Skip to content
Map of Caribsea
Add the first photo
IntermediateBoat entry

Caribsea

North Carolina, United States
AOW suggestedOffshore currents21–27 m (69–89 ft) depthBoat entry5mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Caribsea at a glance

Caribsea is an intermediate boat dive site in North Carolina, United States with depths of 21–27 m (69–89 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Atlantic spadefish, Amberjack, and Sea turtle. Recent reports put the water around 19°C (67°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–19:00 · favorable & moderate · sunset 18:17

Forecast for this hour · 4:00 · run 15 h ago
2.3 m (7.5 ft)waves — about two and a half meters expected (waves — about eight feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 19°C · seasonal avg 23°C ( · Forecast 67°F · seasonal avg 73°F)

Site hazards: Offshore currents · Variable visibility (20-100 ft) · Fishing line and hooks on wreck

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Sat
Mon8:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–19:00 favorable

2.1 m waves · 19 kn wind (7.0 ft waves · 19 kn wind)

Tue8:00–18:00 favorable, 18:00–19:00 moderate

1.4 m waves · 13 kn wind (4.5 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Wed8:00–10:00 moderate, 10:00–19:00 favorable

1.6 m waves · 20 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 20 kn wind)

Thu8:00–14:00 favorable, 14:00–19:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 17 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 17 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 14 kn wind (3.7 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Sat8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:54 · Sunrise 7:20 · Sunset 18:17 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.9 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 13:20 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Caribsea

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Atlantic spadefish, Amberjack, Sand tiger shark
Best time: May through October when seas are calmest and Gulf Stream water pushes in; sand tiger aggregations are reliable in summer.

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. January, 28% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (56°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  2. February, 31% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (56°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  3. March, 26% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  4. April, 43% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 18°C (65°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  5. May, 48% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  6. June, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.0 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  7. July, 69% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  9. September, 44% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  10. October, 41% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  11. November, 42% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.9 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  12. December, 35% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.6 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots

July has typically 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 recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Gray Angelfish recorded here Oct–Nov (4 records)

    Pomacanthus arcuatusmost recent 2014

  • Great Barracuda recorded here Oct–Nov (4 records)

    Sphyraena barracudamost recent 2014

  • Grey Nurse recorded here Oct–Nov (4 records)

    Carcharias taurusmost recent 2014

  • Lesser Amberjack recorded here Oct–Nov (4 records)

    Seriola fasciatamost recent 2014

  • Spotted Moray recorded here Oct–Nov (4 records)

    Gymnothorax moringamost recent 2014

  • Angelfish recorded here Oct–Nov (3 records)

    Holacanthus bermudensismost recent 2014

  • Sciaenops ocellatus recorded here Oct–Nov (3 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Atlantic Spadefish recorded here Oct (2 records)

    Chaetodipterus fabermost recent 2014

Newest record here: 2014. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

The Caribsea was a 251-ft American freighter torpedoed by U-158 on 11 March 1942, now resting in about 90 ft of water on the east side of Cape Lookout Shoals. The site is mostly a low-lying debris field with a prominent stern section and propeller. It is one of North Carolina's most famous sand tiger shark dives, with aggregations that on good days can number in the dozens, and the sharks here tend to be larger than at deeper sites. Visibility ranges 20-100 ft, most commonly 30-60 ft.

boatwreck

Offshore currents

Variable visibility (20-100 ft)

Fishing line and hooks on wreck

Long boat ride / weather-dependent seas

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.