Scuba Diving in Hawaii: Best Dive Sites & More
Hawaii is a popular vacation destination for a lot of reasons, from high-end resorts to gorgeous hikes along volcanic ridges. But for scuba divers, Hawaii holds special appeal. There’s a breathtaking variety of dives available, all without needing a passport (assuming you’re an American citizen).
What follows below is a comprehensive guide to scuba diving in Hawaii—how to prepare, where to go, what gear to use, what kinds of diving you can experience, and what sort of costs to expect. By the time you’re finished, you’ll be ready to book your trip. (And you’re going to want to!)
Before You Go Diving in Hawaii
Because Hawaii is a relatively accessible place for coral reef diving (and because it has so much else to offer), many people try out scuba diving for the first time while there. If you’re a beginner, there are some supervised dives in safe, controlled environments that you can take to learn whether you want to pursue certification. But you will need to get certified before you do any serious diving. It might benefit you to go through scuba diving certification while you’re still at home, so that you have more free time in paradise to dive and relax.
In a certification class, you’ll learn the basics of scuba gear. You’ll learn how to work the air tank, and the regulator that makes the air breathable for you. You’ll learn how to operate the buoyancy control device (BCD) that helps you float at the depth you want. You’ll learn about wetsuits, and maybe even drysuits. And by the time you’re done, you’ll be ready to get out and see the sights!
Best Dive Sites in Hawaii
There are 8 major islands in Hawaii, and over 100 other, smaller islands, islets, and atolls. And with so many different types of divers, looking for so many different experiences, there’s no one “best beach” or even a “best island” for scuba diving. But we can certainly look at some of the best options out there. Find something that appeals to you, and use it as a place to start exploring! Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced diver, a seasoned cave diver or even a snorkeler, there’s something in Hawaii for you.
Maui
Maui is the second-largest island in Hawaii. Maui County also includes the nearby islands of Moloka’i, Lānaʻi, and Kaho’olawe. In February and March, humpback whales come to Maui for mating season, so their calves are born in the warm, safe waters of the islands. If you come during that season, odds area you’ll see plenty of whales. And while it’s illegal for a diver to approach a humpback whale, sometimes the whales may approach you!
The First Cathedral in Lanai
The Cathedrals in Lanai are a popular cave diving site. The First Cathedral in particular is enormous, making it a more accessible (and immediately impressive) dive. The “Cathedral” is actually a huge underwater cavern in a tunnel where lava once flowed. Holes in the ceiling cause a ghostly light to shine down, illuminating a huge, altar-like rock. The stained-glass look of the light and the “altar” rock give the place its name. This is an intermediate dive, and bringing a guide along is a smart call. This isn’t a tight squeeze into a tiny cave, but any kind of cave diving is safest with an experienced guide. (Remember, whether you choose a guide or not, you should always practice the buddy system and dive with at least one other qualified person.)
Molokini Crater
Molokini Crater is off the coast of Maui. It’s one of only three volcanic calderas in the world, and it’s Hawaii’s only island marine sanctuary. This crescent-shaped island is made of rock, so there’s no soil to mess up the visibility. The water consistently has 150 feet of visibility or more. Some parts of the crater offer shark habitats for adventurous divers, but other places are placid. They’re perfect for beginning scuba divers, or even snorkelers.
Mala Ramp
Mala Ramp was an enormous pier, built in 1922. After Hurricane Iniki destroyed it in the 90s, it’s become a haven and hot spot for marine life. The pier is home to eels, octopus, squid, green sea turtles, and even white tip reef sharks. Maui Diving Scuba Center offers a shark dive at this beautifully diverse spot.
West Maui
West Maui has a wide selection of gorgeous reefs in the bays at the base of the West Maui Mountains. Nearby is a manta ray “cleaning station”. Cleaning stations are locations where large marine life gathers to be groomed by smaller creatures. These smaller creatures eat away at any plant life trying to hitch a ride on the bigger animals. At this particular cleaning station, Pacific Mantas gather and wait to be cleaned by Hawaiian wrasse fish. Maui Dive Shop offers a manta ray tour to both locations. From December to April, this trip is also a great chance to see the humpback whales.
Oahu
Oahu is home to Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. Nearly three-quarters of the whole state’s population live on the island, and there are plenty of attractions, underwater and topside alike. Much of Oahu’s most famous diving is wreck diving. We’ll talk more about what wreck diving is, and where to go, down below. In addition to wreck diving sites, there are plenty of other things to see and do.
The North Shore of Oahu
The North Shore of Oahu is great for beginners and advanced divers alike. From shallow depths perfect for people just starting out to beautiful underwater caverns, the north side of the island is a hotspot for divers of all levels..
Waikiki Beach
Movies and songs have made Waikiki Beach one of the most famous beaches on the planet, and you can find it here, on the southern side of Oahu. Many of the dive sites in the area are wreck dives, but the beach itself, most famous as a surf beach, is a great place to learn the ropes of scuba diving. Plenty of dive shops in nearby Honolulu will be happy to get you set up.
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is a wildlife preserve. Snorkelers and divers alike can go face-to-face with over 400 species of fish that call the bay home. Island Divers Hawaii is located nearby, and is happy to take people out to the bay.
Electric Beach
Electric Beach got its nickname from the nearby power plant. Two pipes emerge from the facility, keeping a flow of warm water into the beach. These pipes have become a home to all sorts of marine life, including bountiful coral formations. The nearby Trident Adventures can show you around all types of places on the West side of Oahu.
Kona/Big Island Dive Sites
While the state is called “Hawaii,” that’s also the name of the biggest island in the state. Sometimes, the island is just called “The big island” to avoid confusion. There are dive sites all over The Big Island, but Kona (and the area near it, which refers to the whole West side of the island) has a huge concentration of fun, interesting places to dive. One of our favorite dive shops in Kona is Jack’s Diving Locker.
Garden Eel Cove
Garden Eel Cove is the home of the famous Manta Ray Night Dives. At this gently sloping reef, garden eels and black manta rays come out in absolute droves. If you want to get some photos of mantas, or just make some unforgettable memories, this is a fantastic way to spend an evening.
Pelagic Magic
This is another famous Kona night dive, featuring pelagics. Pelagics are creatures from the dark depths of the ocean, but they surface at night, looking for food or companionship. This aquatic life includes shimmering creatures like the comb jelly. Many of these animals are so bizarre and so little-known that they don’t even have “popular” names, but their alien beauty will stay with you forever.
Au Au Crater
This dive site is a submerged volcano crater. (Not to be confused with the Ka’au Crater hiking trail on Oahu.) With unique topography, including swim-throughs and caverns, this site has features that range from 30 to 200 ft deep. In addition to the natural features, you may see a cleaner shrimp station, nudibranchs, and even oceanic white-tip and hammerhead sharks.
Golden Arches
This site is named for the large arches made of lava rock. The main arch is large enough to spend some serious time exploring. Surrounded by walls of coral, this large swim-through is home to bright yellow reef fish, triggerfish, and the occasional pod of dolphins.
Dive Gear for Hawaii
Wherever you wind up diving, you’ll need to be equipped for the trip. Whether you’ve never bought gear in your life or you’ve been collecting gear your whole life, take a moment to learn about Hawaii’s waters and what makes them unique. Make sure that you’re well-prepared (or willing to rent gear that prepares you) for Hawaii’s temperature and terrain.
- The average water temperature around Hawaii is 74°F. That means that you probably will need a wetsuit, but a lighter one. A 2.5mm suit (in men’s or women’s) should be fine.
- So many of the features in Hawaii’s waters (especially around Oahu) are centered around rock formations, swim-throughs, caverns, and shipwrecks. Having a dependable dive light (or several) is crucial. Depending on how deep or dark you’re intending to go, you may want a more affordable dive light, or a heavier-duty one.
- A good dive computer will help you monitor your remaining air, and make sure that you stay safe. Dive computers can be one of the more expensive pieces of scuba equipment, given the advanced work that they’re asked to do. But the Aladin Matrix ONE wrist dive computer is a great entry point into that world. It’s great for beginners, and fantastic as a backup once you’re looking for something a little more ornate.
- It’s important to have a BCD that feels comfortable to you, that you know how to work. But if you plan on exploring any of Hawaii’s many caves or wreck dives, a sidemount BCD like the X-TEK Sidemount Wing is definitely worth considering. It can give you a little more maneuverability for exploring tight spots.
- If you’re shore diving without going through a dive shop, you’ll need to supply your own diver’s flag. Local laws require a 12”x12” flag be displayed wherever a dive is taking place.
Hawaii Diving Experiences
At its best, scuba diving is about seeing a whole other side of the planet. It’s about encounters with life and landscapes that challenge you to reconsider what life on Earth can be. It’s about seeing beauty that most people only ever see in pictures.
But Hawaii doesn’t just offer variety in the life that you encounter or the places you’ll see. It also offers variety in the kinds of experiences you can have. Let’s look at some popular Hawaii dive styles.
Shore Diving
Shore diving involves wading out from the banks or beaches and into the water, instead of diving from the boat. If you’ve never gone shore diving, you might be tempted to think of it as easier than more traditional scuba diving. But shore diving has a trick to it. You have to get a feel for the surf, and head out when you aren’t going to be fighting the water. Shore diving can be very rewarding, though. If you know where you’re going beforehand, you can spend less time finding a dive site than you would if you were taking a boat trip out. And you can set your own schedule and pace. And you won’t be lacking coral or fish to see just because there’s land nearby. Here are some hot spots for shore diving:
Wailea Beach, Maui
This beach features a somewhat challenging swim at times. But if you navigate the waters, the marine life in the area is unbelievable. You might see green sea turtles, needlefish, yellow tangs, and a variety of urchins. There are coral formations here, as well, but the colorful fish outshine theme here.
Airport Beach, Maui
This site is also known as Kahekili Beach. The beach is often used for lessons by local dive shops, because it’s great for beginning divers. The diversity of coral and fish are spectacular here, and the swim-throughs are great. While many use it as a training ground, it’s a worthwhile dive site in its own right.
Two Steps
Two Steps is located on the Big Island, at Honaunau. While you may have to swim out past some snorkelers, visitors can see sea turtles, morays, and plenty of coral and coral-dwelling fish.
Cave Diving
Cave diving is a more advanced adventure, for more experienced divers. Underwater caves can provide beautiful sights, but cave diving is more dangerous by nature than diving in open water. You need additional certification in order to dive in caves. You also need to be extremely keen on your navigational skills, and to bring redundant gear in case something goes wrong. That said, cave diving is popular for a reason. And many of Hawaii’s cave dives are large and cavernous enough that they make a great entry point into the sport. Some cave diving options include:
The Cathedrals at Lanai
The already-mentioned Cathedrals at Lanai provide a cavern-diving experience with some jaw-dropping underwater formations and creatures, while being a little roomier (and safer) than other cave diving experiences a person could find.
Spitting Caves in Oahu
This is another fairly easy dive. These caves have been carved out of an enormous rock wall by the pounding of the surf. Home to monk seals, sea turtles, and the occasional shark, these caves are pretty wide open, meaning that they don’t take as much special care and attention as other cave dives do. For those looking for more of a challenge, there are several great wrecks nearby, including the YO-257 shipwreck and the Corsair plane wreck. But if you just want to try cave diving out (and see some captivating lava tubes) Spitting Caves is a great place.
Sharks Cove in Oahu
Sharks Cove is great for more experienced divers. The tunnels aren’t too far below the surface, just 15-45 feet. They allow for plenty of light penetration and are easily accessible. That said, the formations are a little more intricate, and recommended for more experienced divers.
Night Diving
Night diving is a unique way to experience scuba diving. Just like on land, many marine animals are nocturnal. That means that waiting for the sun to go down before diving shows you a whole different world than other divers see, filled with creatures and experiences that you just can’t get during the day.
People who dive at night should make sure to be well-covered to protect against the colder waters, and should bring a dive light or two along. (And, of course, a boat and a buddy or two for safety.) Here are some of Hawaii’s most popular night dives:
Black Rock, Maui
Black Rock is located near Kaanapali. More than half of the sea life off the Maui Ocean Shores is nocturnal, meaning that you actually see more marine creatures at night than you can in the day. Invertebrates like eels, nudibranchs, octopus, and more live in the waters and emerge at night.
Garden Eel Cove and Pelagic Magic
These two dive sites (mentioned above as great Kona dive sites in general) are great opportunities to see creatures that daytime divers don’t, including manta rays and ethereal, otherworldly jellies. There are several other manta ray dives around the Big Island, as well.
Ulua Caverns
Ulua Caverns is a large swim-through featuring sponge crabs, nudibranchs, and frog fish. Nearby you may see dolphins, rays, whales, and monk seals. The experts at Kohala Divers, Ltd. can take you out to the caverns for a night dive that’s great for people of all experience levels.
Wreck Diving
Wreck diving involves exploring artificial structures like shipwrecks. These sunken structures become artificial reefs as underwater wildlife takes them over. There are two courses that teach wreck diving. One is a “recreational” course that teaches divers to enter the “light zone,” from which an exit is still visible. The other is a “technical” course that teaches you full penetration diving into shipwrecks and other structures. In either case, wreck diving requires some advanced training, and is probably not something that beginning divers should jump right into.
Many wreck diving sites today are created artificially by scuttling retired ships. These may hold less mystery, but they present interesting challenges and shelter marine life, just the same. Most wreck diving takes place at Oahu.
29 Down
This is a small plane that was sunk for the TV series “Flight 29 Down.” It’s in the middle of a gorgeous, colorful reef teeming with life. Nearby is the Landing Craft Unit, L.C.U., that sank upside-down. Whitetip reef sharks live under the ship, and at the top (formerly the bottom) you can find fish swimming upside-down.
The Corsair
In 1945, a Vought F4U Corsair went down near Oahu. This is the only actual wreck in Hawaii that’s open to the public. (all others are intentional sinkings.) It’s 115 feet down, so it’s best for more experienced divers. But if you can make the trek, you get a remarkable look at a World War II-era fighter plane.
Sea Tiger
This was a Chinese merchant vessel, before the U.S. Coast Guard acquired it. They sold it to Voyager Submarines, who sank it just south of Oahu in 1999 as a tourist attraction. Voyager is out of business now, and the Sea Tiger is available for the public to enjoy. The wreck has held up strikingly well over the years, experiencing only minor decay inside the ship.
YO-27
This is another intentional sinking, by Atlantis Submarines Hawaii in 1996. The depth (100m) and easy entry (through cutouts in both sides of the ship) make it a popular spot for Oahu divers. 100 feet away is the San Pedro wreck, another artificial reef created by the same company. On the deck of the San Pedro, you can find a sea turtle cleaning station!
Hawaii Scuba Diving Costs
Hawaii is a popular vacation destination. Spending a week on vacation can be a pretty expensive proposition, and that’s before you start renting gear and paying for boats to take you out every day. Here are some of the biggest costs associated with diving in Hawaii, and what to do about them.
Airfare
Flights can cost anywhere from $400-$2,000 round-trip, but travel from most major cities, most of the year, should average between $500-$800. Traveling during the offseason can help. So can booking 2-3 months in advance, when fares are typically at their lowest. With new direct flights being added, airline competition has been increasing, lowering the cost of a flight. So get going while the going is good (and cheaper)!
Lodging
According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, lodging is the biggest expense for visitors to Hawaii. But location is everything. On Moloka’i, the average cost of lodging was $55 per person, per night, in 2018. On Lana’i, the nightly cost per person was $263. The other islands fall in between these two extremes, but it’s not hard to find lodging for less than $100 per person, per night.
Car rentals
Car rentals in Hawaii are common, but not always necessary. It often depends on where you spend your time. Most visitors to the Big Island rent a car, and on some islands, like Molokai, tourist accommodations are scarcer and you’re more likely to need a car.
In general, taxis in Hawaii are among the most expensive in the country, though rideshare services tend to cost much less than taxis do, and are a solid option if you aren’t hitting the road too often.
Dive excursions
Many popular dives can average around $170. But you don’t necessarily have to take a boat out to a volcanic crater every single day. We’ve already seen that there are plenty of shore dives that are accessible for people of all skill levels. Sometimes you can have a great diving experience for little to nothing. Some shore dive sites may have an access fee of $5-$10, but that’s pretty cost-effective comparatively.
Let’s Go Diving!
Whether you want to delve into shipwrecks or caverns, or just hang out with manta rays on an evening dive, Hawaii’s got you covered. It’s the perfect place to learn scuba, or to advance your skills, or just to enjoy yourself. Wherever you are in your scuba journey, Hawaii’s waiting for you.
