SCUBA DIVING IN HAWAII: Dives in caves & lava tunnels and with sharks, dolphins whales & turtles. Review the dive centers listed in Hawaii for more complete information. At 2300 miles from the mainland, Hawaii’s isolation gave rise to its huge underwater diversity. In Hawaii divers will be diving among caves, reefs, rocks and lava formations. There are no soft corals in Hawaii, but you will find endless networks of lava tunnels. 680 fish species of which about 23% are endemic species. Overall, about 60% of marine species in Hawaii are endemic. The Hawaiian chain has 132 islands. The main scuba operations are in Big Island, Maui and Oahu, but there are multitude of possible dive sites in Hawaii waters. (Review the dive centers listed for more information about each scuba diving area).

1. SCUBA DIVING IN HAWAII
• INTRODUCTION & CLIMATE
• BIG ISLAND, MANTA RAYS SCUBA DIVING MADNESS
• MAUI, PERFECT SHORE DIVING
• OAHU, HOME OF HAWAII’S WRECK DIVES
• OTHER INFORMATION
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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2. SCUBA DIVING IN HAWAII
Dives in caves & lava tunnels and with sharks, dolphins
whales & turtles.
At 2300 miles from the mainland, Hawaii’s isolation gave rise to its huge
underwater diversity.
In Hawaii divers will be diving among caves, reefs, rocks and lava formations.
There are no soft corals in Hawaii, but you will find endless networks of lava
tunnels.
680 fish species of which about 23% are endemic species. Overall, about 60% of
marine species in Hawaii are endemic.
The Hawaiian chain has 132 islands. The main scuba operations are in Big
Island, Maui and Oahu, but there are multitude of possible dive sites in Hawaii
waters.
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3. BIG ISLAND, MANTA RAYS SCUBA DIVING
MADNESS
Known as the Orchid Isle, the Kona (leeward) coast of Big Island is a great spot.
It is known for its encounters with manta and eagle rays, spinner dolphins, green
sea turtles and white-tip reef sharks. There are many places to shore dive, but
boat dives are best.
In the winter months, and due to Big Island’s rocky shore line, surf can be big,
making entries from the shore difficult and dangerous. Kona is Big Island biggest
town and where most diving operations are located. The majority of underwater
spots are dominated by rock and lava formations underwater, adding to the
incredible scenery.
The Kohala Coast is a topographic marvel, it´s the oldest part of Big Island. The
Lava Dome is an amazing site in this area with a unique and old coral head.
It´s a volcanic rock covered in plate and knob coral, beyond the dome, where the
ledge is, is where the fish schooling happens. It is also a good site to see dragon
nudibranchs.
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4. Manta Ray Madness is a very popular site, especially as a night dive. The Manta
ray congregations are impressive! It is one of the world´s greatest manta ray spots.
Keahole is another fantastic spot for manta rays as well as trumpet-fish and
garden eels; the marine life here is awesome. The Seahorse Farm in Kona is a
great visit, especially for kids. The Volcanoes National Park is home of the Kilauea
Volcano, the most active volcano in the world, it a great place to watch the
landscape change as you hike.
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5. MAUI, PERFECT SHORE DIVING
Maui has plenty of good dive sites, and many hotels have reef houses in front of
them. Black Rock, in the Sheraton Hotel is among the most popular. It´s a
popular snorkeling site too.
In March, when the humpback whales are passing through, you can hear
them singing as you dive.
Molokini Crater, in the Molokini Island, a 30 minute boat drive from Maui, is the
most popular dive site in the islands. This atoll is a partially
sunken volcanic crater and a beautiful underwater sanctuary. It has a crescent
shape protecting it from the waves and the visibility is often up to 150 ft (45
m.).
The back side wall of the Molokini Crater is fun diving area and it´s not as busy
as the crater. Expect to see white tip reef sharks and, if you go between October
and March, you might see humpback whales crossing by.
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6. Lanai Island hosts the beautiful dive site called The Cathedrals. This site is
definitely worth the trip; its cavern´s ceiling has a lot of holes that let light and sea
life in.
It is a fantastic place for underwater photography. The 60 ft. arch outside the
Cathedral is an impressive formation. The Monolith, in Lanai as well, is a 40 ft.
high pinnacle with a base of 80 ft. It makes an excellent multilevel dive
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7. OAHU, HOME OF HAWAII’S WRECK DIVES
Oahu is home of the famous Waikiki beach, once a playground for Hawaiian
royalty. In 1901, the Moana Surfrider Hotel was built, now a very luxurious
venue. Oahu is the only island in Hawaii for wreck diving.
The Mahi shipwreck on the west side, a 186 ft. US Navy vessel and the Sea
Plane wreck are some of the most popular. The Corsair wreck cannot be
missed, it´s an airplane wreck sunk in 1946, it hosts large schools of fish and
you will see garden eels, octopi and moray eels in the wings and cockpit! It
makes a really nice night dive too.
Oahu is a great place with green sea turtles and Hanauma Bay is one of the
sites to do so. The Kahuna Canyon and it walls that rise from the ocean floor
creating the illusion of the Grand Canyon, you will find giant trevally and many
unicorn tangs.
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8. The Makaha Caverns are another impressive location, better done by boat so as
to not interfere with the surfers close to shore. There is a large cleaning station
to watch sea turtles.
While in Oahu, you may attend a luau, a Hawaiian feast and the rite of passage
for a tourist. Most hotels offer them right on the beach. Surfing began
in Hawaii, as a sport practiced by Hawaiian royalty, so there is a strong presence
of surfing culture.
The north shore of Oahu is a great place to surf, and if you don´t surf enjoy the
popular beaches such as Pipeline and Waimea.
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9. OTHER INFORMATION
DIVE OPERATORS IN HAWAII
Deep Ecology / Maui Diving Scuba Center
Read more: http://www.ediving.com/dives-divers-scuba-diving-in-
australia-and-pacific/diving-in-hawaii/#ixzz2LSby4OSG
To find & Book an hotel recommended by our Dive Operators:
http://www.ediving.com/hotels-for-scuba-divers/
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10. About the Author
Thomas SACCONE is a former
financial manager who discovered
scuba diving in Costa Rica in 2007.
Since then, he is only satisfied
when underwater.
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