Torpedo Alley

[character157]

I saw a documentary about a dive trip that explored a few of the ships here, and was wondering if anyone here has ever been there.

[JugglingMonkeys]

Do you mean the wrecks off North Carolina? There are some posts already on this.

Here's one: North Carolina recommendations?

[Sansho]

From wikianswers: Torpedo Alley was the 100 mile stretch of water along the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks are along the east coast of the U.S. and comprise a chain of islands off North Carolina (and just a bit of Virginia). These islands shelter the Pemlico and Albermarle Sounds, and a link is provided to a map.

Torpedo Alley got its name because of the effectiveness of the German Kriegsmarine, specifically their U-boats, who sunk nearly 400 ships along that stretch of coast between January and July of 1942. Some 5,000 people, most of them merchant marines, lost their lives during these attacks on shipping in what has sometimes been called the "great American turkey shoot" or something similar.
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The site NC Divers, NC Wreck Diving, NC Quarry Diving, NC Group Dives, NC Coast Diving, North Carolina Diving North Carolina Wreck Diving has info on diving there, and has a list of dive shops, whose sites have more info.

[BouzoukiJoe]

I *think* "Torpedoe Alley" is specifically the stretch of waters between Diamond Shoals and Cape Lookout Shoals.

North of diamond shoals (Cape Hateras) the water is colder and is more similar to New Jersey diving. IMO It's drysuits and 7mm wetsuits up there. From Cape Lookout down to Cape Fear there is warmer, clearer water as the Gulf Stream is fairly close in. A 3mm is the norm, although the water is colder this year than normal- must be global warming.

The area that would be called torpedoe alley is a transitional area between these two.

I'd recommend having some serious diving experience before making a dive trip to the area. Typical "recreational" dives are on wrecks that are 30-50 miles offshore in 100-130 fsw and in seas that can be very sporty.