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Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Gallery

View spectacular images of the maritime heritage work we do to document our nation's and North Carolina's cultural resources and to tell their stories.

Shipwreck propeller being lowered down
Ericsson’s innovative propeller recovered from the wreck. Photo: NOAA
Shipwreck poster
A diagram depicting the sequence of events as the Monitor sank to the seafloor. (NOAA)
A toad fish
One of the residents of the USS Monitor, a toadfish guards his favorite corner of the ship from curious divers.. Photo: NOAA
Two divers holding big flashlights
Divers excavate the turret for retrieval. Photo: NOAA
Old shipwreck under water
The famous Ericsson turret resting on the seafloor. Photo: NOAA
Two divers near a Shipwreck
Two divers explore the remains of the USS Monitor. Photo: NOAA
Diver under water
A pair of divers investigate the bow of the USS Monitor. (NOAA)
small crab in a person's hand
A closer look at the sargassum swimming crab. These crabs have two back legs that are flattened into little swimming paddles that allow the animal to swim in open water! Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
crab hiding under kelp
The sargassum swimming crab, Portunus sayi, hiding in a bundle of sargassum seaweed. This algae serves as a very unique habitat for many animals in the ocean. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
team lowering a towfish off the deck
NOAA Volunteers and the crew of the R/V Shearwater work as a team to lower the towfish into the water. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
dolphin swimming
Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Stenella frontalis, frolicking in the waves in the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
two dolphins swimming together
A pair of Atlantic spotted dolphins play in the wake of the RV Shearwater during a survey near the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Mark Losavio/ NOAA
dolphin swimming
An Atlantic spotted dolphin swims freely in waters near the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. These dolphins can sometimes visit boaters in the area. Keep an eye out! Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
A school of amberjacks swim over the USS Monitor. These shipwrecks are so ecologically productive that sometimes divers had a hard time conducting their research! Credit: NOAA
diver examines a wreck
Diver Inspects the stern section of the City of Atlanta. Currently resting at a depth of 90 ft., the City of Atlanta is one of the more easily accessible wrecks near the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tane/Casserley./NOAA
diver surrounded by fish
A diver is greeted by schooling fish and he descends onto Dixie Arrow, currently resting 15 miles south of Hatteras inlet. Photo: Greg McFall/NOAA
A school of sharks circle above a wreck
A school of sharks circle above the wreck of EM Clark, a good sign of a healthy ecosystem. Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA
jellyfish swimming by a diver
Diver investigates a small school of jellyfish gathering above the HMT Bedfordshire, resting at about 105ft near the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Tane Casserley./NOAA
diver swimming
Photo of the National Marine Sanctuaries logo on a diver. Divers for the ONMS explore the sanctuaries to keep tabs on the ecosystem health and site well being. For some sanctuaries this job can be challenging! Photo: Joe Hoyt/NOAA
A small group of sharks swim near a wreck
A small group of sharks take refuge over the Manuela, a freighter sunk in 1942. At 394ft this vessel can provide a lot of refuge for sea creatures. Photo: Tane Casserley./NOAA
ionfish resting near a wreck
An invasive lionfish exploring the wreck of the Manuela while a diver looks on. Photo: Tane Casserley./NOAA
school of fish swimming over a wreck with a diver near by
A diver seemingly having a conversation with a group of grunts atop the wreck of the USS Tarpon. Divers often do surveys on these wrecks to learn what kind of fish communities they can support. Photo: Tane Casserley./NOAA
two diver examine a wreak with a school of fish swim over
A pair of divers greeted by some amberjack and grunt on the site of USS Tarpon. Photo: Tane Casserley./NOAA
The bow of the USS Monitor, currently home to scores of marine life. This wreck lies 240 ft below the surface. Credit: NOAA
Volunteers monitor the side scan sonar
Volunteers begin the night portion of the 24 hour side scan operations aboard the RV Shearwater. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
The submersible used to film the wreck of the USS Monitor. Credit: NOAA
two volunteers examine a towfish on deck
NOAA Volunteers learn about the device that captures the sonar data from the seafloor called a "towfish". Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
three volunteers at work stations
Volunteers prepare the work station for night operations aboard the R/V Shearwater. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
volunteers being trained at work stations
Volunteers learn from NOAA scientists how to record the data being captured by the towfish during an expedition off the North Carolina coast. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
three volunteers monitoring a live feed of sonar data
Volunteers aboard the R/V Shearwater review the live feed of sonar data being collected over the seafloor. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA
volunteer examines a towfish
An ECU student volunteer examines the side scan tool known as the towfish. This device is towed behind the vessel and records sonar data of the seafloor below it. Photo: Mark Losavio/NOAA