About Revisions Empire Gem Cape Hatteras, NC More Info Max Depth: Over 150ft/46m Entry Type: Boat Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Plenty To See 8/29/2009 4:37 PM

The Empire Gem, sunk by a U-Boat in 1942, rests in 160 feet of water and rises 30 feet off the bottom. This is a dive for experienced, advanced, wreck divers.

Name: EMPIRE GEMType: TankerBuilt: 1941 by Harland & Wolff Govan, Glasgow, ScotlandOwner: British Tanker Company, London, England
Home Port:Size (ft.): 463-3 x 61-4 x 33-0Gross Tonnage: 8,139 tonsPropulsion: Twin screw diesel engine/speed 11.5 knts
Date Sunk: 1/24/1942Cause: Torpedoed by U-66LocationCape Hatteras, NCGPS: N35° 01.783’/W75° 28.502’DIVING NOTES: Diving Depths: 120-150 ft.Current: none to undiveableVisibility: highly variably and dependent on current and winds off the shoals; even when viz is good, the depth and particulates in the water make the wreck appear dark.Summer Temperature: mid/hi 70s, but subject to thermocline to the high 60s on the bottom Points of Interest:Stern:boiler, engine, 4 bladed propeller and rudder section; Bow:intact and upside downFish/Animal Life: red snapper, sandtigers, lots of black sea bass, tautog, oyster toadfish , amberjacks and african pompano — if the warm water is on or above the wreck.

Description: I have dived this 4-5 times and except for one exceptional dive, the viz has been 25 feet or much less. There are reported to be 2 separate pieces. The stern end and the rest of the ship. The stern section is the better dive, as the bow is intact but upside down; I have been on the bow, but viz was so low, I couldn’t confirm the orientation or make the jump to the stern, but did discover the :"turtle shell" surface typical of an upside down hull. I am told the stern points towards the two forward sections — prop/fantail points toward the other two sections — 180 degrees from what you would expect; the stern is upright on its keel, laying on its starboard side; the 4 bladed prop and rudder sections are intact and can be seen on the port side; You can still see the curve of the fantail around the stern; the engine, port boilers and fantail appear to provide the highest relief on the stern; this wreck is known as the smell or stink wreck because of the smell of oil that still escapes from the bow section; You can sometimes see the oil slick on the water.

http://www.nc-wreckdiving.com/WRECKS/EMPIREGEM/EMPIREGEM.HTML

http://www.divehatteras.com/gem.html

Web site for videos of various wreck sites in the area-
http://www.olympusdiving.com/PhotoGallery/VideoGallery/tabid/115/Default.aspx