Queen Anne's Revenge, North Carolina

Archaeologists are pretty sure that a wreck discovered off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina, is the Queen Anne's Revenge (QAR), a ship scuttled in the early 18th century by the pirate Blackbeard. Now area dive operators, in cooperation with archaeologists and a host of other officials are forming a program that will give recreational divers access to the site. If you're not too late, you can be one of the first ones to dive it this year. The wreck lies only 26 feet (8 m) below the surface and after nearly 300 years in salt water it's not exactly a penetration dive, but it is a working underwater archaeological site. The program is called "Dive Down" and for $500 and a day and a half of education and preparation, divers will be equipped with a waterproof MP3 player and rewarded with a 30-minute supervised dive. A prerecorded voice will help them navigate the area. The program is available only from September to November, when conditions are most favorable. About 60 percent of the allotted 200 slots for this year have been filled. A total of 300 will be available next year and again in 2007. There's a lot more to this unusual experience and the motives behind the program that this space does not allow. Please see the Diving Notes and News on Page 18 for more information.

Depths to: 26 feet (8 m)

Visibility: 5-8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 m) typically but on good days divers can see the wreck from the surface, said Chris Southerly, the QAR project archaeologist.

Water temperature: A dry suit is recommended.

Aquatic life: Octopus, toadfish, flounder,
and other near-shore creatures.

Fees: $500

On-site amenities: The North Carolina Maritime Museum, where the program is held, is in Beaufort, North Carolina, where divers can find multiple amenities including lodging. Call the museum at (252) 728-7317.

More info: To register for the course, e-mail Lauren Hermley at lauren@olympusdiving.com. For more information about Queen Anne's Revenge, visit www.qaronline.org.

Open: Mid-September to mid-November. That's when surface conditions are the calmest.

Getting there: The North Carolina Maritime Museum is at 315 Front St., Beaufort, North Carolina.