SOME OF OAHU'S BEST DIVE SITES ARE ON THE SOUTH SHORE!
Most people visiting Oahu stay in Waikiki, or nearby in Honolulu. Fortunately, the scuba dive sites near Waikiki are phenomenal, and usually only a short boat ride away. There are dives available for every level – from beginner dives to deep, novice, and wreck dives.
Here are the best dive sites Oahu has to offer near Honolulu on the South Shore:
SEA TIGER
Depth: 80-121 ft. / 25-37 m.
Visibility: 60-120 ft. / 20-37 m.
Category: Wreck dive.
This is the deepest wreck dive for recreational divers, and also one of the most exciting. Because of the depth of this dive, some experience is necessary. The Sea Tiger is a beautiful ship that was originally a Chinese trading vessel. It was intentionally sank in 1999 by a submarine company as an effort to create more reefs around Oahu. Because its sinking was so recent, the ship has very little decay and is incredible to explore.
The Sea Tiger has become home to flourishing marine life, including eagle rays, sea turtles, moray eels, and whitetip sharks. Additionally, there are ample species of reef fish. The ship features multiple swim-throughs, some more dangerous than others. This dive site is for advanced divers.
YO-257 / SAN PEDRO
Depth: 70 – 115 ft. / 22 – 30 m.
Visibility: 60-80 ft./ 20-27 m.
Category: Wreck Dive
These wreck dives are best accessed from Waikiki, giving you a sensational view of Diamond Head and Honolulu’s skyline on the boat ride out. The YO-257 is an old navy ship that was sunk in 1989 by Atlantis Submarine for an artificial reef project. There are abundant swim throughs and numerous marine creatures.
The YO-257 sits at about 115 feet down, with its deck around 80 feet, and is therefore only accessible to advanced divers. Only 70 feet away, and slightly shallower at around 95 feet deep, is the San Pedro. This ship used to be a hospital vessel. It was sunk next to its sister, the YO-257, in 1996 as part of the same reef project. The San Pedro, however, is deteriorating at a much faster rate and is therefore not ideal for swimming through.
Both wrecks are home to huge amounts of sea life, including turtles, eagle rays, whitetip reef sharks, reef fish, nudibranchs, and octopi. In fact, the deck of the San Pedro has become a turtle cleaning station! For divers seeking more of a challenge, this is one of the best dive sites Oahu has to offer. The currents around Diamond Head and into the harbor can make this site a challenge, while the depth makes for a limited bottom time. You will want to dive this site again to see all it has to offer. This dive is for advanced divers.
TURTLE CANYON
Depth: 15-45 ft./ 5-15 m.
Visibility: 20-100 ft./ 7-35 m.
Category: Boat Dive
The Turtle Canyon dive site is located in the same vicinity of the Sea Tiger, making them common sites to be explored on the same trip. This beautiful reef is one of the island’s infamous turtle cleaning stations. There are regular displays of marine life coexistence, as turtles relax to let fish munch algae off their shells. This reef is also home to other marine life, including eels, octopi, and many more.
Turtle Canyon Reef is far off the shore and therefore only accessible by boat. However, the cleaning station itself (which is on top of the reef) is shallow enough that it is visible to snorkelers too. This dive can be accomplished by any level of diver, since it is fairly shallow with excellent visibility.
HORSESHOE REEF
Depth: 40 – 60 ft. / 16 – 20 m.
Visibility: 40 – 100 ft. / 16 – 35 m.
Category: Reef Dive
Horseshoe Reef is an Oahu scuba diving site that is accessible to beginners, yet still entertaining for novices. It is surrounded by multiple neighboring reefs (close enough to visit in one dive) that are slightly deeper. This reef is frequented by moray eels, frog fish, and manta rays. There have even been tiger shark sightings!
The depth of this reef offers the perfect balance of bottom-time and complexity. Within a two-tank dive, you should be able to go around the entire horseshoe and witness the many wonders this reef beholds.
KEWALO PIPE
Depth: 35 – 65 ft. / 11 – 20 m.
Visibility: 40 – 100 ft. / 16 – 35 m.
Category: Boat Dive
The Kewalo Pipe dive is a great spot for beginners diving near Waikiki. This spot is – you guessed it – a pipeline! It is made of steel, is no longer in use, and has broken up into pieces. This dive features plenty of reef fish, including a large amount of scorpion fish and wrasse.
Due to the shallow location of this dive site, you can enjoy a longer bottom time than with the other nearby artificial reefs. However, the depth can be what you make it, since the pipe runs from shoreline all the way to 65 feet in depth. Natural reefs flank either side of the pipe, providing bright colors and abundant marine life.
