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Papoose
 Morehead City, NC
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Max Depth: 111-120ft/34-37m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Rating: 4.06 by 33 divers
Spring: 56-60°F/13-16°C
Summer: 71-75°F/22-24°C
Fall: 50-55°F/10-13°C
Winter: 50-55°F/10-13°C
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Papoose is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Morehead City, NC. This dive site has an average rating of 4.06 out of 5 from 33 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 111-120ft/34-37m.
Diving Depths: 90-120 ft.
Visibility: Generally very good; range 50 to 100+ ft.
Current: Slight to strong
Summer Temperature: high 70s to lo 80s
Points of Interest: Large rudder, bow anchors.
Fish/Animal Life: The usual array of offshore NC marine life and has been a fairly consistent source of large groups/schools of sand tiger sharks. In addition to the sharks, over the years, I have spotted manta rays, jewfish and other unusual sightings here.
Description: The Papoose is a large wreck which sits on the bottom intact and virtually upside down. At one time, back in the 1960’s, the wreck was sitting on its port side, but over the years the wreck has rolled, crushing the superstructure under the weight of the hull. Today it resembles a large watermelon, cracked open in several places. The highest part of the wreck is in the stern rudder area which rises some 30 feet off of the bottom. The propellor was present until the mid-1970s when it was blasted off by salvagers. The hull section steps down from there in several large sections, each lower than the other, until you come to the bow. The bow point is laying in the sand with anchors still in the hawse pipes. The Papoose can be penetrated at several points. In the past it was quite eerie to see boilers and engines parts suspended above you, but when you look down, you see several of those same items laying crushed on the ocean floor. I believe these have all now fallen to the ocean bottom. [Diver beware!] The sharks seem to congregate at the ends of the wreck - particularly the bow - where the prevailing current, which sweeps across and over the top of the hull, creates eddy points.