YO-257

The YO-257 is one of Oahu's most celebrated artificial reef dive sites — a decommissioned United States Navy fuel oil barge deliberately sunk in 1989 to create underwater habitat off the south shore of Honolulu. Resting at approximately 95 to 100 feet on a sandy bottom near the more famous Sea Tiger wreck, the YO-257 offers advanced divers a rich and visually compelling experience that epitomizes the very best of Hawaiian wreck diving. The barge itself is a substantial structure roughly 175 feet in length, and in the decades since its sinking it has been completely reclaimed by the sea. Its decks are thick with hard and soft corals, sponges, and tunicates, while the interior spaces have become refuges for a remarkable variety of Hawaiian reef fish. Schooling fish dominate the experience from the moment you reach the hull: dense clouds of Hawaiian bigeye hover in the darkened interior spaces, while bluestripe snapper and goatfish circle the exterior in shimmering formations. Large yellowfin goatfish probe the sandy bottom at the keel, their sensitive barbels searching for hidden prey. The YO-257 is especially known for its abundant moray eels, which occupy virtually every suitable crevice in the wreck's structure. Yellowmargin, undulated, and snowflake morays are all commonly encountered, some reaching impressive sizes. Whitetip reef sharks are regular visitors and occasionally rest on the metal deck or inside the holds — a thrilling encounter for divers fortunate enough to find them during daylight hours. Hawaiian green sea turtles are frequent companions throughout the dive, often resting on the deck coral or drifting slowly along the hull. On the sand surrounding the wreck, peacock flounders lie camouflaged against the sediment while garden eels sway gently in the slight current. Visibility ranges from 60 to over 100 feet depending on ocean conditions, with calmer summer months offering the clearest water. The site is exclusively accessible by boat from Honolulu-based operators, and is often paired with the nearby Sea Tiger for a productive two-tank outing. Both wrecks sit in close proximity and share a similar character, but each has its own personality — the YO-257 tending toward an even denser concentration of eels and resting sharks than its neighbor. For advanced divers exploring Oahu's offshore waters, the YO-257 represents the Hawaiian Islands' wreck diving tradition at its finest.