Trip Report

Note: I began this report nearly two years ago but experienced some computer difficulties and set it aside were it was forgotten. I recently ran across a backup file and decided to finish and post it.
Steve

North Carolina June 2003

Although I had never really considered North Carolina as a dive destination I had read of the many wrecks located in the area. It was really my wife's idea she knows someone going to school there and wanted to check it out, of course she had no problem convincing me to go when I found out we would be right on the beach.
The college is in the small city of Wilmington but her friend and student lives an area a little like a suburb on a barrier island called Wrightsville Beach. I found two PADI dive operators in the Wilmington area on the area and neither was located near the marina and only Aquatics Safaris was using the marina in Wrightsville Beach area, so I went with them. They were very friendly and helpful over the phone when I made my reservations and I was staring to get anxious to begin our trip.

Wrightsville Beach is a very picturesque area with narrow 3 story beach houses with large decks and widow walks. There are many, restaurants, bars and tourist shops. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Sunspree resort right on the beach. Although I thought the hotel was a little overpriced my wife enjoyed the accommodations and we found the people there very friendly. The people in this area seemed unaccustomed to scuba diving tourist though, and I got a lot of funny looks and questions as I drug around my net backpack full of gear.

I booked two mornings of two dives each, they were to all be wreck dives. The first morning was to the Hyde, the Markham, the John D Gill, and the last dive was open to the captain and divers since the Gill was farther out than most and you pass several good locations on the way in.

The dive operator used boats called 12 passenger Island hoppers and with a captain, dive master and 10 passengers they were definitely full but not so crowded you couldn't get around. The operators don't provide snacks or lunch, as I have become accustom to in Southern California, but everyone brought something and there is plenty of that famous southern hospitality. The boats are plenty fast and reasonably smooth but the sights are quite a way out and it was about an hour and a half to the first wreck.

The first day we dove on the Hyde then the Markham. The Hyde was sunk in 1988, this artificial reef is covered with colorful growth as well as swirling schools of silver baitfish and colorful tropical. Huge grouper also live on the Hyde, making it as popular with fishermen as divers. The wreck is nearly intact and there are plenty of diver-safe swim-throughs on the deck. This dive was rated as a beginner dive as it is an easy dive but it is also interesting enough for any level of diver.

The Markham was sunk in the fall of 1995; this wreck is an addition to the artificial reef program. Sitting on her side in 80' of water, her massive hull stretches to within 40 feet of the surface. The Markham has shown many of us how fast the ocean can make art of iron. There was a lot of marine life including schools of bait fish, some very large amber jacks, mackerels, and barracuda as well as eight Sharks. Most were Sand Tiger, but there was one very large Sandbar or Bull Shark. Nobody seamed to agree. This was my first dive with such magnificent creatures and I was nearly overwhemned with their elegance and beauty. They allowed me to get amazimgly close and I used up a roll film. This was defiantly a do over dive.

The next day we started out earlier for the 25 mile ride out to the John D. Gill: Also known as WR-4, the "Gill" was sunk on March 14th 1942 by U-158. She now rests at 90' with her large deck section rising to within 60' of the surface. After the Sharks on the Markham yesterday I was a little disappointed not to find any of the large animals on this dive. Still it was a very interesting dive with 50 or 60 foot visibility 72 degree F. water and many typical reef fish, large schools of bait fish, Atlantic spadefish, Rays, and Groupers to see. I also enjoyed spending my safety stop from the hang bar watching many large Barracuda and small Jellies.

For our second dive of the day it was suggested that we returned to Markham and I was quick to agree. Eager to get some more photo's of the Sharks I seen yesterday. Descending back down to the wreck I was very pleased to find the large jacks and sharks were still quietly cruising the wreck slowly circling as if to mark there territory. I finished all the film I brought on these fine specimens, unfortunately between my lack of proper lighting and skill I can only say my photo's were mediocre at best.

Anytime anyone mentions North Carolina I will always remember the warm people, the fine restaurants, wide beaches, and most of all the interesting wrecks, but by far the Markham will always be remembered as my first encounter with large sharks.

View more pictures from this trip here.