Scuba Diving

Divers come here to explore the many shipwrecks just offshore. One of the favorites, and the first North Carolina Historic Shipwreck Site, is the 175-foot Huron, which lies underwater 250 yards off the beach at Nags Head Pier. The iron-hulled ship sank in a November storm in 1877, taking all but a handful of her 124-man crew with her.

Roanoke Island Outfitters and Dive Shop. Run by NAUI-, SDI-, and TDI-certified instructors, this outfit runs a 36-foot Bertram dive boat docked in Wanchese and a full-service dive shop in Manteo. The dive shop, which operates charters May to September, offers scuba, free-diving, and spearfishing classes, beach and night dives, bike rentals, and fishing charters. There are also guided diving trips to more than 20 wreck sites including the Huron, a gunship steamer that went down in 1877; the U-85 U-boat; the York, a 253-foot freighter; and the Benson, a 465-foot tanker. Half-day dives start at $130 per person, and full-day at $165. 627 U.S. 64, Manteo, North Carolina, 27954. 252/473–1356 ; www.roanokeislandoutfittersanddivecenter.com.