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San Pedro and the YO-257 - Honolulu HI


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San Pedro and the YO-257 is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located at Off Hawaii Coast near Waikiki, Honolulu, HI. This dive site has an average rating of 4.40 out of 5 from 20 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 91-100ft/28-30m. The average visibility is 51-60ft/16-18m.

This is a great site! There are two ships close enough to each other that you see both in one dive. The YO 257 and the San Pedro are two of the best wreck dives in the Hawaiian Islands. Both ships are about 170 long laying side by side, 75 ft apart at a maximum depth of 100ft. Both wrecks have been there over 25 years and have attracted a lot of marine life. The visibility was good enough to see one ship from the other. There is tons of coral and fish, many big green sea turtles and I saw three white tip sharks that are all supposedly permanent residents. I dove with Dive Oahu.

The YO-257 was a Navy yard oiler built in the 1940’s. It was bought by Atlantis Submarines Hawaii and sunk as an artificial reef off Waikiki in 1989. The ship rests upright in 100 feet of water with the main deck about 85 feet. It has been prepared for diving with many large access holes cut through the structure. It is the home of many colorful fish. Moray eels may be found around the wreck. Wave to the Atlantis submarine as it passes by on its tour. Visibility is normally 100+ feet. There is sometimes a strong current at the surface, which eases as you approach the wreck. A decent line is always rigged to mooring buoys on the wreck. The typical dive profile is 90 feet for 20 minutes. The YO-257 is one of the south shores more popular boat dives. In 1996, a new ship, the San Pedro, was sunk within 50 yards of the YO-257 as an additional dive attraction.

San Pedro: Max depth is 85 feet The San Pedro lies beside the YO. This wreck is 111 feet long. She was built in Japan and operated by a Korea fishing company. In 1975 the ship was carrying bait, food, and other cargo to a fishing fleet when she caught fire off South Point. Although it was badly damaged the ship was towed to Keehi Lagoon, where it remained anchored for nearly two decades before sinking in the harbor. Atlantis submarines again saved the day and sank the vessel for us to enjoy in 1996. This dive site is where we have our best chances of seeing white tip reef sharks. If we are running behind schedule the Atlantis submarine will give us a buzz while we are under.

The mooring ball is 25’ below the surface located toward the western end of the southern wreck.

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Comments

Freqman - 4/27/2022 7:52 PM
Rating Added: 5
was a fantastic dive, clear
boxav8r - 7/31/2017 7:14 PM
Rating Added: 5
Absolutely STUNNING today. 200’+ visibility. While on the surface waiting to go down with the group, we could see both ships! Saw a 5’ white tip reef shark, 3’ sea turtle and thousands of tropical fish.
Leminem - 2/03/2015 6:40 PM
great dive! here’s my video youtu.be/sN8ccFPBuBs
devildoc82 - 11/29/2014 11:05 PM
I went scuba diving here on 11/29/2014. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.
egunnison - 5/25/2014 5:23 PM
Rating Added: 4
Good wreck right off Honolulu, a popular spot so it is often crowded.
Green_Achers - 5/04/2014 8:10 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/3/2014. Average viz: 101-110ft/31-34m. Water temp: 76-80°F/24-27°C.
This was our first dive after a serious battle that left my bride in doctors care for six months. Doc said she can now do anything so why not diving?!?

This was our first Hawaiian dive as well. We could only guess the weights we’d need. The crew on Kaimana Divers DB were helpful and patient with this. One of the reasons we recommend them.

This wreck dive is undoubtedly a double winner. The sea life is everywhere. The only problem (and it was very minor) was that the tourist subs make it hazardous to go from wreck to wreck. We saw sharks and eels and all the typical Hawaiian fish. Must do dive, IMHO.
Green_Achers - 5/04/2014 9:32 AM
Rating Added: 5
I can’t say enough about how great this location is. The vis was ideal - you can easily see the wrecks from the dive boat. Plenty of fish and turtles making this their home plus the ship is upright with bridge mostly in place.

Only problem with this dive is the tourist subs that pass so getting from one wreck to the next requires you look both ways (just like a street but the subs won’t stop for you).