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SaltwaterOceanShipwreckUnverified

NBM Dive Site Resource

U-576

Outer Banks, North Carolina, United States

NOAA-documented North Carolina coastal shipwreck surveyed as part of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary maritime heritage program and regional recreational diving landscape.

Save this dive site to your free member profile.

Original NBM Artwork

Original editorial illustration of the German Type VIIC U-boat U-576 underway on the surface in 1942.
Illustration — original NBM artwork of the Type VIIC U-boat U-576, created because no rights-cleared historic photograph was available for the hero. The former underwater wreck image remains in Photographs.Naturally Buoyant Media original illustration · Naturally Buoyant Media original artworkSource ↗
WaterMarine
AccessExpedition-only offshore site beyond conventional scuba profiles; specialist vessel, team, gases, life support and recovery planning required.
ExperienceExpedition/submersible or exceptional specialist diving only
Maximum depth690 ft / 210 m
Best seasonSeasonal offshore access; warmer months are often favored, but every trip depends on weather and sea state.
VisibilityHighly variable with Gulf Stream position, tide, weather, sea state, plankton and bottom disturbance.

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
NOAA image of the U-576 submarine wreck off North Carolina.
NOAA view of the German submarine U-576 wreck off North Carolina.NOAA, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain — U.S. federal government workSource ↗
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Regional location and nearby land

Location map

Deep archaeological-wreck region, framed with the Outer Banks for context. No ordinary recreational scuba access or navigation point is implied.
Map areaCape Hatteras and the Outer Banks
Open regional map ↗
Map zoom level 6 of 11

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

Battle of the Atlantic or North Carolina maritime heritage wreck supporting offshore marine habitat.

Before you arrive

Access notes

NOAA source information is sufficient for this visibly unverified profile, but it is not a navigation plan. Confirm current coordinates, ownership/protection rules, weather, current, emergency procedures and ascent strategy. Treat military losses and fatalities as memorial sites; do not disturb or remove material.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Depth, current, rapidly changing visibility, waves, boat traffic, long offshore evacuation, entanglement, fishing gear, sharp or unstable wreckage and overheads. Penetration requires specific wreck/overhead training, redundancy and a suitable gas plan.

At the site

Facilities and support

No onsite facilities; all support is vessel-based. Confirm fills, oxygen, weather policy and emergency planning before departure.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.