Researchers made a surprising find when diving in the waters off Hawaii: a large US naval tanker that had been sitting unseen in 80 feet of water for nearly 60 years.

'I turn around, and this giant, looming structure, so eerie,' Melissa Price, a maritime archaeologist, said.

Price was one of three divers to discover the 523-foot long Mission San Miguel on August 3 off the coast of Hawaii. During a 1957 trip from Guam to Seattle, it hit a reef in the area and sank.

Scroll down for video

Scientists off the northern coast of Hawaii have discovered the Mission San Miguel, a US Navy tanker that sank almost 60 years ago. Above, underwater video footage of the wreck

The wreck, only 80 feet below the surface, was largely intact despite expectations that it would be in pieces

The vessel's steering wheel and helm were still standing, despite years on the seafloor. One of the divers who discovered it was struck by an 'eerie' feel

The entire crew was able to escape, but the ship went down.

Reefs had hid the ship until it was discovered earlier this month when the researchers looking for it had only one day left in the area.

'I had to stare at it for a little bit, then I started freaking out under water, screaming and motioning,' said Rebecca Weible, a UH Manoa Marine Biology student who was diving with Price.

As a US naval tanker in World War II and the Korean War, Mission San Miguel transported fuel for military machines. It received several commendations for its service.

'This is a ship that wasn't a glamorous part of World War II history, but was an important part,' said Kelly Keogh, Maritime Heritage Coordinator for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, told Hawaii News Now.

'This is a ship that wasn't a glamorous part of World War II history, but was an important part,' said Kelly Keogh, Maritime Heritage Coordinator for the nearby Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument

Researcher Jason Raupp (right) led the search for the vessel, which had received multiple commendations for its service and sunk after hitting a coral reef

The researchers looking for the ship had only one day left in the area but were able to document its location for future mapping and study

Those familiar with the shipwreck thought that it would be found in piece, and were surprised that is was largely intact with the steering wheel and helm standing, according to KITV.

The Mission San Miguel is now in the protected waters of the Papahanaumokuakea monument. It will be mapped and studied on the ocean's floor.

'It's really very, very exciting discovery for the monument,' Jason Raupp, who led the dive team that discovered the vessel.