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Oahu Dive Sites

About Our Oahu Dive Sites



These are some of the dive sites we commonly visit on our daily dive charters. There are also some dive sites that we do not list since not everyone knows about them. Free transportation via our Waikiki shuttle is included.

Wreck Dive Sites



WWII Corsair Fighter

Hawaii’s most famous diveable wreck, this fighter went down during a training mission in 1946. The pilot safely got to shore and lived a long life on Molokai.

The Corsair plane wreck sits upright and intact at 105 feet, making it one of Oahu’s premier wreck dives. Large eels can be seen under the wings and occasionally in the cockpit. The wreck is also a constant home for octopuses and frogfish.

Rays can also be seen at the Corsair on a regular basis, and in the winter you can hear whale song and perhaps even see a humpback whale passing by.

Depth: 105 feet (32 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

LCU Landing Craft

One of our personal favorites, the Landing Craft sits upside down in 90 feet of water. The bottom of the vessel, which faces up, has nice coral growth on it, while the underside of the wreck is home to several schools of big eye and soldierfish.

Formations of rays can also be seen at this site along with eels, octopuses, turtles, and fish. White tip reef sharks can often be found resting underneath or alongside this wreck.

Depth: 92 feet (28 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

New Barge

This barge is largely intact and may be penetrated by the more experienced divers. On the side of the wreck is a sandy bottom covered in areas by large cement pilings. Sharks can often be seen resting under the pilings and along the sandy bottom. Formations of rays can also be seen at this site along with eels, octopuses, turtles, and fish. For a real thrill, you can do a drift dive from New Barge to Baby Barge, Kahala Barge, or the Landing Craft if conditions are right.

Depth: 90 feet (27 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Baby Barge

This wreck features a smaller sunken barge that is home to several huge sea turtles as well as many types of reef fish. It has slowly started to cave in on itself and is no longer suitable for entry. However, it’s still a great dive due to the abundance of sea life. A short swim away is a small cave often frequented by white tip reef sharks and turtles. Octopuses, eels, and rays are also common visitors to the Baby Barge site.

Depth: 65 – 80 feet (19 – 24 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Kahala Barge

The Kahala Barge sits in about 95 feet of water, with its top deck in the 75 – 80-foot range. This barge has a large split in its midsection and may be penetrated by the more experienced diver. Once inside, keep an eye out for large schools of fish hiding out. On the sides of the wreck is a rocky bottom covered in schools of sea urchins.

Sharks, schools of rays, and larger animals can be seen here frequently. Divers can go into the large wheelhouse to gain the perspective of previous captains overlooking the large forward deck. For a real thrill, a drift dive from Kahala Barge to Baby Barge, New Barge, or the Landing Craft is a must if conditions are right.

Depth: 95 feet (29 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Reef Dive Sites



Traps

Traps is a relatively shallow dive site that is generally done as a drift dive. With its shallow depths, you can expect a nice, long bottom time. Aside from being one of the nicer reefs we dive, this site seems to draw in eagle rays more than any other we visit.

Turtles, eels, octopuses, and tons of fish are also common here. A very easy site to navigate with mild currents, it is the perfect site for newly certified divers as well as the more advanced.

For a two-tank shallow reef dive, it is perfect as the complement to Koko Craters or Angler’s Reef. It also serves as a great second dive to any of our Oahu wreck dives.

Depth: 45 feet (14 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Keanu's Reef

Keanu’s Reef is a series of cracks and small ledges that are home to several different types of eels. Schooling reef fish are also common at this site, as are crabs, lobster, and puffer fish.

During winter, white tip reef sharks can be found sleeping under the ledges. More commonly done as a drift dive, it is great as a complement to any of our wreck dives or if you are just looking for that perfect eel picture.

Depth: 65 – 85 feet (20 – 25 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Angler's Reef

Angler’s Reef is a ridge that runs parallel to shore for over a mile. With its shallow depth and diversity of marine life, it makes for a great beginner or drift dive. When the conditions are right, it also makes for a great night dive. Common sightings include frogfish, eels, octopuses, reef sharks, turtles, sponge crabs, slipper lobster, and more.

Depth: 40 feet (11 meters)
Minimum certification required: no certification needed

Loa Ridge

Hawaii Loa Ridge is a relatively shallow dive site that may be done as an easy reef dive (moored up) or a slightly more advanced drift dive. With its shallow depths, you can expect a nice, long bottom time here.

Common sightings include eels, octopuses, turtles, reef sharks, and tons of fish, of course. A very easy site to navigate with little to no current, it is the perfect site for newly certified divers as well as the more advanced.

For a two-tank shallow reef dive, it is perfect as the complement to Koko Craters or Angler’s Reef. It also serves as a great second dive to the Corsair plane wreck.

Depth: 40 feet (12 meters)
Minimum certification required: no certification needed

Grumpy's

A close neighbor to the Koko Craters dive site, Grumpy’s Reef is also a great spot to dive with Hawaii’s green sea turtles. Eels and octopuses are also common at this site, as are numerous types of reef fish.

With its shallow depths and clear protected water, Grumpy’s reef is the perfect spot for Discover Scuba Dives or a nice relaxing dive after one of the more adventurous wreck dives we offer.

Depth: 35 feet (11 meters)
Minimum certification required: no certification needed

Sea Cave

Like Spitting Caves, the Sea Cave is a great place for a chance encounter with the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, as well as sharks, rays, eels, and other large animals. The dive starts out by swimming down to the large opening which lays at about 55 feet.

Once you swim through the opening, you enter a huge cavern with a giant hole in the ceiling (which offers plenty of natural light). Sharks are commonly seen along the sides of the cavern, and monk seals, if present, usually like to hide out toward the back of the cave.

In addition to the cave itself, the outside walls offer a great place to view eels, frogfish, and octopuses. In our opinion, this dive is one of the top five dives on the island. The Sea Cave can also be done as a drift dive.

Because of its location, conditions often determine whether this dive is possible or not.

Depth: 55 – 70 feet (15 – 23 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Spitting Caves

Spitting Caves is one of the premier drift dives on Oahu. Located along Portlock Wall, the Spitting Caves dive site — like big sea cave — is a great place for a chance encounter with the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. White tip reef sharks can also be seen at this site with regularity.

Eagle Rays, large eels, frogfish, and turtles are all common sightings here as well. When conditions are good, this is one of the best dives on Oahu. During winter, you can hear whale song echoing off the walls.

Because of its location, conditions often determine whether this dive is possible or not.

Depth: 55 – 70 feet (15 – 23 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Baboon’s Nose

Baboon’s Nose sits on the outside edge on Hanauma Bay and is only accessible by boat. We are usually only able to dive this site once or twice each month as conditions have to be ideal to reach this site. Most commonly visited on private charters because of its distance and generally rough surface conditions, Baboon’s Nose is a series of coral covered canyons.

It’s a truly amazing dive when conditions allow us access. Sharks, turtles, large jacks, rays, and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal can all be seen here. During winter months, whale song can be heard reverberating off the canyon walls.

Depth: 70 feet (21 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Fantasy Reef

A personal favorite of Reef Pirates, Fantasy Reef is a series of reefs that lay in 40 – 50 feet of water. One of the better reef dives on Oahu in our opinion, it also makes for a great night dive when conditions are right. Caves, overhangs, and swim-throughs can all be found here. Common sightings include reef sharks, turtles, eels, and octopi. Monk seals have also been known to hang out at this site. Also a great drift dive, Fantasy Reef is the perfect complement to the Baby Barge, Kahala Barge, New Barge, and Landing Craft wreck sites.

Depth: 50 feet (15 meters)
Minimum certification required: Open Water Diver

Turtle Canyons

Turtle Canyons is a relatively shallow dive site that may be done as an easy reef dive (moored up) or a slightly more advanced drift dive. With its shallow depths, you can expect a nice, long bottom time here. Common sightings include eels, octopuses, turtles, and lots of fish. Rays occasionally cruise by, and the coral is beautiful. A very easy site to navigate with little to no current, it is the perfect site for beginners and certified divers alike. For a two-tank shallow reef dive, it is perfect as the complement to Koko Craters or Angler’s Reef. It also serves as a great second dive to the Corsair plane wreck.

Depth: 33 feet (10 meters)
Minimum certification required: no certification needed

Koko Craters

One of our favorite dive sites, Koko Craters is a series of circular craters that lay in 33 – 40 feet of water. Coral ledges surround the sandy bottom and offer the perfect spot for Hawaiian green sea turtles to tuck themselves in for some rest. Besides the numerous turtles, you may also see eels, puffer fish, octopuses, and rays. With its shallow depths and little to no current, it is the perfect spot for a laid-back Discover Scuba Diver or as a more leisurely complement to the Corsair wreck dive.

Depth: 40 feet (11 meters)
Minimum certification required: no certification needed