Skip to content
Map of Paposse (wreck)
Add the first photo
AdvancedBoat entry

Paposse (wreck)

North Carolina, United States
AOW suggested26–37 m (85–120 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Paposse (wreck) at a glance

Paposse (wreck) is an advanced boat dive site in North Carolina, United States with depths of 25.9–36.6 m (85–120 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Black sea bass, Queen angelfish, and Southern stingray. Recent reports put the water around 24°C (75°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

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

Forecast for this hour · 5:00 · run 4 h ago
2.9 m (9.4 ft)waves — about three meters expected (waves — about nine feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 24°C · seasonal avg 27°C ( · Forecast 75°F · seasonal avg 80°F)

Site hazards: Depth to 120 ft, long offshore run, Gulf Stream current, overhead environment under the upturned hull (do not enter without training), monofilament entanglement, large numbers of sand tiger sharks (docile, do not harass).

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Fri
Mon17:00–18:00 moderate

2.7 m waves · 20 kn wind (8.9 ft waves · 20 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.9 m waves · 15 kn wind (6.1 ft waves · 15 kn wind)

Wed7:00–15:00 moderate

2.0 m waves · 23 kn wind (6.6 ft waves · 23 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 moderate

2.2 m waves · 18 kn wind (7.3 ft waves · 18 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

1.6 m waves · 14 kn wind (5.3 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Sat7:00–11:00 favorable, 11:00–18:00 moderate

1.3 m waves · 16 kn wind (4.4 ft waves · 16 kn wind)

Sun7:00–11:00 moderate, 11:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–18:00 moderate

1.6 m waves · 18 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 18 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 5:55 · Sunrise 6:21 · Sunset 17:19 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.6 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 00:26 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Paposse (wreck)

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: Black sea bass, Sand tiger shark, Atlantic spadefish
Best time: May-October; Gulf Stream water can give 100 ft visibility 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, 17% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (70°F), waves have typically been 2.2 m (7.1 ft), wind has typically been 24 knots
  2. February, 11% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (69°F), waves have typically been 2.2 m (7.2 ft), wind has typically been 23 knots
  3. March, 12% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 21°C (69°F), waves have typically been 2.2 m (7.3 ft), wind has typically been 23 knots
  4. April, 36% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (71°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.3 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  5. May, 37% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  6. June, 46% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  7. July, 62% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  9. September, 29% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 2.2 m (7.2 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  10. October, 19% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 2.1 m (7.0 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  11. November, 26% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (76°F), waves have typically been 2.0 m (6.5 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  12. December, 11% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 2.3 m (7.5 ft), wind has typically been 24 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 June 2026

Site details

Known to divers as the Papoose, this wreck is actually the 435-ft tanker W.E. Hutton, torpedoed by U-124 in March 1942 and misidentified for decades. It lies upside down in about 120 ft of clear Gulf Stream water roughly 36 nautical miles from Beaufort Inlet. The site is one of North Carolina's most reliable sand tiger shark aggregation dives, with 20-50 sharks seen on many dives.

boatwreck

Depth to 120 ft, long offshore run, Gulf Stream current, overhead environment under the upturned hull (do not enter without training), monofilament entanglement, large numbers of sand tiger sharks (docile, do not harass).

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.