Atlas
Conditions & tides
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
The SS Atlas is a tanker wreck on the east side of Cape Lookout, off North Carolina. Built in 1916 in Philadelphia and measuring 446 ft by 58 ft, she was carrying about 83,000 barrels of gasoline from Houston when the German submarine U-552 torpedoed and sank her on 9 April 1942 as she rounded Cape Lookout. Thirty-two survivors were rescued by the Coast Guard and two sailors died.
The wreck lies in 90 to 130 ft (27 to 40 m) of water and is rated intermediate. A lot of structure remains, including the boilers, engine, anchors, propeller and rudder. It is considered a darker wreck by North Carolina standards and has a reputation for being creepy.
Visibility is generally 30 to 60 ft (9 to 18 m), and summer water temperature runs 75 to 80 F (24 to 27 C). The Atlas is a popular hangout for sand tiger sharks, and it is usually paired with a dive on the Caribsea.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta carettaReported here · unconfirmed
Purple ReeffishChromis scottiReported here · unconfirmed
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvierConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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