O’ahu Dive Sites
Discover Oahu’s thrilling dive sites, offering a mix of history and beauty with famous WWII wrecks, vibrant reefs, and encounters with Hawaii’s majestic sea turtles. Dive beneath bustling Waikiki to explore vibrant marine ecosystems or venture further to shipwrecks and caverns off the coast. Oahu's rich underwater adventures bring you close to Hawaii’s deep-sea legends and unforgettable beauty.
Dive Sites
Coral Reefs of O’ahu
Nestled off the coast of Oahu,This spot is known for the large numbers of sea turtles that float above the reef while the reef fish swim around them and clean their shells.Situated a mere one and a half miles from the bustling Waikiki shores, this aquatic paradise is readily accessible through a brief yet picturesque boat journey.
Depth: 30 to 50 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
This shallow reef dive in East Oahu has raised reef fragments and lava tubes allowing you to glide through overhangs and swim-throughs at around 40 ft deep. You'll likely see Moray eels and some big green sea turtles.
Depth: 30 to 50 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Ewa Pinnacles features towering lava formations that create an underwater landscape unlike any other. The formations rise from a depth of 100 feet to about 60 feet, offering divers plenty of opportunities to explore the pinnacles and the vibrant marine life that inhabits them.
Depth: 60 to 100 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Nautilus Reef, located off the coast of Oahu, is known for its two large finger reefs that sit next to each other. With several more fingers extending both east and west from the main moorings, this site offers divers a unique and captivating underwater landscape.
Depth: 40 to 80 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Kewalo Pipe, located off the coast of Oahu, is the largest of Dive Oahu’s dive sites. This old storm drain has become a thriving underwater ecosystem, surrounded by garden coral fields and finger reefs.
Depth: 30 to 60 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Keehi Pipe is another storm drain, but gets the name ‘Mario World’ for the several vertical outcroppings coming up from the horizontal pipe. Check out the sandy bottom for freckled snake eels poking their heads out and juvenile peacock razor wrasse hovering above the sand.
Depth: 40 to 70 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate
The Mesmorizing Wrecks of O’ahu
The Sea Tiger wreck is one of Dive Oahu’s favorites! It lies in about 127 feet of sand, with the main deck between 85 and 100 feet. The Sea Tiger sits perfectly upright and over the years has begun to deteriorate with railings falling into the sand and sharp exposed pieces of metal sticking out. She was sunk in 1999 as an artificial reef by Voyager Submarine.
Depth: 30 to 50 feet
Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Experience Level: Advanced
The YO-257 and San Pedro wrecks,a two for one deal— lie side by side on the ocean floor near Waikiki. With Dive Oahu, you can explore these historic wrecks, each with its own fascinating history and vibrant marine life. This combo dive promises an adventure filled with underwater exploration and stunning encounters with marine creatures.
Depth: 90 to 100 feet
Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Experience Level: Advanced
Nashua, aka the Navy Tug, gets its name because it continues to be an active training site for the US Navy. It sits in 65 feet of rocky sand on large steel pillars. If you look underneath the wreck, you might be greeted by white tip reef sharks and schooling blue stripe snapper.
Depth: 65 feet
Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
The Corsair plane wreck, located off the south shore of Oahu near Waikiki Beach, offers divers a unique blend of history, adventure, and vibrant marine life. With Dive Oahu, you can experience one of the best wreck dives in Hawaii, exploring this World War II relic that now serves as a thriving artificial reef.
Depth: 113 feet
Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Experience Level: Advanced
The Mahi wreck, located off the coast of Oahu, is one of Hawaii’s most popular dive sites. This former minesweeper/cable layer was sunk in 1986 to become an artificial reef and has since attracted a diverse array of marine life. Despite the bridge collapsing during a hurricane a few years ago, the Mahi remains a dive worth taking.
Depth: 60 to 95 feet
Dive Type: Wreck Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced
The Landing Craft Utility (LCU) wreck lies at 85 feet and is a former military vessel used to transport troops and equipment. Now an artificial reef, it hosts a variety of marine species such as octopuses, moray eels, and parrotfish. Its accessible interior and the presence of larger pelagic fish make it a popular spot for underwater exploration.
Depth: 40 to 70 feet
Dive Type: Reef Dive
Experience Level: Intermediate