Southern Outer Banks a diving mecca

The Crystal Coast, North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, allows divers to explore 2,000 sunken vessels along with the wildlife such as stingrays, cobia, grouper, lobster and small tropical fish. Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

Noted as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," the Crystal Coast — North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks — was recently ranked the No. 1 dive destination in the United States by Scuba Diving Magazine.

With more than 2,000 shipwrecks lining the ocean's floor, the Crystal Coast provides underwater history explorations and an abundance of captivating marine life beauty, while the warm, clear Gulf Stream waters allow comfortable diving.

Popular diving spots include a 300-year-old wreck, a German U-boat sunk by local forces in WWII and other battleships with captivating stories. The legend of infamous pirate, Blackbeard and his ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge has been historically preserved in the warm waters of the Crystal Coast since 1718.

Previously off-limits to the public, the state implemented "Dive Down" program allows 1,500 lucky recreational divers to view the remains of the ship from 2006 to 2011 — a once in a lifetime diving experience.

Another preserved wreck, the U-352, is a German submarine capsized by Ally forces on April 9, 1942. The Papoose, an American tanker, was torpedoed and sunk on March 3, 1942 and remains intact with a variety of aquatic life.

Although the temperate climate warms the waters year-round, summer remains optimal for diving on the Crystal Coast. Temperatures during May through October are warmest, with prime visibility.

Top-notch dive companies make the Crystal Coast experience memorable for leisure excursions or advanced diving. Olympus Dive Center, founded in 1975, began as a weekend charter business and now runs charters year-round.

The Atlantic beach destination represents one of the only remaining natural barrier island systems in the world.

Visit www.crystalcoastnc.org for more information.