North Carolina Wrecks · United States · Wreck
Proteus
Brass wheel and a 5 m propeller (18 ft) on an upright 1918 stern
A 1899 passenger-freighter sunk southwest of Diamond Shoals in 1918 after the tanker Cushing came out of heavy fog and hit her amidships. She lies upright in 37 m (120 ft) with the stern section largely intact, a brass wheel still on the stern deck and a 5 m propeller (18 ft) standing out of the sand, in the clearest water on the charter list.
Where it is and how deep
34.7653° N, 75.7835° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The Proteus lies in 37 m (120 ft) of water with the highest part of her rising to about 90, so the working range is roughly 27 to 37 metres and you meet the ship well before the sand. Visibility here averages 18 m (60 ft) and can go over 100, which is unusually good for this coast and means the wreck resolves out of the blue as you come down the line rather than appearing at arm's length.
She sits upright with most of the stern section intact, and that is where the dive is. A large brass wheel attached to a long shaft lies on the stern deck; the rudder is still in place, and the four-blade, 5 m (18-foot) propeller stands up out of the sand behind it. Working that group of features and the plating around it is a bottom time in itself at this depth.
Large schools of amberjack circle the wreck, and sea bass, pompano and tropicals such as queen angelfish are regular over the structure. With no-stop time short at 37 metres, most divers pick the stern, dive it properly, and go back up the tie-in line rather than trying to cover a 124 m ship (406 ft) in one tank.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Proteus
- Type
- Passenger-freighter
- Length
- 124 m (407 ft)
- Built
- 1899
- Sunk
- 1918
- Cause
- Collision with the oil tanker Cushing in heavy fog
- Lies
- Upright, stern largely intact with brass wheel, rudder and propeller in place
The Proteus was built at Newport News, Virginia, and launched on 16 December 1899, considered one of the safest ships of her time. On 19 August 1918 she was in heavy fog 55 km (34 miles) southwest of Diamond Shoals when the oil tanker Cushing appeared out of it and struck her amidships. Both ships had been running at reduced speed. Six hours later the Proteus sank to the bottom, where she still lies upright.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Off-season |
Season follows North Carolina Wrecks: Charter season runs roughly April-November; sand tiger shark aggregations peak in September-October, while December-February seas are too rough for most boats.
Know before you go
- The dive runs to 37 metres on a wreck 55 km southwest of Diamond Shoals (34 miles). No-stop time is short and the boat is a long way from anywhere, so plan gas conservatively and hold the turn time.
- The good visibility makes it tempting to leave the wreck and swim to schooling fish in open water. Stay in contact with structure and come back to the tie-in line for the ascent.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Proteus wreck?+
She lies in 120 feet of water, about 37 metres, with the highest part of the wreck at roughly 90 feet or 27 metres. The operator rates it advanced, and the depth leaves a short no-stop time.
What is the visibility like on the Proteus?+
It averages 18 m (60 ft) and can exceed 100, which makes it the clearest of the North Carolina charter wrecks. The wreck usually comes into view from the descent line rather than only at close range.
Sources
- North Carolina Dive Sites — Discovery Diving
- List of shipwrecks of North Carolina — Wikipedia
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