US Navy Yard Oiler 257 (YO-257)

[sunsetIE]

While on a trip to Hawaii recently, I had the opportunity to dive a few wrecks off the coast of Oahu, and one site was the YO-275, a WWII US Naval vessel.

Built in the 1940s, YO-257 saw action in World War II, the Korean War, and in the Vietnam War.

From 16 September to 12 November 1963 the ship was temporarily loaned to the Coast Guard to assist in the construction of a LORAN radio navigation station in Yap, Western Carolines, carrying water-based asphalt to be used for a runway for aircraft servicing the station.

After decommissioning, the ship was purchased by Atlantis Submarines Hawaii, who scuttled it two miles off Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii in 1989 as an artificial reef.

The YO-257 rests in 115 feet of warm blue water, with the top deck sitting at 85 feet below the waves. At 174 feet long and 33 feet wide, this is a large wreck, and combined with its depth, I only had 15 minutes to explore it before a long ascension to the surface.

The fuel carrier in its heyday


Excuse the majority of my poor and undefined pictures, as I was utilizing a reuseable 35mm camera with built in flash in a submersible housing that was only rated to 75 feet! The picture of myself and the turtle on the bow was kindly taken by a fellow diver with a real camera!

[CARL]

Must have been a fantastic experience. Thanks again for a fine thread.

Regards,

Carl

[António Fragoeiro]

A wonderful experience indeed.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers
Nuno

[sunsetIE]

Fantastic indeed, as it was my first ever wreck dive. Unfortunately, the pictures do the wreck no justice. It was far larger than it appears, and the visibility and colors quite a bit more vivid. If I ever get the chance to dive the YO-257 again, I WILL have a digital camera!