AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY
Why dive here
With 42+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles - AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY offers some of North Carolina's richest wreck diving.
The Yancey, now there's a wreck with some serious history. She was an assault transport, saw action in WWII and Korea, and finished her career as an artificial reef off North Carolina. We love a wreck with a story, and the Yancey tells hers with every bent plate and open cargo hold. Descending onto her immense structure, you feel the sheer scale of the ship – she’s over 450 feet long. Penetration opportunities are everywhere, particularly through the large cargo holds, where sunlight filters down, illuminating schools of baitfish that swirl around the structure. We've seen some hefty sand tiger sharks cruising the deeper sections here, and the swim-throughs around the superstructure are usually home to big gag groupers and sheepshead. Visibility can be hit or miss, typical of North Carolina, but when it’s good, the Yancey truly shines, revealing intricate details of her past. It’s a dive for experienced wreck lovers, comfortable with depths and potentially strong currents, but the rewards are huge.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY Wreck History
Year Sunk
1990
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
13,910 tons displacement
The USS Yancey (AKA-93) had a long and decorated career that spanned the globe. Commissioned in 1944, this 459-foot Andromeda-class attack cargo ship was built for war. She earned battle stars for her service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, supporting the critical invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Her service didn't end there; she later participated in the historic Operation Highjump expedition to Antarctica, and went on to serve in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, a testament to her robust design and enduring utility for the U.S. Navy.
After being decommissioned in 1970, the Yancey was destined for one final mission. On December 19, 1990, she was scuttled as the centerpiece of artificial reef AR-302, coming to rest in 160 feet of water off Morehead City. For years, she was a spectacular, intact wreck dive. However, the immense power of Atlantic hurricanes has since taken its toll, breaking the massive ship into several large sections. Today, the Yancey is a sprawling and complex dive site. Advanced divers can explore the massive bow and stern sections, swim through cavernous cargo holds, and witness the incredible density of marine life, including schools of amberjack and the iconic sand tiger sharks that patrol its ghostly remains.
Reviews for AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY
AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for AR-302 - 459 Assault Transport Ship YANCEY, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Lake Murray SC (262km away)
August Averages
Air Temperature
27.2°C
81°F
Wind Speed
2.2 m/s
4.3 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.7 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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