Cliff Herring's Dive Log

Masonboro Inlet Jetty - Wrightsville Beach. Getting there is easy, finding a place to park is not. Park in the metered spaces at the southern end of the island and hike out to the inlet. A sea wall runs from the shore out to the rock jetty. It is exposed at low tide, however it is dangerous (and illegal) to walk out on it. Large rocks line the bottom on the inlet side of the wall, however recently, much of them have been covered by sand. Good spot for flounder. Dive the ocean side of the jetty itself for sheepshead and plenty of smaller fish. The tip of the jetty is the best dive, usually inhabited by larger fish, Crevalis Jack, even sharks! and very large stingrays. Lots of anchors snagged on the rocks and underwater columns. Best dive time is at slack high tide, which is the only time the tip should be attempted, due to very strong currents. Enter through the surf on the ocean side of the wall and swim out to the large rock jetty, or cross over the wall about halfway and dive along the sound side of the wall for flounder. On calm days, you can enter on the sound side and dive/snorkel, even at non-slack tide. A good night dive if the water is calm. Warning! Heavy surf along the wall much of the time. Strong currents and pounding wave action! The outgoing tide will take you out to sea if you are caught in it. A challenging dive if you explore all of the parts of the jetty. One bonus: visibility here is very good for a Southern NC shore dive if the weather is good.

Masonboro Inlet Jetty - Wrightsville Beach. Getting there is easy, finding a place to park is not. Park in the metered spaces at the southern end of the island and hike out to the inlet. A sea wall runs from the shore out to the rock jetty. It is exposed at low tide, however it is dangerous (and illegal) to walk out on it. Large rocks line the bottom on the inlet side of the wall, however recently, much of them have been covered by sand. Good spot for flounder. Dive the ocean side of the jetty itself for sheepshead and plenty of smaller fish. The tip of the jetty is the best dive, usually inhabited by larger fish, Crevalis Jack, even sharks! and very large stingrays. Lots of anchors snagged on the rocks and underwater columns. Best dive time is at slack high tide, which is the only time the tip should be attempted, due to very strong currents. Enter through the surf on the ocean side of the wall and swim out to the large rock jetty, or cross over the wall about halfway and dive along the sound side of the wall for flounder. On calm days, you can enter on the sound side and dive/snorkel, even at non-slack tide. A good night dive if the water is calm. Warning! Heavy surf along the wall much of the time. Strong currents and pounding wave action! The outgoing tide will take you out to sea if you are caught in it. A challenging dive if you explore all of the parts of the jetty. One bonus: visibility here is very good for a Southern NC shore dive if the weather is good.