What can be expected to be seen? Well – beautiful volcanic landscapes, caves, lava flows, basalt boulders and of course various sea creatures. Very interesting are the so-called volcanic tubes – flowing rivers of lava froze and left behind a long hollow tubes, which over time were covered with hard corals and many of them inhabit tropical underwater animals.

Diving in Hawaii is very diverse.

General Conditions

Water temperature: 22 in the period from January to February, 27 in the period from August to September
Equipment: It is recommended 5mm suit
Visibility: 20-40 meters
Diving Attractions: Coral reefs, steep walls, lava flows and caves sharks, skates, turtles, octopuses, crabs, eels and other coral fishes and plants.
The season for diving: summer in Hawaii is considered the best season, but in fact Hawaii is a resort with year-round season for rest and travel.
The winter period can be sea waves and some other difficulties for diving.

Ok now let me proceed to the best sites for scuba divers in Hawaii, Oahu

Tunnels Reef
Location: Ke’e Beach, the island of Kauai. Hawaii
Diving Site’s Depth: 15 m.
Visibility: 20 meters

Island Kauai is known as “The Garden island “. This is the oldest of the 7 main volcanic islands in Hawaii. Kauai is a sanctuary island where exotic vegetation is beautiful with fabulous coastal scenery. Incidentally this is where was captured the majority of personnel for the film «Jurassic Park» ( and not only ) .
Tunnels Reef – located north, near to rocky towers which is emerging from the water up to 70 meters. Dives take place in the labyrinth of volcanic tunnels, sometimes in night ( read more about Night Diving )  .Sharks, eels, during night you can see  Spanish dancer, green sea turtles.

Island of Oahu
Oahu is a paradise island for surfers. Surfing-season – winter (October – March). In the southern part of the island located the famous Pearl Harbor. Incidentally southern part of the island is less picturesque than the rest of the island of Oahu. There are many diving centers in Oahu , so learning to dive here is not a concern at all.

Water temperature: 22 – January – February, 27 + – August – September
Equipment: 5 mm suit
Visibility: 20-40 meters
Attractions: Great place for wreck diving, big diversity of wildlife included Sharks , green turtles , octopuses and ect
Certification Level: OWD +

Diving sites in Oahu which might be seen

Aeroplane
Location: Poka’i Bay, West Oahu, 1,5 km from the harbor
Characteristics of diving – Site: sunken object (Wreck) bomber
Depth: 29 meters
Visibility: 30 meters

A small passenger plane crashed in 1986. Heavily damaged plane lies upside down at the foot of the rock at a depth of 30 meters near the reef. To place of immersion you’ll need to reach with boat.

MV Mahi
Location: next to the port for small ships in the West Oahu
Description: The wreck
Depth: 28 meters
Visibility: 30 meters

This is the most famous dive site in Hawaii. 60-meter vessel which was sank in 1986.It Is in vertical position. Over years it was covered with corals. There is a possibility to swim into the vessel. Among the wreckage there is a lot of fish habitat.

Baboons Nose
Location: eastern part of Oahu
Description: Reef / drift
Depth: 19 meters
Visibility: 20 meters
Some reef fishes but not many . In general i would rate this place as three stars ( from five ). Advertisement looks much better

Makaha Caverns
Location: Located in a place called Kepuhi, in the western part of Oahu
Dive Site Description: Reef
Depth: 14 meters (46 feet)
Visibility: 40 meters (140 feet)

Caves Makaha – two underwater pipes formed by lava. Inside, the cave is quite spacious and are easily passed. Near a small reef, where live turtles and reef sharks.

Paliea Point
Location: East side of the island of Oahu
Description: Reef / Rock
Depth: 22 meters
Visibility: 20 meters
A distinctive feature of the place is a strong wind.
Ridge with beautiful coral formations and under the bend this formations gradually disappearing down. Clefts in the reef are inhabited by a number of interesting marine animals.

The Sea Cave
Location: next to a place called Paliea, that in the east of the Oahu
Characteristics of a dive site: cave / reef
Depth: 22 meters
Visibility: 40 meters

Sea Cave – one of the best dive sites in Hawaii.
It’s easy to enter this cave. Inside you can see a lot of interesting marine animals – sea turtles, sharks, various tropical fish, lobster, etc.
There is a small Coral wall covered with corals.
By the way giant whale sharks have been noticed in here occasionally.

Koko Craters
Depth: 10-13 meters
The underwater landscape formed by frozen lava.
Hawaiian green sea turtles. Apart from the turtles there are many types of eel.

Corsair Plane Wreck
Depth: 30 – 32 meters
Characteristics: Wreck Diving

Description: sunken U.S. military aircraft during the Second World War
Le Corsaire sank during a training flight in 1946. The pilot didn’t die and even more, he is still alive. The plane fell into the water but he managed to escape and  reach the shore.
It lies upright on a sandy bottom and severely damaged.

Baby Barge
Depth: 15 – 22 meters
Characteristics: Wreck Diving, Cave Diving
Description: sunken barge / several caves
A small sunken barge is one of the attractions of this dive site. Nearby there are several caves in which sharks and octopuses are found quite often. Barge lying vertically and does not corrupted.

Fantasy Reef
Description: The Reef, small cave, night dive.
Depth: 12 – 20 meters
This place is interesting both for usual and night diving.
Sightseeing: Hawaiian green turtles, small reef sharks, small cave.

Oahu Dive Centers

Island Divers Hawaii – We dive on all sides of Oahu offering our clients the best selection of dive sites. We tailor our scuba diving to your requests with safe, professional, friendly enthusiastic divemasters and instructors.

Waikiki Diving Center – Waikiki Diving has been in operation here on Oahu since 1979. We are PADI and NAUI certified. Let our professional and friendly staff guide your next Hawaii scuba diving adventure.

Honolulu Scuba Company – Join us for some of the best scuba diving the Hawaiian Islands has to offer. We specialize in small-personalized tours for first time divers, certified divers and advanced divers. Transportation to and from your hotel provided. Non-Divers Welcome.

Oahudiving.Com – Let Oahudiving.Com take you on an adventure of a lifetime. We dive daily to all points of Oahu making us Oahu’s truly only island-wide dive operator/dive certification company. We specialize in diving adventures (boat, wreck, shore and night dives) on the island of Oahu.

Aarons Dive Shop – Aaron’s Dive Shop is a full service PADI 5 Star IDC Center and has in business for over 32 years offering charters, sales, service, repairs, rentals, air fills, and classes from the beginning level all the way through instructor level.

Surf-n-Sea North Shore – We specialize in small group tours catering to the specific needs of our customers, from first time divers to seasoned veteran divers to.

Dive Oahu – Ship wreck dives in Waikiki & World War II Corsair plane dives in Hawaii Kai. With 18 years experience they have a special talent for making beginners feel comfortable scuba diving and experienced scuba divers will be overwhelmed with 100 ft ship wreck dives.

If you would like your dive center to be included in this list please contact admin(at)dailyscubadiving.com