USS Indra

Location:  N 34º 33' 44.29"  W 76º 51' 4.67"  (gps coord taken at anchor, not directly above ship, within 75 ft accuracy, will update with better knowledge)

Depth: 65 feet

Length: 328 feet

Beam:  50 feet

Draft:  12 feet

Condition:  Intact

Type:  US Achelous class repair ship

Average Visibility:  20 to 40 feet (low 6ft)

Penetration:  2 decks, limited

Marine Life:  bait fish, spade fish, sea bass, barracuda, rare sighting of sand tiger shark and bull shark, limited coral (fans and sea urchins)

Location Map: 

Diver's Notes:

A frequently visited wreck by many of the dive charter operations in the area, due to its ease of access and relatively shallow depth.  Often used for dive training in all levels of certification.  It is a very approachable wreck as it sits at about 10 miles from Beaufort Inlet, and lies at 65 feet at the sandy bottom.  The top deck at the stern, starts at about 30 feet and she is a fully intact wreck.   Two large holes were cut in the side for recreational diving purposes and to assist in sinking as she was part of the artificial reef program.  Very easy to penetrate not only from the side but top deck as well.  Visibility is fair at best as it is too far inshore to get the benefits of sitting near the Gulf Stream as some of the other renowned wrecks off our coast, but can be up to and exceed 40 feet.  Some major storms have shifted the wreck from its original site.  Proof of this; the anchor which used to sit directly beneath the bow is now lead due south of the wreck.  You can briefly see the anchor rode in the video below, at 2:40.  Storms have also separated the super structure from the top deck and is located near by.   There has also been 2 sailboats intentionally sank off the starboard stern, for recreational diving purposes.  More to come.......

Photograph's / Video's: 

Second dive on Indra, first time using Go Pro Hero 2 camera.  A good overall dive...more specifics on future videos.  Upload at poor definition, will make HD in future.  Anchor rode briefly shown at 2:40


History:  *information obtained from Wikipedia


USS Indra (ARL-37) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Indra (the god of weather and war, and lord of Svargaloka in Hinduism), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name, and only one of two ships (along with the USS Krishna) to be named after a Hindu deity.
Originally laid down as LST-1147 on 12 February 1945; reclassified while building and launched as ARL-37 by Chicago Bridge & Iron Company of Seneca, Illinois 21 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Regina K. Hlubek; placed in reduced commission and brought to Bethlehem-Key Highway Shipyard, Baltimore for conversion, and commissioned 2 October 1945 with Lieutenant Commander R. J. Siegelman in command.

After shakedown Indra sailed to Green Cove Springs, Florida where she remained from 30 November 1945 until 8 May 1946. She then steamed through the Panama Canal to San Diego, arriving 4 June. The ship remained in California until departing 7 January 1947 for the Far East. Indra arrived Tsingtao 19 February to support American Marines there attempting to stabilize the volatile Chinese situation and protect American lives and property. She performed repair and general services there and at Shanghai until 30 August, when she sailed for San Diego. Upon her arrival 25 September 1947 Indra decommissioned 6 October and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group.
Indra was recommissioned in December, 1967. During the Vietnam War Indra participated in the following campaigns:

• Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV (2 April to 16 April 1968)
• Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V (21 September to 1 November 1968)

Decommissioned in May, 1970 she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1984. Transferred to the State of North Carolina in January 1992, she was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of North Carolina 4 August 1992.
Indra earned two battle stars for service during the Vietnam War.