10 years and older
Age
3.5 Hours
Duration
Oahu, Waikiki
Location
11:00AM
Tour Times

Our daily reef diving starts in the late morning (11:00 am-2:30 pm) and is great for newer divers, or for divers wanting a more casual experience on our shallow reefs. The coral gardens are a quick 10-15 minute boat ride from our harbor. By the time you put on your wetsuit, we are ready to get in the water. We usually see at least one sea turtle on the way out of the harbor!

This trip is for certified divers and first-time, basic divers. We often have groups of all levels on the reef dives, so it is a great way to meet other divers from around the world. Our groups are always small and organized according to experience level. We do not mix certified divers with basic divers unless they are part of the same group and want to dive together.

Hawaii does not have “dive sites” as you find elsewhere. We have amazing, beautiful, and huge reef systems that surround the islands. Here on Oahu, we have several unique reef systems where we regularly dive. These systems are so diverse that we are able to do different dives in the same area. No two dives are ever the same, and our guides deliver a unique experience every time.

Schedule:

  • Availability: Daily
  • Tour Time: 11:00 AM
  • Duration:  3 Hours 30 Minutes

Recommendations:

  • Swimsuit
  • Sunscreen
  • Towel
  • Waterproof camera. 

Requirements/Restrictions:

  • Minimum age is 12 years old (children 10 and 11 are allowed but a private guide is required)
  • A certain amount of physical fitness is required for diving, please call to discuss your particular circumstances before booking.
  • Nitrox Tank upgrades are available for divers with Nitrox Certification. Must show Nitrox Certification at check-in.
  • Before flying, please allow at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive, and at least 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving. You should also avoid hiking or driving to higher altitudes (over 1000-feet / 330m) after diving.
  • There are medical requirements for diving, if you have questions, please call to discuss this before you book. If you answer “Yes” to any question, a doctor’s approval is required before you show up. There will be no refunds if you arrive at the boat, answer “yes” on our form, and do not have an accompanying doctor’s note.

Location: Hawaiian Diving Adventures, Kewalo Harbor, Pier A, Slip 3.
Address: 1125 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815
Google Maps: https://g.page/HawaiianDiving?share

Parking: There is pay parking at the harbor. It costs $1 per hour and accepts cash or cards. We recommend paying $5 to ensure you do not receive a parking ticket. Please do not park at Ala Moana or the state park behind the harbor.

Check-in: Look for us, left-hand side of the harbor, at the first long dock after the small booths that face Ala Moana Blvd. Look for the sign above the gate that says “Pier A”.

Certified divers, please arrive 15 minutes prior to set up equipment. Uncertified divers, please arrive 30 minutes prior for instructions.

Special Notes:

  • We can provide all the diving gear and equipment.
  • We welcome people to ride along on the boat and snorkel if they wish, however, we cannot guarantee optimal snorkeling conditions on scuba trips.

Activity Company: Hawaiian Diving Adventures

Reef Highlights:

  • Horseshoe Reef/Kewalo Pipe/Rojo (30′-60′ / 9m-18m)

This reef system is one of the largest and nicest coral reefs on the island of Oahu. The reef begins at about 30 feet and extends to at least 70 feet of depth. We have never even found the extremities of this reef system! Where we dive is in an approximately 25-acre area, but we know it extends further. This reef system is home to turtles, eels, octopuses, and a large population of nudibranchs. If you do one reef dive on Oahu, make sure it is on this reef system.

  • Kewalo Pipe (25′-60′ / 7.5m-18m)

We’re not sure where this pipe came from, but it is one of the longest, straightest artificial reefs in Hawaii. The end of the pipe is home to some large moray eels and the start of one of our nicest coral gardens. The trick here is to just go slow. This is home to juvenile reef fish who are skittish and will hide if you swim too quickly. We also see more of the shyer animals in this area, like leaf scorpionfish and Hawaiian lionfish. Macro photographers love this site to see nudibranchs, flatworms, and more small critters.

  • Secrets Reef (25′-40′ / 7.5m-12m)

Although not much of a secret anymore, this fun reef doesn’t have any moorings: the short swim is worth the effort. There are several reef overhangs where turtles and whitetip reef sharks can be found snoozing the morning away, often right next to each other. This is also a great spot to see the resident frogfish, lots of healthy coral, and a high probability of hunting blue trevally. Nudibranchs are very common on Secrets Reef too!

  • Rojo Deep Reef (45′-60′ / 14m-18m)

This is a Hawaiian Diving Adventures exclusive, right in the middle of the most beautiful and expansive coral gardens on the island. Since Rojo Reef is so infrequently visited, there is an excellent chance to spot an elusive dragon moray or snowflake moray (two of the less commonly seen eels in Oahu). Rojo Reef is deep enough that ocean swells do not terribly impact visibility or damage the coral. This site is for more advanced divers, so the coral isn’t damaged by as much traffic. It is definitely an incredible spot to see a wide selection of Hawaiian corals! Although Hawaii is not necessarily well known for soft corals, more than half the species found around Oahu are endemic, and only found in Hawaii.

  • Nautilus/Neptune’s Throne/Turtle Town/Rainbow Reef (30′-45′ / 9m-14m)

This reef system is just offshore from Ala Moana Park. It is a series of finger reefs that stretch approximately one mile from Kewalo Basin to the Ala Wai Harbor. The transition of the reef to rubble, to the reef to rubble means that we get all kinds of animals in these areas. Firstly, large schools of reef fish hang out above the reef. Next, ambush predators like frogfish are seen in the transition zones. Then we find invertebrates like mantis shrimp, harlequin shrimp, and octopuses in the rubbly and sandy areas.

  • Turtle Town (25′-45′ / 7.5m-14m)

This is a really cool shallow reef that doesn’t get much traffic, and there are often six or more turtles waiting for our visit, usually right at the mooring line! On a good visibility day, this is one of the best spots off Oahu. There are all kinds of large stony corals and interesting coral heads holding hundreds of reef fish. Turtle Town is also a great location for exploring some of the sandy areas just off the coral. Lots of different fish and crustaceans call these sand flats their home.

  • Neptune’s Throne (45′-55′ / 14m-17m)

Discovered by Hawaiian Diving Adventures in 2014, Neptune’s Throne is an isolated finger of coral surrounded by sand and rubble. Off the beaten path and rarely visited by divers, this is a great mid-depth reef for rare animals and less commonly seen fish. After diving here, it’s easy to guess how we named it: there are a large number of ceramic toilets scattered around the rubble of the coral fingers, which have become home to a wide variety of fish. We’ve seen eels, crabs, and all kinds of critters that call the toilets home! The reef sits in about 50’/15m of water and is a good alternative for people who have already been to some of our larger and more popular reefs.

  • Turtle Canyons (25′-40′ / 7.5m-12m)

This is probably the busiest reef system off the south shore of Waikiki. The shallow reefs have several turtle cleaning stations Here, divers and snorkelers can watch green sea turtles get their shells cleaned by hungry wrasse and tang fish. Turtles hover in the water over the coral heads at the cleaning station, so you get a close look at these gentle giants. Chances of seeing multiple turtles are great, and it’s not uncommon to see a dozen or more. One of our instructors once counted 26 different turtles on a single 50-minute dive here! This reef also has several rocky coral overhangs where whitetip reef sharks hang out. A shallow depth and strong swells coming from around Diamond Head make this area a little more prone to stronger currents and surge, but on light days, it’s a great dive reef to visit.

  • 100′ Foot Hole Deep Reef (80′-90′ / 24m-27m)

The name is a bit misleading, as there is no hole! Instead, this reef is a large pile of rocks and small coral heads. It’s a fantastic site to watch for pelagic sharks and spotted eagle rays cruising by, curious about what’s going on in the water. Slipper lobsters, sponge crabs, cowries, and some of the other less common Hawaiian invertebrates seem to like this area too!

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 4 reviews
October 15, 2017

We had been snorkeling on the north side of the island and we were interested to see what was on the west side. There are some amazing cave formations here and the area was much less crowded.

April 25, 2019

My son and my husband are both Certified Divers. I surprised them with this dive. They both loved it! I enjoyed it too as I was able to Snorkel closeby!

April 25, 2019

This wreck dive certainly stands out and provided us with a totally unique experience!

April 25, 2019

The shipwreck is fascinating and there’s plenty of marine life! 5 stars for this dive!

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