Hyde

The Hyde is an ocean-going hopper dredge built in 1945 that spent decades maintaining waterways and supporting coastal infrastructure before being cleaned and intentionally sunk in 1988 as part of the North Carolina Artificial Reef Program. The wreck sits approximately 17–18 miles offshore from Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Inlet.

The wreck rests upright on the bottom, giving it high relief and straightforward navigation along deck lines and superstructure. The main deck sits at around 20–21 metres (65–70 feet), with the bottom at roughly 24–25 metres (80–85 feet). The upright orientation and well-defined structure mean a single dive covers a lot of ground.

Marine life on the Hyde is a strong draw. Sand tiger sharks are a seasonal highlight, joined year-round by large schools of baitfish, barracuda cruising above the deck, amberjack, snapper, grouper, turtles, and rays. Sponges and other reef growth have established themselves across the hull and superstructure over more than three decades of colonisation.