THE EXPEDITION

Join Unique Ocean Expeditions for not one, but three thrilling expeditions to the northeast coast of the USA, where we'll be exploring the waters off North Carolina—infamously known as The Graveyard of the Atlantic. With an estimated 2,000 shipwrecks scattered along the coast and massive congregations of Sand Tiger sharks, this region offers a bucket-load of drama and opportunity for underwater shooters.

We're teaming up with the legendary Mike Gerken, owner of Evolution Diving and the mastermind behind the annual Wreck/Shark Photography & Videography Shootout. Over four days and five nights, you'll dive iconic wrecks, swim alongside toothy giants, and compete for some seriously impressive prizes.

But why not arrive early and stack the odds in your favor?

Richard Barnden, founder of Unique Ocean Expeditions will be hosting an exclusive five-day pre-competition photo & video workshop. It’s your chance to sharpen your camera skills, level up your editing game, and get prepped to dominate the shootout.

Big sharks. Bigger prizes. And the best wreck diving in the Atlantic.
What more could you ask for?

NORTH CAROLINA DIVING

DIVE INTO THE GRAVEYARD OF THE ATLANTIC

North Carolina’s coastline is famously referred to as The Graveyard of the Atlantic, a name earned from the estimated 2,000 shipwrecks that lie scattered beneath its waters. These submerged relics include some of the most historically significant wrecks in the world—many of which are casualties of World War II, lost to the stealthy operations of German U-boats. Tankers, cargo vessels, British fishing trawlers, and even enemy submarines now rest silently on the seafloor, serving as both powerful memorials and captivating dive sites.

The wrecks span centuries of maritime history: from a World War I gunboat to an 18th-century schooner, and even a luxury ocean liner from the early 20th century. Now encrusted with marine life, these wrecks form an unparalleled underwater museum—each dive offering a glimpse into a dramatic and often tragic past.

In addition to this extraordinary historical tapestry, North Carolina is also home to one of the largest populations of Sand Tiger sharks. These striking, slow-moving sharks may look intimidating with their gaping jaws and rows of needle-sharp teeth, but they are known for their docile nature and calm presence around divers. Often found in large aggregations, Sand Tigers range from four to over eight feet in length and are a highlight for underwater photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

Encounters with these sharks are entirely natural and frequently occur on several of the region’s most iconic wrecks, including the Spar, Papoose, Atlas, Caribsea, and Aeolus. These sites provide a perfect backdrop for observing and photographing these magnificent animals in their element.

WRECK/SHARK SHOOTOUT/WORKSHOP

WITH MIKE GERKEN & RICHARD BARNDEN

EVOLUTION UNDERWATER IMAGING & UNIQUE OCEAN EXPEDITIONS

Each year, passionate divers and underwater photographers from across the U.S. and around the globe gather on the North Carolina coast to celebrate a shared passion for wreck diving, underwater imagery, and shark encounters. At the heart of this gathering is the Wreck/Shark Photo & Video Competition, where participants submit their best work in pursuit of prestigious awards and generous prizes.

The waters off North Carolina are renowned for their historic shipwrecks, which serve as ideal backdrops for both macro and wide-angle photography. These wrecks are home to thriving marine ecosystems, most famously hosting large populations of Sand Tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus)—a close relative of the great white. Known for their dramatic appearance and calm behavior, Sand Tigers are a favorite subject for photographers and a signature species of the region.

In addition to sharks, the wrecks are teeming with life. Schools of jacks, barracudas, tunas, spadefish, cobia, sea turtles, and even massive stingrays can all be encountered, creating dynamic and diverse photo opportunities at every turn.

Join Mike Gerken and Richard Barnden for an unforgettable three-week experience featuring photo workshops, expert-led presentations, social events, and of course, the competition itself—culminating in an awards dinner on Saturday evening where the best work will be recognized and celebrated.

DIVE SHOP & DIVE BOATS

OLYMPUS DIVE CENTRE

Olympus Dive Center is a family-owned and operated dive facility located in the heart of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Their motto, “The Better Way to Dive North Carolina,” is more than a slogan—it reflects a long-standing commitment to exceptional service, professionalism, and a passion for keeping divers in the water and exploring.

Founded in 1976 as a weekend charter operation, Olympus has since evolved into a full-service dive center, offering year-round dive trips, with daily charters during the peak season from May through September.

Their custom-built dive vessels are designed for comfort and efficiency, transporting divers to dozens of historic shipwrecks scattered along the coast. These wrecks offer a unique combination of maritime heritage and incredible marine life, most notably the Sand Tiger sharks, which have become iconic residents of North Carolina’s offshore reefs and wrecks.

THE RATES

ALL RATES ARE DIVING ONLY

WRECK & SHARK WORKSHOP - 5 DAYS DIVING - $1,499

ALL RATES ARE DIVING ONLY

WRECKS & SHARKS PHOTO/VIDEO SHOOTOUT - 4 DAYS DIVING - $1,475

ALL RATES ARE DIVING ONLY

WRECKS & SHARKS EXCURSION - 4 DAYS DIVING - $950

ITINERARY #1

NC WRECK & SHARK PHOTO/VIDEO WORKSHOP

13th - 17th JULY 2026

ARRIVAL DAY - Sun July 12, 3pm:  Meet & Greet - Check-in to Olympus Dive Center; sign waivers and load tanks.

ARRIVAL DAY - Sun July 12, 3pm:  Join me and the other shooters for an informal get together at the promise land bar & restaurant on Arendell Street

WORKSHOP DAY 1 - Mon July 13, 6am: Day One of the workshop commences. Arrive at Olympus Dive Center and get ready to dive by 6am.

WORKSHOP DAY 1 - Mon July 13, 5pm: Richard will offer a 90 minute long Editing workshop with tips and techniques for Lightroom 

WORKSHOP DAY 2 - Tue July 14, 6am: Day Two of the workshop commences.

WORKSHOP DAY 2 - Tue July 14, 5pm: Richard will offer a 90 minute long Editing workshop with tips and techniques for Lightroom 

WORKSHOP DAY 3 - Wed July 15, 6am: Day Three of workshop commences. 

WORKSHOP DAY 3 - Wed July 15, 6pm: Richard will offer a 90 minute long Editing workshop with tips and techniques for Lightroom 

WORKSHOP DAY 4 - Thu July 16, 6am: Day 4 of workshop commences.

WORKSHOP DAY 4 - Thu July 16, 4-5pm: Richard will offer a 90 minute long Editing workshop with tips and techniques for Lightroom 

WORKSHOP DAY 5 - Fri July 17, 6am: Final Day of workshop commences.

WORKSHOP DAY 5 - Fri July 17, 4-5pm: Join me and the other shooters for an informal get together at the promise land bar & restaurant on Arendell Street

ITINERARY #2

NC WRECK & SHARK PHOTO/VIDEO SHOOTOUT

21st - 25th JULY 2026

ARRIVAL DAY - Tue July 21, 3pm:  Meet & Greet - Check-in to Olympus Dive Center; sign waivers and load tanks.

ARRIVAL DAY - Tue July 21, 4-5pm:  Join me and the other shooters for an informal get together at the promise land bar & restaurant on Arendell Street

SHOOTOUT DAY 1 - Wed July 22, 6am: Day One of the Shootout commences. Arrive at Olympus Dive Center and get ready to dive.

SHOOTOUT DAY 1 - Wed July 22, 5pm: Mike will offer a 90 minute long workshop with tips and techniques for landing great shark pics on the wrecks of NC. 

SHOOTOUT DAY 2 - Thu July 23, 6am: Day Two of the Shootout commences.

SHOOTOUT DAY 2 - Thu July 23, 5pm: Presentations by guest lecturer at The Promise Land Restaurant

SHOOTOUT DAY 3 - Fri July 24, 6am: Day Three of Shootout commences. 

SHOOTOUT DAY 3 - Fri July 24, 6pm: Catered Lo-Country Boil on the Olympus Dock. Trust me, you do not want to miss this. Beverages, Beer & Wine provided.

SHOOTOUT DAY 4 - Sat July 25, 6am: Day 4 of Shootout commences.

SHOOTOUT DAY 4 - Sat July 25, 4-5pm: Submissions accepted classroom upstairs at Olympus Dive Center

AWARDS DINNER - Sat July 25 at 6pm-9pm: Awards dinner at The Promise Land Restaurant 900-B Arendell St., Morehead City, NC

ITINERARY #3

NC WRECK & SHARK EXTENSION

26th - 29th JULY 2026

EXTENSION DAY 1 - Sun July 26, 6am: Day One, Arrive at Olympus Dive Center and get ready to dive by 6am.

EXTENSION DAY 1 - Sun July 26, 5pm: Join Mike Gerken and the other shooters for an informal get together at the promise land bar & restaurant on Arendell Street

EXTENSION DAY 2 - Mon July 27, 6am: Day Two of the Shark & Wrecks Extension commences.

EXTENSION DAY 2 - Mon July 27, 5pm: Presentations by guest lecturer at The Promise Land Restaurant

EXTENSION DAY 3 - Tues July 28, 6am: Day Three of Shark & Wrecks Extension commences. 

EXTENSION DAY 3 - Tues July 28, 6pm: Meet at bar of your choice

EXTENSION DAY 4 - Wed July 29, 6am: Day Four of Shark & Wrecks Extension commences.

EXTENSION DAY DINNER - Wed July 29 at 6pm: Dinner at The Promise Land Restaurant 900-B Arendell St., Morehead City, NC

WHATS NOT INCLUDED

• Accommodation.

• Tank rentals and Nitrox fills. 

• Gratuities for the boat crew.

     Visit this link for air and nitrox pricing.  

Tank Fill Rates

  • Air up to 99 cubic ft - $8.00

  • Air more than 100 cubic ft - $9.00

  • Nitrox 30% up to 99 cubic ft - $14.00

  • Nitrox 30% more than 100 cubic ft - $16.00

     Visit this link for tank rental pricing.

Rental Prices

  • Aluminum 80 (Air) $10.00

  • Aluminum 100 (Air) $12.00

  • Aluminum or Steel 80 cf (EAN) $18.00

  • Aluminum or Steel 100+ cf (EAN) $21.00

  • Weights: Included with charter

A customary gratuity is between $10-$20 per day per boat depending on how you felt the service was.

Diver Certification Requirements:  Visit this link
Advanced Certified Divers Only. This event is not for beginners. You will be screened in the application process.

The organizer(s) of these events reserve the right to refuse entry of any individual(s) regardless of their certification level.

CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICIES

• $400.00 Deposit Required to secure your reservation. $150.00 of it is non-refundable regardless of when attendee cancels.

• Forfeit $400 if cancellation within 90 days. 

• Final payment due 60 days prior to event start date. No refunds within 60 days. 

• Payments can be made via credit card with a 4% transaction fee added. Pay by ACH Bank Transfer, Venmo or Zelle with no transaction fee.

• If remitting payment electronically without an invoice from merchant there may be no buyer protection. 

• In the event of a cancellation(s) due to bad weather or mechanical failure each diver will be refunded only the cost of the daily charter rate of Olympus Dive Center for each day cancelled. Presently, this is $185.00 per full day.

• The captains want you to experience the best NC diving has to offer but not at the expense of safety. If there is somewhere in the ocean they can get to then we will go diving even if it means to the inshore wrecks for multiple days. Conditions will be the same for all competitors. 

• In the unlikely event that all 5 days of diving are canceled on site and not prior to the start date there will be an additional $200 refunded per attendee.

• If the entire event is canceled prior to start date of May 30 due to, i.e. public health concern or typhoon there will be 100% refund issued minus $150.00 admin fee. 

• The awards dinner, cookout, workshops, presentations, admin fees, entry fees, professional services and dive fees, are all included in the cost of the package

• In the event of abnormally high fuel prices in 2024 Olympus Dive Center reserves the right to add a fuel surcharge pp/per day of diving to the total cost of your package. The charge will be subject to the price of fuel at that time and can range from $0.00 to $30.00 per day. (i.e. it was $20.00 per day in 2022). The fee will be collected by Olympus the morning of each charter upon check-in. Notifications will be sent out 2 weeks prior to event start date confirming the surcharge rate if any.

• Once an application is received it will be reviewed and event manager will contact you with any questions before sending an itemized invoice with payment instructions.

• Reservation will not be final until deposit received. It is a first-come/first-serve basis.

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