Skip to content
Map of African Queen Reef
Add the first photo
IntermediateBoat entry

African Queen Reef

Maryland, United States
Open Water suggestedFishing line and hooks on reef structures18–23 m depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

African Queen Reef at a glance

African Queen Reef is a intermediate boat dive site in Maryland, United States with depths of 18–23 m (59–75 ft). Typically most favorable Jun · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Black sea bass, Tautog, and American lobster. Recent reports put the water around 22°C (72°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago
0.7 mwaves — under a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 22°C · seasonal avg 23°C

Site hazards: Fishing line and hooks on reef structures · Variable mid-Atlantic visibility (5-40 ft) · Boat traffic from anglers

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sat
Sun6:00–21:00
Mon6:00–21:00
Tue6:00–21:00
Wed7:00–21:00
Thu7:00–21:00
Fri7:00–21:00
Sat7:00–21:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:27 · Sunrise 5:57 · Sunset 20:14

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 10 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Black sea bass, Tautog, American lobster
Best time: June through October when seas are calmest and visibility peaks.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan39%7°C1.4 m
  2. Feb35%6°C1.5 m
  3. Mar30%8°C1.6 m
  4. Apr49%11°C1.4 m
  5. May66%15°C1.2 m
  6. Jun79%19°C1.1 m
  7. Jul75%23°C1.0 m
  8. Aug65%23°C1.3 m
  9. Sep47%23°C1.6 m
  10. Oct46%20°C1.5 m
  11. Nov46%15°C1.3 m
  12. Dec47%10°C1.4 m

June hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Black sea bassCommonly seen
  • TautogCommonly seen
  • American lobsterCommonly seen
  • Atlantic spadefishSeasonal
  • Gray triggerfishSeasonal
  • Summer flounderCommonly seen

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Site details

An 800-acre Maryland artificial reef site 12 nautical miles southeast of the Ocean City Inlet, centered on the wreck of the freighter African Queen, which grounded and broke in two in 1958; the bow and stern sections lie a short distance apart in about 70 ft of water. The periphery has been built up with prefabricated concrete units, cable mounds, an M60 tank and several small sunken vessels. Divers visit it for lobster, sea bass and tautog over the wreckage.

boatreefwreck

Fishing line and hooks on reef structures

Variable mid-Atlantic visibility (5-40 ft)

Boat traffic from anglers

Cold thermoclines

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.