Diving
The Best Western Grand Strand Inn & Suites, in cooperation
with local dive shops, offer beautiful Myrtle Beach Area diving
on natural shallow ledges, artificial wrecks/reefs, historical
Civil War, World War II, and Storm wrecks beginning just 30 miles
offshore. Warm Gulf Stream influenced waters keep our water
temperature in the 80's in the summer to near 70 during the
spring and fall months.
Diving opportunities are excellent for divers interested in
spear fishing, photography, fish collecting, exploring history,
UW sightseeing, and more. Common marine life are grouper, snapper,
hogfish, barracuda, lobster, rays, octopus, and much much more.
Call for Rates 1-800-433-1461
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The Bill Perry
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Year:
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1992
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| Depth: |
50-65' |
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Avg. Vis.:
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30-60'
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Distance:
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25 miles
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Named in Bill's memory this artificial reef is made up of fish attractors
and and ships, including a shrimp boat, tug boat and two 115'
Military LCU's (Landing Craft Utility) loaded with Polaris missiles,
igniters, and control pods. Due to the forces of nature some
of the LCU's cargo now lies scattered around the edges of the
wreck which has become a popular site for divers and marine
life.
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The Hebe
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Year:
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1942
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| Depth: |
75-108'
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Avg. Vis.:
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60-80'
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| Distance: |
42 miles
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Known as the Twin Cities Wrecks, the Hebe, a Dutch merchant, and the
St. Cathan, a British sub chaser, while under blackout conditions
to avoid a U-noat reported to be in the area, collided and sunk
during W.W.II. these two wrecks now rest on the ocean floor
1/4 of a mile apart.
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| The BP-25 |
| Year:
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1985 |
| Depth: |
70-90' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
40-70' |
| Distance: |
30
miles |
| Affectionately
known as the Bernard Perkins, this 160 ft. British Petroleum
tanker was intentionally sunk to become a home for the many
invertebrates, tropicals and game fish you will discover there.
She now lies on her port side awaiting any who wish to visit
and explore her beauty. |
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The Greenville Reef
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| Year:
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1995 |
| Depth: |
75-92' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
40-70' |
| Distance: |
34
miles |
| Two
200 feet ship wrecks, submarine sonar nose cone and assorted
wreckage, sunk as part of the artificial reef program, makes
for a great SC dive site. |
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USS Vermilion
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| Year:
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1988 |
| Depth: |
80-100-140' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
40-90' |
| Distance: |
37
miles |
| This
468 foot long W.W.II LKA-107 Amphibious Assault Troop Transport
was originally sunk upright in 107 feet of water as part of
the artificial reef program. After resting two years in the
same place she became restless and decided to take one last
cruise. She now lies upright but listing slightly 1/4 of a mile
from her original resting place. Of course she did have a little
help from hurricane Hugo. |
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City of Richmond
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| Year:
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1964 |
| Depth: |
35-55' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
30-50' |
| Distance: |
30
miles |
| While
under tow to the Virgin islands to become a floating hotel/casino,
the Richmond (a 261 foot five deck passenger ship) was sunk
of the coast of Georgetown during a storm. being made of wood,
the upper decks were quickly destroyed by wave action leaving
the lower steel decks and hull intact until 25 years later Hurricane
Hugo collapsed the much of the ships hull. |
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The Dolphin
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| Year:
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1990 |
| Depth: |
40-75' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
30-50' |
| Distance: |
32
miles |
| Part
of the Cape Romain artificial reef, this 107 foot converted
tug was a research vessel for the SC Marine Resources Dept.
Now resting upright at the bottom, it has become home to many
types of marine life. |
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Unknown 1800s Wreck
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| Year:
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1800s |
| Depth: |
70-80' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
50-70' |
| Distance: |
28
miles |
| Meeting
its demise in the 1800s, the paddle wheel hubs, engine and scattered
wreckage make an exciting dive for exploring the ruins of the
past, or to witness the rebirth of the ship as the miriad new
inhabitants bring her back to life in the present. |
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Live Bottom Ledges - 35 Miles |
| Depth: |
75-110' |
| Avg.
Vis.: |
40-90' |
| Distance: |
35
miles |
| Rising
up from the ocean floor off our coast lie various rock outcroppings
forming ledges, fingers and jigsaw slabs of living rock. These
beautiful natural formations and the crevasses they contain
are home to an incredible amount of marine life, such as Queen,
Blue and French Angels, a variety of damsel fish, butterflies,
jack-knife, hogfish, snapper, grouper, crabs, lobster, sponges,
corals, hydroids, nudebranches and much more! |
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