South Shore Dive Sites
On the South Shore, Blow Hole is a dynamic site with green sea turtles, goatfish, Spanish dancers, and butterflyfish. Lanai Lookout, situated along the wall from Blowhole to Hanauma Bay, offers sightings of whitetip reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, and turtles.
Hanauma Bay, a flooded volcano crater, is a popular dive and snorkeling destination, home to a wide variety of reefs and marine life.
Dominique's Wall, on the outside of Hanauma Bay, is recommended as a drift dive with ledges hosting mahi-mahi, spotted eagle rays, and more.
Portlock Wall extends from Hanauma Bay to Maunalua Bay, offering boat drift dives with ledges housing eels and lobster. Sea Cave, located between Portlock Wall and Paliea Point, features a large cavern with whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, and reef fish. Turtle Canyon and Koko Craters are two shallow dive sites off Hawaii Kai, known for eels, octopus, and numerous turtles.
Portlock Wall extends from Hanauma Bay to Maunalua Bay, offering boat drift dives with ledges housing eels and lobster.
Sea Cave, located between Portlock Wall and Paliea Point, features a large cavern with whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, and reef fish. Turtle Canyon and Koko Craters are two shallow dive sites off Hawaii Kai, known for eels, octopus, and numerous turtles.
Corsair Plane, an airplane wreck in Hawaii Kai, showcases a sunken Corsair fighter plane surrounded by reef fish. Six Fingers, near Hawaii Kai, is a shallow site named for six fingers of reef rising from the bottom, home to reef fish, eels, and octopus.
Fantasy Reef, with lava formations and marine life like barracuda, eels, and crabs, provides an intermediate dive experience.
Kahala Barge, a retired Matson barge in Kahala, offers wreck diving with turtles, manta rays, and even sharks in the area. YO-257, a Navy yard oiler sunk off Waikiki in 1989, is an artificial reef with a shipwreck hosting moray eels and vibrant fish life.
Sea Tiger, a shipwreck off Waikiki, provides opportunities to explore the wreck, encounter reef fish, and occasional reef sharks.
The 100 Foot Hole, near Diamond Head, is an ancient Hawaiian fishing ground with volcanic rock formations, offering encounters with various marine life. Rainbow Reef and Magic Island, near Ala Moana Beach Park, feature spotted puffer fish, morays, Moorish idols, turtles, and colorful invertebrates.
Kewalo Pipe, an artificial reef named after a broken steel pipeline, offers finger reefs and sand patches with juvenile wrasses and octopus. Pearl Harbor Wall, located at the Pearl Harbor entrance, provides drift dives with sightings of sharks, rays, and schooling fish. Nautilus Reef, a boat dive near the harbor, boasts abundant coral formations and marine life.
Corsair Wreck, a fighter plane sunk in 1956 off Waianae, is a popular advanced dive site with a coral-encrusted wreck and diverse marine species.
These are just a few examples of the many incredible dive sites around Oahu. Each site offers a unique underwater experience, from vibrant coral reefs to exciting encounters with marine life. Keep in mind that conditions can vary, and it's essential to dive responsibly, considering safety guidelines and the protection of the marine environment. If you're not already a certified diver, you can explore scuba diving courses on Oahu to embark on your underwater adventures.