North Carolina dive sites

The USS Schurz has one of the most unusual histories of any diveable wreck. Originally built in 1894 as SMS Geier, a German Imperial Navy unprotected cruiser, the ship was interned in Hawaii at the start of World War I when it entered Honolulu harbour for repairs. When the United States entered the war in 1917, the ship was seized and commissioned into the US Navy as USS Schurz. On June 21, 1918, the vessel collided with a merchant ship SS Florida off Cape Lookout, North Carolina, and sank with the loss of one crewman.

The wreck sits at approximately 34 metres, requiring Advanced Open Water certification at minimum. For penetration diving, wreck diving speciality certification is strongly recommended. The site can experience moderate current, and visibility varies. Most operators require documented experience at depth and a minimum number of logged dives. Nitrox certification is valuable for extending bottom time at this depth. The boat ride from Morehead City takes approximately two hours depending on sea conditions.

Sand tiger sharks are commonly found on and around the USS Schurz, particularly from May through October. These sharks aggregate on North Carolina's wrecks during the warm season, using the structures for shelter and hunting. Despite their fearsome appearance with visible protruding teeth, sand tiger sharks are generally docile toward divers. Multiple individuals are often present on a single dive, sometimes resting inside the wreck structure. Their presence adds a memorable dimension to what is already an historically significant dive.