boiler wreck/uss oriental

[lenny76]

I am wondering if anyone has any good links or info on the uss oriental wreck. I went on my first dive there this past summer and was absolutely amazed!I am a huge history buff and thought it was amazing to be able to touch a civil war vessel. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[suthnbelle]

I am wondering if anyone has any good links or info on the uss oriental wreck. I went on my first dive there this past summer and was absolutely amazed!I am a huge history buff and thought it was amazing to be able to touch a civil war vessel. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I would also be interested in hearing more info on this wreck. I'm a civil war history buff myself. All I could find online is that the wreck is located off of the town Oriental in the Outer Banks. Is this correct? It says it was a Yankee cargo ship.

Tell us about the dive you did on the wreck last summer.

Mel

 

[GrierHPharmD]

I seem to remember that there's an entry on this wreck in the Gary Gentile book on NC Wrecks (North). I'm on the road now, but I'll try to remember to look it up when I get home tomorrow.

-G

 

[mike_s]

I would also be interested in hearing more info on this wreck. I'm a civil war history buff myself. All I could find online is that the wreck is located off of the town Oriental in the Outer Banks. Is this correct? It says it was a Yankee cargo ship.

Tell us about the dive you did on the wreck last summer.

Mel

I've seen it several times, if this is the correct wreck. Part of it sticks up out of the water. But I've never dove it...

From http://www.obxdive.com/ (click on wrecks)

Oriental (Boiler Wreck) Federal Transport, 210 feet long, 1,202 tons, sank May 16, 1862. She lies approximately three miles south of the Oregon Inlet, approximately 200 yds. offshore in about 20 ft of water. This wreck is reachable from the beach but can be a difficult swim.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Like you, I've seen it from the beach, but that was loooong before I took up diving. It's not that far offshore, though I don't know much about the currents or viz in the area.

-G

 

[mike_s]

Like you, I've seen it from the beach, but that was loooong before I took up diving. It's not that far offshore, though I don't know much about the currents or viz in the area.

-G

I have a friend who has a beach house up there that I've done several shore dives with. I've asked him in the past about diving it and he said it was too far from shore and that the currents were bad. (or course on some days they might be ok.).

The "most popular" shore dive up there is the "Tri- Wrecks" which is somewhat near 2nd street (I think) beach access in Nags Head. It's about 100 yards off shore. Nice wreck for a beach dive.

 

[lenny76]

I would also be interested in hearing more info on this wreck. I'm a civil war history buff myself. All I could find online is that the wreck is located off of the town Oriental in the Outer Banks. Is this correct? It says it was a Yankee cargo ship.

Tell us about the dive you did on the wreck last summer.

Mel

It was a great first dive. Vis was excellent for a while until a moderate current kicked up and it got murky quick. You can swim under the boiler stack after you chase the taugs out! the wreck is in about 25 ft of water. I brought up a good mix of fish,taug,spade,trigger and sheephead. The guy i went with has seen a few sharks on this wreck before as well as a ray the size of a volkswagen. I highly recommend this wreck as it is easily accessed although it can be a tough swim from shore if the current is up.

 

[Akyla]

Lenny,

It is best dived on the tide using the Oregon Inlet times and that should give you some slack water on either side of the high without too much current. A west to SW wind will help keep the waves and longshore current down as well. Don't expect stellar vis like an offshore wreck, but you can get a fuzzy 25 to 30 in these conditions late summer. It is not too far from shore for a diver in decent shape, a bit over 100yrds. Look for the longshore current direction or a rip before you get in and use them to your advantage. Don't fight the current too much on the swim back in if it picked up during your dive and just resign yourself to a walk up the beach which is easier than swimming. Park at the info center or the park out on the beach side just north of there and the wreck is easy to find and navagate to. I have not dived it in years, but see it often.

The Gentle books have some info and photos about the wreck. You want the NC north of Hatteras Inlet one http://www.ggentile.com/swncn.html