THE EXPEDITION

For this expedition we venture to the North East coast of America to a state called North Carolina. North Carolina Diving is known as - The Graveyard of the Atlantic from the estimated 2000 shipwrecks scattered along it’s coastline, it is also home to one of the largest populations of Sand Tiger sharks.

Unique Ocean Expeditions will join Mike Gerken owner of Evolution Diving for his annual WRECK/SHARK photography and videography Shootout. During Mikes FIVE day SIX night Wreck/Shark Photo/Video competition guests will have the opportunity to improve their skills as well as compete for outstanding prizes such as five days diving in Palau with Sam’s Tours, six days diving on the Odyssey in Truk Lagoon, 7 nights at one of the Atlantis resorts in the Philippines and five days diving in the sea of Cortez, to name but a few. The list continues below.

NORTH CAROLINA DIVING

North Carolina Diving is known as - The Graveyard of the Atlantic from the estimated 2000 shipwrecks scattered along it’s coastline. Some of the most impressive wrecks are the World War II casualties - vessels fallen prey to Hitler's U-boat fleet as they traversed the offshore waters. Tankers, cargo ships, British fishing trawlers and even German submarines, form impressive underwater monuments to this tumultuous segment of our maritime heritage. Among others, a World War I gunboat, a late 18th-century schooner, and an early 20th-century luxury liner exist in North Carolina's unparalleled collection of dive-able history.

North Carolina is also home to a large population of Sand Tiger sharks. An impressive looking but a docile shark, Sand Tiger encounters are common occurrences in our offshore waters. Often present in large numbers, the sharks range in size from four to over eight feet long! Sand Tigers typically swim with their mouths open, smiling for photos, and proudly displaying three rows of ferocious teeth.These unique encounters are fully natural in their natural environment. The sharks are here year round and while they occasionally frequent all of our sites, they are more commonly present on the wrecks of the Spar, the Papoose, the Atlas, the Caribsea and the Aeolus.

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT WITH MIKE GERKEN

EVOLUTION UNDERWATER IMAGING

Every year enthusiastic divers and photographers journey from all over the US and the world to share a love of diving, underwater photography, wrecks and of course, sharks. They submit photos and videos into the photo competition and vie for big prizes. The NC Coast is famous for their numerous shipwrecks that are home to the prolific sand tiger shark; Carcharias taurus, cousin to the great white shark.

The wrecks are also host to a myriad of marine species from up and down the food chain. Large numbers of jacks, barracudas, tunas, spade fish, cobia, giant stingrays, sea turtles and.

Join Mike and Richard for an amazing week which includes photo workshops, presentations, social gatherings and the awards dinner on Saturday night. 

DIVE SHOP & DIVE BOATS

OLYMPUS DIVE CENTRE

Olympus Dive Center is a family owned and operated facility in the heart of the Crystal Coast – North Carolina.  “The Better Way to Dive North Carolina” is not only their motto but their goal when it comes to providing quality service, professionalism and keeping our customers diving.

Olympus Dive Center started in 1976 as a weekend charter business and has grown into a thriving, full-service dive center that runs dive trips year-round with daily trips during the peak season (May – September). 

Their Dive Boats are built to comfortably take our divers to dozens of wrecks off the coast of North Carolina which provide a fascinating glimpse into it’s maritime history, but also a habitat for the incredible sand tiger sharks .

THE RATES

ALL HOTEL PACKAGES ARE BASED ON TWIN SHARING UNLESS AT THE DIVE LODGE

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT - 6 DAYS DIVING/7 NIGHTS - OLYMPUS DIVE LODGE - $2,509

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT - 6 DAYS DIVING/7 NIGHTS - BASK HOTEL - $2,989

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT PLUS EXTENSION

WRECKS & SHARKS EXTENSION - 10 DAYS DIVING/11 NIGHTS - OLYMPUS DIVE LODGE - $3,865

WRECKS & SHARKS EXTENSION - 10 DAYS DIVING/11 NIGHTS - BASK HOTEL - $4,465

DATES

2025

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT 15th - 20th JULY

2026

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT 07th - 12th JULY

WRECKS/SHARKS SHOOTOUT PLUS EXTENSION 13th - 17th JULY

ITINERARY

2025

Mon July 14, 3pm:  Meet & Greet - Check-in to Olympus Dive Center; sign waivers and load tanks.

Tue July 15, 6am: Day One of the Shootout commences. Arrive at Olympus Dive Center and get ready to dive.

Tue July 15, 5pm: Mike will offer a 90 minute long workshop with tips and techniques for landing great shark pics on the wrecks of NC. 

Wed July 16, 6am: Day Two of the Shootout commences.

Wed July 16, 4pm: Lo-Country Boil on the Olympus dock. Trust me, you don't want to miss this. 

Thu July 17, 6am: Day Three of Shootout commences. 

Thu July 17, 6pm: Presentations by guest lecturer at The Promise Land Restaurant

Fri July 18, 6am: Day 4 of Shootout commences.

Sat July 19, 6am: Last day of diving. Latest deadline for contest submissions will be 5pm depending on when boats return.

Sat July 19 at 6pm-9pm: Awards dinner at The Promise Land Restaurant 900-B Arendell St., Morehead City, NC

Sun July 20, 6am: Optional final day of diving. The competition is over. Let your hair down and relax for fun filled day of diving.

Mon July 21 - 24: OPTIONAL FOUR DAYS EXTRA DIVING WITH RICHARD BARNDEN

EXPEDITION INFO

PRICE BREAKDOWNS

EXCLUDES

• International & Domestic Flight

• All Meals

• Gratuities - $20 per day

ACCOMMODATION

BASK HOTEL

ACCOMMODATION

OLYMPUS DIVE CENTER LODGE

DIVE SITE INFORMATION

WATER TEMPERATURE - 25c / 73F

WETSUIT - 5mm / 7mm

• Aeolus - The shipwreck Aeolus was sunk in August 1988 as part of North Carolina's artificial reef program. She was built in 1945 and served as an attack cargo ship named the "Turandot" in the US Navy until 1947.  The Aeolus was repurposed as a cable repair ship in 1955.  The Aeolus is 409 feet long and lies at a depth of 110 feet. As a result of hurricanes in 1996, this ship has been split into three portions and has also partially been turned to an upright position--making it an excellent multi-level dive.  In recent years Aeolus has been a prime site for diving with sand tiger sharks.

• The Atlas - The Shipwreck The Atlas was built in 1916 was a gasoline tanker that found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time on April 9, 1942. With U-Boat activity very high in its surrounding water, this tanker was unarmed and in a very dangerous position. It underwent attack on the evening of the 9th and was torpedoed by the U-552. The ship took its final resting place 23 miles east/southeast of the Beaufort NC inlet. The top of the tanker is at 90 feet depth and the maximum depth is 130 feet. This site is visited on our Full Day Dive Trip.

• The Caribsea - The Caribsea ship was WWII freighter owned by the Panama Railroad Steamship Line that transported materials along the Eastern Coast. She was traveling from Cuba to Norfolk, VA with a load of manganese. The ship had no arms at the time of its attack, leaving her defenseless. It was torpedoed on March 11, 1942 and lies in 90 feet of water and is populated by sand tiger sharks. With large groups of spadefish, baitfish, amberjacks, this site is popular for its frequent visits of stingray, cobia and Spanish Mackerel in the summer. This site is visited on our Full Day Dive Trip.

• The Spar - The Coast Guard Cutter Spar was sunk as a diver-friendly wreck just yards from the Aeolus. The Spar is known as a popular spot for Sand Tiger Sharks. The 180 feet long and 37 feet wide Spar sits at a 45-degree angle in 100 feet of water and is completely intact. The Spar got its name from the US Coast Guard Motto "Semper Paratus, Always Ready" which was an appropriate name for the Coast Guard buoy tender commissioned June 1944. Making port at various locations up and down the Northeast US, the Spar was one of the most awarded vessels in the Coast Guard fleet and served in a variety missions during its 50-year service including submarine hunting and oceanography assignments. After being decommissioned in Feb of 1997, the ship was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Morehead City. Now home to Sand Tiger Sharks, the Spar is one of our most popular sites since it sits upright and has lots of opportunities for penetration.

• Submarine U-352 - The U-352 was a German submarine that was used during the notorious U-boat attacks in WWII along the NC Coast. On May 9, 1942 it was sunk by the Coast Guard Cutter Icarus. This site was discovered in 1974 by Olympus owner and Captain, George Purifoy, and several friends. The history behind this site has been televised and featured on the History® Channel and is one of North Carolina's best-known dive sites. We visit this site on average 2-3 times per week, so come check it out and become a part of history with us! This site is visited on a Full Day Dive Trip.

WORKSHOP SKILLS

RICHARD BARNDEN from RICHARD BARNDEN PHOTOGRAPHY and MICHAEL GERKEN from EVELOTION UNDERWATER will be leading this expedition and sharing their knowledge and skills of shooting the wreck and sand tiger sharks. Each evening Richard and Mike will give in depth presentations about the following days diving along with photography tips on settings and compositions.

SKILLS EXPLORED

• Equipment and Photographic Gears

• Wreck Environments

• Photographing Sharks

• Lighting - Ambient Light

• Lighting - Strobes vs Continues light

• Settings and Compositions