - Reef Fish
- Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) - Reef Fish
- Wandering Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) - Clams & Mussels