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Boat entry

Hilton Head Reef

South Carolina, United States
Open Water suggestedLong boat rides are the dominant logistical hazard17 m (56 ft) depthBoat entry5mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Hilton Head Reef at a glance

Hilton Head Reef is a boat dive site in South Carolina, United States with depths of up to 17.1 m (56 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Atlantic spadefish, Greater amberjack, and Sheepshead. Recent reports put the water around 21°C (70°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: tomorrow 8:00–19:00 · favorable & moderate

Forecast for this hour · 17:00 · run 3 h ago
2.5 m (8.1 ft)waves — about two and a half meters expected (waves — about eight feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 21°C · seasonal avg 23°C ( · Forecast 70°F · seasonal avg 74°F)

Site hazards: Long boat rides are the dominant logistical hazard

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Fri
SunNo window

2.1 m waves · 26 kn wind (6.8 ft waves · 26 kn wind)

Mon8:00–15:00 moderate, 15:00–19:00 favorable

1.9 m waves · 20 kn wind (6.1 ft waves · 20 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

1.4 m waves · 17 kn wind (4.7 ft waves · 17 kn wind)

Wed8:00–9:00 favorable, 9:00–10:00 moderate, 10:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–19:00 moderate

1.6 m waves · 21 kn wind (5.2 ft waves · 21 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 22 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 22 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 16 kn wind (4.3 ft waves · 16 kn wind)

Sat8:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–19:00 moderate

1.0 m waves · 20 kn wind (3.4 ft waves · 20 kn wind)

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 7:08 · Sunrise 7:33 · Sunset 18:39 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.3 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 13:22 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Hilton Head Reef

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

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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, Greater amberjack, Sheepshead
Best time: May through October is the prime window for both SC and GA (SCDNR cites May-Oct as the most popular diving months; Charleston operators cite late spring to early fall, best May-Oct). Gray's Reef is dived year-round but most commonly April-November, with visibility often peaking in the coldest months and early summer. Surface water temps run roughly low-to-mid 80s F in summer down to low 50s F in winter (SCDNR: mid-80s summer / low 50s winter); offshore water peaks in the upper 70s-low 80s from June on.

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, 68% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (55°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.4 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  2. February, 66% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (56°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  3. March, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  4. April, 72% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  5. May, 77% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  6. June, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  7. July, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 76% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  9. September, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  10. October, 46% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (74°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  11. November, 60% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  12. December, 58% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (59°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 18 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 seen at this site

Species noted at this site — 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.

Fills & rentals nearby

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

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Artificial reef built from Approximate Center of Reef

reefwreck

Long boat rides are the dominant logistical hazard — most SC offshore wrecks lie 20-30+ nm offshore (some sites up to ~35 miles / SCDNR), translating to 2.5-3 hour transits to deeper wrecks like the Hebe off Murrells Inlet; GA reefs are generally closer (6-23 nm, with SAV ~6 nm off Tybee and KC ~9 mi off Wassaw), though deepwater experimental reefs sit 50-70 nm out. Visibility is highly variable and weather/tide-dependent: inshore and nearshore water can be murky (Charleston harbor and inshore reefs frequently 10-30 ft, occasionally measured in inches in the Cooper River), while offshore sites average 40-60 ft and can exceed 80 ft when Gulf Stream water spins inshore; Gray's Reef ranges from as little as 2 ft to ~65 ft. Current is a real concern — Gulf Stream influence and tidal flow drive drift conditions (drift diving is the recommended/required technique at Gray's Reef since anchoring is prohibited). Other hazards: entanglement in monofilament fishing line and lost rigging on these heavily fished structures; summer thunderstorms that build quickly offshore; cooler thermoclines at depth; and the offshore exposure itself (sea state can change during the long run back). Reef marker/nun buoys are not to be tied to (federal penalties in SC), and boaters risk fouling anchors on structure.

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