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Veturia
 Cape Lookout, NC
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Max Depth: 36-40ft/11-12m
Average Viz: 21-25ft/6-8m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Spring: 56-60°F/13-16°C
Summer: 71-75°F/22-24°C
Fall: 76-80°F/24-27°C
Winter: 50-55°F/10-13°C
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Veturia is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Cape Lookout, NC. The maximum depth is 36-40ft/11-12m. The average visibility is 21-25ft/6-8m.
Diving Depths: Varies from 30-45 feet depending how much of the wreck is exposed; 35-40 feet means the boilers/engine and parts of the stern/bow are exposed, but not anything connecting the three pieces.
Current: Being in the shoals, the wreck would be subject to strong currents and wave action
Visibility: Bright sand and shallow water generally allows for good viz except when stirred up by big swells and shallow water
Summer Temperature: High 70s - lo 80s
Points of Interest: Boilers (3) and large engine;
Fish/Animal Life: Triggerfish, small reef fish;
Description: This wreck comes and goes with sand and seasons. For several years I had tried to dive the Veturia but the sands had the wreck.completely covered. Finally, in the summer of 2004 — maybe due to Hurricane Isabel — the Veturia was at least partially uncovered. There are 3 boilers - two standing upright and the remains of a third sitting on its end. The big steam engine is laying on its side. There is evidence of a prop shaft coming out of the engine area and it is reported that, when visible, it can be followed along the sand back to the stern. It was buried when I visited the wreck. The stern section reportedly contains at least the remains of the steering quadrant. The bow section lies separate from the other two pieces and is often covered as well. In an interesting tale of "serandipity", when the Veturia was first discovered, only the extreme 1 foot section of the bow point was uncovered. When visited by another diver a some time later, only another 1-2 feet of sand had moved off of the bow, but it was enough to completely expose the ships bell, which was quickly recovered. Diving, like life, is all about timing. The Veturia was a large ship (424 feet) so there must either be a significant portion still buried under the sand or its remains have been blasted apart