Things to do / Travel Guide
While there isn't any scuba diving to be had in Georgia's waters, for any diving that's worth it, South Carolina's offer artificial reefs galore. For over 30 years the state has seeded its coasts with strategically-placed artificial reefs; its efforts are now paying off. The sea is one place that litter, if it's of the right kind, beautifies the landscape instead of spoils it. Concrete pylons and steel-hulled old ships dot the underwater landscape, attracting fish of all kinds and serving as grounds for coral.
Shipwrecks, anyone? There are many shipwrecks off the South Carolina coast - ships run aground, collided, or otherwise sunk from the Civil War era through to the 1960s await. The wrecks are at various depths, although all within 50 feet of the surface; and they're at various distances from shore, from just a few miles to 50.
You can find a charter to take you scuba diving from the three main harbor cities in South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston. However, there are others in many of the other coastal cities and towns, and the wrecks and artificial reefs can be found practically down the entire shore. The summer months are the best for diving in these waters.
South Carolina Artificial Reefs
The most popular of the artificial reefs is Barracuda Alley, a recent addition to the South Carolina seascape. In the process of the planned sinking of this old 140-foot barge, a platoon of armored personnel carriers was sent down with the ship! There's a good amount of exploring to do at the site, even for beginner divers - generally speaking, the deeper the dive, the more experience you'll need. You can admire the developing coral, or ogle at the barracuda racing by.
Other reef sites include:
- Hilton Head Reef, near Hilton Head and Port Royal - Water depth is 40-50 feet. The reef is made up of plenty of sunken sea vessels, concrete “reef balls,” and battle tanks. It's a good thing they're all on the same side.
A bit north of Hilton Head is Hunting Island, in whose lagoon you can spot seahorses and barracudas.
Kiawah Reef, around 10 miles south of Charleston - Water depth is 20-40 feet. There are some large barges at this site, plus tugboats and automobiles.
Capers Reef, right outside Charleston, 12 miles from shore - Water depth is 20-45 feet, and there are barges and concrete “reef balls.”
Springmaid Pier Reef, at the pier of that name on Myrtle Beach - This artificial reef consists of tires and concrete units.
South Carolina Shipwrecks
The most impressive and accessible of the wrecks is the General Sherman, a 200-foot blockade-runner sunk in 1874. It lies six miles from Little River Inlet, at the North Carolina-South Carolina border, at 50 feet.
The Sherman dive is good for all skill levels, and if you're lucky, you might find an old artifact. The rule for all these shipwreck dives is that you're not allowed to enter the actual wreck - that's too dangerous. But you are allowed to “fish” for artifacts. Think about it: Most of these ships thankfully did not go down with their crews, but with the cargo and their personal belongings. Even nowadays people still find things, like a belt buckle, or unbroken bottles. Also, the rule of thumb is that the older the wreck, the more corals have encrusted the remains. The Sherman is a real beauty on this account.
But wait! There are other wrecks to explore, aside from the Sherman:
- There's the ship locally called the Governor, but which actually remains unidentified to this day. It was a 200-foot Civil War-era paddle wheeler, and it lies in 80 feet of water some 20 miles off the coast.
- In 1942 a Dutch merchant ship called the Hebe and a British sub chaser, the St. Cathan, collided on a moonless night. These two wrecks, around a quarter-mile from one another, are a prime destination for advanced divers; you can find artifacts, plenty of tropical and game fish, and Sand Tiger sharks in the spring and fall. Visibility is among the best in the region.
- The City of Richmond, a steel-hulled ferry, sank as she was being towed to the Bahamas to begin life anew as an off-shore casino. She sank in a hurricane 15 miles off the Georgetown shore, with all her goods. At a 20-50-foot depth, this is a beginner- to intermediate-level dive.
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