Scuba Dive the Atlantic Graveyard
The treacherous currents, shoals, and storms off Cape Hatteras earned the surrounding waters the moniker "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Over 600 ships sank offshore, and today many of these wrecks serve as popular scuba diving destinations. Several of the wrecks were sunk by German U-boats during the Second World War. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream often create conditions where visibility is comparable to the waters of the Caribbean. Cape Hatteras is frequently selected as a top dive site by the major scuba magazines.

Seek Refuge with the Birds
Bird lovers will find nirvana at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge located on the north end of Hatteras Island. The refuge is situated on the eastern flyway and lures some 265 species of birds that seek out this oasis. It was established in 1938 with waterfowl in mind, and is named for the wild pea vine that grows here. Several viewing platforms serve as a great perch from which to view the antics of egrets, terns, herons, and tundra swans. Overhead, expect to see brown pelicans scanning the waters below for fish. Once they spot their prey, they dive down and scoop up the fish in the expandable pouch of their bill. The pelican then tilts its head back and swallows the fish whole.

More on birding in Cape Hatteras National Seashore