The U-352 is a popular dive site on the mid-Atlantic coast, but only a select few know the full story behind this fascinating submarine wreck. At Olympus Dive Center in Morehead City, North Carolina, divers can learn about the U-352 and its role in World War II.

The U-352 Distinctive Specialty course was developed by Kevin King, a retired Navy officer and PADI Master Instructor. King meticulously researched the history of Operation Drumbeat—a German U-boat campaign that sunk nearly 400 Allied vessels. King’s 90-page guide tells the story of U-352 and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Icarus, which sent U-352 to its final resting place.

Students learn about both crews, the events leading up to the battle and details of the wreck that may be overlooked by casual divers. For example, the submarine has a torpedo tube that’s still loaded.

“If that torpedo had been fired, we might be diving the wreck of the Icarus today,” says Mike Muller, a training director at Olympus Dive Center who began teaching the course shortly after King developed it in 2018.

To begin the course, students read a guide at home before attending an interactive workshop. Students participate in discussions, such as why the Navy didn’t do more to protect the coastline during the first part of 1942.

“Students really add to the workshop,” Muller says, adding that many share their own experience in maritime cargo transport or the military for context during the course.

The workshop also covers the U-boat’s rediscovery by Olympus Dive Center founder George Purifoy. Fifty years ago, in April 1975, George and his crew found the U-352 after years of searching.

Anyone, even nondivers, can participate in the workshop. Students who wish to dive the U-352 must have advanced and nitrox certifications plus experience diving from a boat to depths greater than 70 feet.

The wreck sits in 110 to 115 feet of water, about 25 miles offshore. The boat ride to the site takes between 90 minutes and two hours. “If divers are prone to motion sickness, I recommend getting something like Bonine in their system the night before,” Muller says.

“Then again, many days we go out and the ocean is ‘Lake Atlantic,’” Muller adds. “During summer, you can sometimes see three-quarters of the way down the 220-foot-long sub.”

The course includes two dives. The first dive is led by Muller, who guides students along the wreck and highlights points of interest using slates and a pinpoint dive light. By the end of the two-day course, students gain a new perspective on the wreck and its place in history while improving their knowledge of advanced dive planning techniques for deep, offshore wreck diving.

WHEN TO GO

The U-352 Distinctive Specialty course is offered annually on May 8 and 9, the anniversary of the battle, and at other times throughout the diving season. For more information, visit olympusdiving.com.

»This article is the first in a series of unique scuba courses at PADI Dive Shops around the world. To recommend a course for this column, please email: [email protected].