Hawaii · SCUBA DIVING
The 13 best scuba diving tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.
Meet instructors such as Alex, Nick, Danny, or Rida at Magic Island Lagoon for a beginner-friendly scuba lesson. You’ll learn in waist-deep water first, then reach about 15 feet while looking for fish, sea stars, octopuses, and other marine life. Gear and videos are included.
“Alex made us comfortable on land and underwater. It was an amazing experience, that I would recommend to anyone.”
Meet Galapagos and Sandbar sharks off Oahu’s North Shore from a floating cage. Hawaii Shark Encounters takes small groups of up to 12 about three miles offshore, with gear, safety guidance, and commentary from crew such as Caleb, Dave, and Efraim. No scuba experience is needed.
“It was great and so much fun. The boat and crew were great and very confident. The trip to the site was 3 miles offshore and beautiful. The actual cage was easy to use and provided a superb view of many sharks. We had plenty of time in the cage to enjoy the wildlife.”
Learn basic scuba skills with Kyle at sheltered Magic Island Lagoon, a short walk from Waikiki. After a safety briefing and shallow-water practice, you’ll spend 20 to 30 minutes underwater with a maximum of four participants. Equipment and an underwater video package are included.
“Great experience. Small size group and Kyle was a fantastic instructor! Great experience in a very small group setting. Kyle was a fantastic instructor.”
Spend four hours aboard a Waikiki dive boat with PADI-certified instructors, learning basic scuba skills before two shallow ocean sessions. No certification is needed. Expect warm water, turtles, reef fish, and possibly rays, eels, octopus, or sharks. Instructors including Josh, Chad, Olga, and Red are known for patient coaching.
“My dive was 9:45am on Tuesday morning, received a call Monday evening that the weather was iffy and they may not go out but the dive was still on. I called at 8am on Tuesday to confirm and the boat was going out. On my way to Waikiki I received a call that the trip was cancelled but I could wait around to see if the 1:45 would go out. I waited till 11:30am to call and they cancelled the afternoon boat. I Understand the boat could not go out because of weather and went along with my day. I called on Friday to ask when the refund will be…”
Haleiwa Shark Tours takes you from Haleiwa into open water aboard a stable double-hull catamaran. You’ll receive snorkeling gear, a safety briefing, and time in the cage with Galapagos sharks. Captains Derrick and Kama, along with crew such as Taylor and Forrest, help keep the trip calm and personal.
“The provider called a couple of days before the scheduled 11am May 1st, 2024 excursion and said they will be cancelling the 11 am trip because of the weather and rough seas. They tried to get me to do the 8am excursion but I told them we just got to Hawaii and have a rental car scheduled for pick up at 8am the morning of the 1st and could not make the 8am new time. They said OK and would get back with me. They called me at 4:45pm the night before (April 30th) and said they are cancelling the 11am trip because of rough seas. I told them I…”
Join Waikiki Dive Center for a five-hour, certified-only scuba trip from Honolulu. Visit the Sea Tiger, YO-257, or San Pedro wreck, then explore a Waikiki reef with guides such as Ron, April, Dylan, Yoshi, Alex, or Marcia. Equipment, snacks, and water are included.
“Dive Masters Ron and April made both dives easy in and out of the water. All equipment is provided and it's good equipment! I felt totally safe and prepared when it came time to "Giant Step" into the water. We were treated by awesome sites like Sea turtles, a shark, Sea urchins, eels, and lots of different fish. I highly recommend.”
At Kewalo Basin Harbor, a PADI Professional gives you a one-on-one lesson before guiding you over Oahu reefs. Expect about three hours, supplied gear, snacks, and possible sightings of turtles, eels, rays, octopus, sharks, and reef fish. Guides include Jeff, Jared, Ami, Justin, and Lindsay.
“Our first time scuba diving and Jared made the experience safe, exciting and brilliant! After being quite nervous, Jared took his time and was very patient with us, ensuring we went at our own pace and felt comfortable. This allowed us to fully enjoy the experience and get to see some unbelievable things! The first dive site, turtle canyon, was just breathtaking - we couldn’t get over the amount of turtles and how relaxed they are! Then we did a short boat ride, whilst spotting dolphins!! And went to the second dive site, where we went on a dive together and explored the reefs and wildlife. The team are friendly…”
Learn basic scuba skills in waist-deep water before exploring Magic Island Lagoon with an instructor. This 1.25 to 1.5-hour ocean session suits beginners age 10 and up, includes equipment and free GoPro videos, and may be led by guides such as Alex, Ryan, Nick, or Scott.
“Awesome activity. Scott was knowledgeable and friendly and made the whole experience memorable.”
Learn the basics of scuba with instructor Kyle in Magic Island Lagoon, a protected spot near Waikiki. You will practice in shallow water, then spend about 20 minutes with tropical fish and other sea life. Full gear and complimentary videos are included.
“everything was great I had no problem nothing needs to be changed..”
Head three miles off Oahu’s North Shore with a local crew, then watch Galapagos and sandbar sharks from a floating cage. You’ll use a mask and snorkel at the surface, hear about shark biology and Hawaiian culture, and support conservation work. No scuba experience is needed.
“Ich kann keine Bewertung abgeben, da der Trip, leider wegen schlechten Wetterverhältnissen ausgefallen ist !!!! Ich werde ihn aber auf jeden Fall , irgendwann noch machen !!!!”
Join Dive Oahu for a three-hour, small-group scuba outing from Kewalo Basin. Certified divers visit the Sea Tiger or YO-257 and San Pedro wrecks, followed by a guided reef stop. PADI professionals provide gear, wetsuits, snacks, and refreshments, with English instruction throughout.
“Amazing dive experience!! North Shore waters are a bit choppy so be prepared for turbulence. The wrecks were huge and teaming with life. The biodiversity in Maui is a wonder and worth every penny. I highly recommend this dive and dive company for anyone visiting the island that's hoping to see all the various aquatic life only found in Hawaii.”
Join a PADI-certified instructor aboard a 46-foot Newton boat for two guided shallow-reef scuba sessions near Honolulu. You may visit Kaiser’s and Turtle Canyons, where turtles, rays, octopus, reef sharks, and unusual Hawaiian fish can appear. Captain Nacho and instructor Dan have worked these waters.
“A great dive with lots of sea turtles and two white tip reef sharks. The equipment was very good and all is very organized and safe. The captain (Nacho) was a great guy and Dan the instructor took really good care of everyone and was a very good spotter of sea life. Absolutely recommended if you are in the area.”
Learn the basics of scuba with a PADI instructor at Electric Beach, then explore Oahu’s reef in a group of no more than six. You need no previous scuba experience, but you must be a swimmer and carry about 50 pounds of gear a short distance. Photos are included.
Pick a coast, a reef or a ridge.
