Which of us has never dreamed about diving on a real pirate ship? While a haunted ghost ship like the Black Pearl is nothing but a feat of film and imagination, North Carolina's Queen Anne's Revenge is real. What's more, archaeologists have discovered important clues linking it directly to the dreaded pirate Edward Teach, who was also known as Blackbeard. Famous for his fearsome image, including a long black beard that he wore in tiny braids with brightly colored ribbons, and which he sometimes added burning matches to, he was never known to physically harm anyone - in fact, he was well known as a bit of a hopeless romantic. Bristling with weaponry, this privateer was the scourge of the American coastline throughout the early 1700's; he eventually assembled an entire pirate fleet.
About the Queen Anne's Revenge
In November of 1717, a band of pirates led by Blackbeard himself captured a French slave ship called La Concorde, just off the island of Martinique. They converted it into their flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. During the month of May, 1818, this ship and three smaller ones conducted a blockade at the port of Charleston; a few months later, Blackbeard's flagship was lost during an attempt to enter Beaufort Inlet. Blackbeard, one of the most colorful characters ever to grace the pages of history books, was killed about five months later during a battle at Ocracoke.
Archaeologists have recovered a treasure trove of artillery, ammunition, personal arms, tools, navigational instruments, and personal possessions from the wreck; these, along with a number of other artifacts, are housed in a wet lab at the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
Today, recreational divers are allowed to visit the archaeological site of the Queen Anne's Revenge. This is a trip that will cost you around $500, but it's one you will never, ever forget. The wreck is a working underwater archeological site, so before you head down to a depth of 26 feet to visit it, you'll be treated to an entire day and a half of education covering information about the ship itself along with the archaeological work in progress. The dive is supervised and takes about 30 minutes; divers are equipped with waterproof MP3 players so they can hear a pre-recorded voice that points out various aspects of the wreck, which is broken up but which is absolutely fascinating.
Only about 300 divers per year can visit Queen Anne's Revenge, and dives take place between September and November, when surface conditions are calmest. The water is cold this time of year, and a dry suit is recommended. Along the way, you'll see plenty of fish and other critters, including octopus and flounder, plus toadfish, bream, and others.
The North Carolina Maritime Museum, which hosts the Queen Anne's Revenge dive program, is located at 315 Front Street, in Beaufort, North Carolina. There are plenty of onshore amenities available here, including plenty of accommodations and restaurants - not to mention a rich history of the real pirates of the Caribbean. The museum itself is well worth a visit anytime you're in North Carolina; even if you cannot dive Queen Anne's Revenge, you'll be able to see the artifacts taken from the wreck, and you may even be able to schedule a tour of the wet lab.