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SaltwaterOceanShipwreckUnverified

NBM Dive Site Resource

U-85

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, United States

German U-boat wreck off North Carolina documented by NOAA as part of the Battle of the Atlantic maritime landscape.

Save this dive site to your free member profile.

Historic Photograph

German Type VIIB submarine U-47 underway near Kiel circa 1939–1940.
Representative Type VIIB submarine: U-47 returning to Kiel circa 1939–1940. U-85 belonged to the same Type VIIB class; this photograph does not depict U-85.U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph NH 102539, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain — U.S. Navy workSource ↗
WaterMarine
AccessOffshore boat dive. Use experienced North Carolina support or a properly equipped private vessel and independently verify the current site position; no operator connection is implied.
ExperienceAdvanced recreational with offshore wreck and current experience
Maximum depth90 ft / 27 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.
A diver at the U-85 wreck off North Carolina.
The exact U-85 wreck documented by Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; 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

Regional overview includes the nearby coast for orientation. It does not establish a navigation waypoint or an entry location.
Map areaOregon Inlet 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

German U-boat and World War II Battle of the Atlantic history.

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.