The Diving

The majority of diving is done off the shores of Kewalo Basin on Oahu’s south shores. The key reason is that the southern shores offer diving all year long, whereas the waters off the north shore are to rough during winter months.

The largest draw to divers on Oahu are the two major ship wrecks, YO-257 and Sea Tiger and if you have to choose, choose the Sea Tiger dive site.

Diving Oahu, Hawaii, Credit

Most of the most popular dive sites are less than a half an hour from the Kewalo Basin boat docks, and are between Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head. The other top dive sites are in no particular order, Horseshoe Reef, Turtle Canyons and the LCU Wreck. The waters are generally calm in this area and makes for an excellent day of diving.

Starting with the Sea Tiger Dive Site, this Chinese vessel sits at a depth of 80-120 ft., was taken by our Coast Guard because it was involved in illegal activities. It was sunk in 1999 to develop an artificial reef and it attracts reef fish, eels, squirrelfish, filefish and you might keep an eye out for sharks too. It’s 190 ft. length offers access via the cargo hold, stairwells and passageways. Expect water temps around 25° C  (77° F) between May and Oct., and 23° C (73° F) November through April. This wreck dive is good for Intermediate and advanced divers with wreck experience, or with an experience wreck diver.

Oahu underwater, Credit

The YO-257 is also a great dive site, involving the 1940 ERA Oil Tanker that sunk in 1989. An added bonus is the San Pedro; a Korean fishing vessel lies close enough for you to explore them both on one dive. They both sit between 80 and 100 ft., and offer an abundance of sea life, especially sea turtles, and Moray Eels. This dive site can experience heavy currents, and makes it a challenging dive; therefore it is considered a good experienced diver/advanced diver dive. Only for certified deep diving experience. Don’t get to excited about exploring YO-257, because there isn’t any, but the ability to swim through the whole stern with dark blue octocoral hanging from it’s ceiling is spectacular. The San Pedro usually has sea turtles to hand with, and is also home for a few white tip sharks. Some great photo ops available to the photographer.

Nudibranch in Oahu, Credit

Turtles Canyon’s is a dive site for all levels of divers, between 20-40 ft., and as you have probably guessed, is populated by sea turtles. It’s an excellent site to capture photos and video of these creatures that will stay around if you don’t pester them. Be sure to have your GoPro or other camera at the ready, because you will have opportunities for great photos of Honolulu and Diamond Head from the boat.

A very famous and popular wreck dive is the Corsair Airplane Wreck, which has lied on the bottom since 1946 when it’s pilot ditched it there. For the intermediate and advanced divers, this is an excellent dive, however not a large one. That being said, exploring the cockpit with intact instruments, the bent props and more, photo ops are abundant. The dive is around 100 ft. deep, which means about fifteen minutes of dive time. Take a peak inside the wing, because you should find its inhabitant, the octopus there. There are usually a couple frogfish hanging around too.

Whitemouth Moray Eel, Oahu, Credit

The LCU Wreck (Landing Craft Utility), is a awesome experienced / intermediate/advanced diver experience, especially if you are “wreck specialty certified”. This is a military troop landing craft sitting on the bottom at 85 ft. upside-down. A look under the craft in the shadows will reward you with the sight of a few white tip sharks that reside there. There are large concrete blocks dumped all around the wreck that have created an undersea park in the artificial reefs. The “certified wreck diver” park comes because you can venture into the wheelhouse that is if you brought light, gloves and line-reel.

Diving between January and April offers you the opportunity to dive with whales, because that’s whale season. You can actually hear them “sing”, and might even view them below the surface. Be very aware, that its against the law to pursue whales to “swim with them”. That being said, if they come to you your good to go.

How to Get there

You will fly into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) in the heart of Honolulu, located on the South Shore of the island.

Oahu Beach, Credit

Where to Eat & Drink

The Beach Barin Honolulu is a highly rated and delicious place to hunker down to dinner after a day on the ocean bottom or the top op Hilton Head. Not only does it offer fresh seafood and Hawaiian fare, but it offers outdoor seating, live music and is kid friendly too.

It’s a good place to relax just for a cocktail or two, or have dinner, while relaxing around the bar with “pupus”, or at a table, overlooking the water. It’s not a fancy “sit down” dinner place, but the food and drinks are fun and the crowd is beachy!

Gray chub, Oahu, Credit

Duke’s Waikiki is the standard bearer of Waikiki, named after the famous surfer, swimmer and Olympian Duke, this restaurant is “the bomb”, from the classy upscale and popular bar, to the restaurant offering inside / outside dining with a killer view. The Barefoot Bar offers cocktails, beers, “Pupus”, salads, burgers and sandwiches, and kick butt Fish & Chips.  Also if you want to get messy, the Mango BBQ Baby Back Ribs are “to die for”. The main dining room gets a little more serious, adding to the menu all the fresh caught fish of the day and more.

Gilligan’s Beach Shack (yes he did make it off the island), offers you lunch and dinner at a reasonable price, with a water view. Fresh seafood, Tacos and burgers, while you sit outside, in Honolulu in the Hilton Lagoon. In fact, your so “outside” that your eating outside a Food Truck! That’s right, only this isn’t your average food truck; this is a very popular one. It’s parked directly in front of Duke Kahanamoku Beach, so if your heading for a beach day, here’s you place for eats.

One of the top choices and highly awarded restaurants in Honolulu is Orchids, located on Kalia Rd. To begin with, if you are looking for a place for Sunday Brunch, this was awarded the best on the island.  Breakfast, lunch or dinner, you will enjoy the flavours of the island.

During lunch, try enticing favourites including Beef Cheeks with Wasabi, BL&T Roll (bacon, lobster Tarragon), or Seafood Curry and more. Dinners offer all the island specials, including fresh seafood and delicious lobster preparations. Tropical cocktails and their specialties, and a super wine list.

Other Activities

Oahu offers more golf experiences than any other Hawaiian island, with over forty public and private golf courses available to you, for all skill levels.

If you want to learn to surf, wind sail or kite board, this is the place for it. Head to the beach, grab a long board and have your camera crew ready on shore.

Beautiful Sunset, Oahu, Credit

Family Friendly

Sight seeing for both singles, couples and entire families abound, like exploring the inside of a submarine at Pearl Harbor, visiting the site of the Arizona, or climbing to the top of Diamond Head.

The Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium offer hours of touring, adventure and knowledge.

For smaller children you might try renting some boogie boards, or enroll the whole family in surfing lessons.

Sacred Falls Oahu, Hawaii, Credit

Tips

Summer months although the waters are warmer, it’s a good idea to bring or rent a suit, or at least a shorty. During the winter months, its advisable to have a 4-6mm suit because once you get chilled you will stay chilled.

Warning sign, Credit