Hallibourton Wreck

The Halliburton Wreck is a deliberately sunk cargo ship placed at the mouth of Utila Harbor as an artificial reef and is the largest wreck on Utila. The roughly 30 m-long vessel rests upright on a sandy bottom with a three-tiered wheelhouse and large openings that allow swim-throughs; it is colonized by coral and sponges and commonly attracts green moray eels, spotted eagle rays and dog snappers. Access is by boat and dive operators typically moor a buoy line at the wreck for descent. Visibility is commonly good and currents are generally mild despite the harbor-entrance position. Depth ranges from about 20 m at the top of the wheelhouse to around 30 m at the deepest point, with the main deck near 26 m, so dives are typically done by Advanced Open Water or wreck-certified divers who must carefully manage bottom time; use the mooring or a descent line for ascent and safety stops because there is no shallow reef habitat at the site. Sunk in 1998 as an artificial reef project, the Halliburton offers intact rooms and passageways, including the wheelhouse, for experienced divers to explore.