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Scuba Diving in Hawaii, United States

Destination guide

Scuba diving in Hawaii, United States

Hawaii, United States has 46 public dive sites on PickADive. Use the list below to compare mapped sites by depth, access, difficulty, ratings, and reviews before opening a site page.

Public sites
46
Indexed destination pages
Reviews
0
Catalog review count
Rating
Building
Reviews are still growing
Common access
Boat
31 dive sites

Seasonal patterns

Best months, historically in Hawaii, United States

Typical conditions by month across dive sites in Hawaii, United States— historical patterns, not a forecast.

  1. Jan44%25°C
  2. Feb36%25°C
  3. Mar49%25°C
  4. Apr61%25°C
  5. May70%26°C
  6. Jun70%26°C
  7. Jul80%27°C
  8. Aug75%27°C
  9. Sep91%27°C
  10. Oct78%27°C
  11. Nov52%27°C
  12. Dec46%26°C

From 46 sites’ typical conditions · historical typicals, not a forecast

Best time to dive Hawaii, United States: full month-by-month data →

Best dive sites in Hawaii, United States

Showing 124 of 46

Map of Amber's Arches

Amber's Arches Verified

Hawaii · 12–24 m

Amber's Arches is a Kauai south-shore boat dive with a reef plateau, drop-off, arch/ledge features, holes, and undercut structure. It is attractive for eels, lobsters, dark-loving fish, reef sharks, and occasional rare finds such as longnose hawkfish in black coral. Treat the arch and hole features as swim-throughs, not caves for untrained penetration.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Brennecke's Ledge

Brennecke's Ledge Verified

Hawaii · 18–30 m

Brennecke's Ledge is a deeper south-shore Kauai boat dive built around a ledge/overhang system near the Poipu/Brennecke area. Operators describe it as rewarding but less frequently visited because distance and current can make it more demanding. It is best for experienced divers comfortable with drift-like movement and 60-100 ft profiles.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Corsair Plane Wreck

Corsair Plane Wreck Verified

Hawaii · 32–35.1 m

Intact F4U Corsair aircraft on sand off southeast Oahu, normally reached by boat as a deep advanced dive. The aircraft is upright with cockpit and propeller features visible; the surrounding sand hosts garden eels and macro life. It is exterior-only and should be planned as a short, current-aware deep dive.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Edge of the World

Edge of the World Verified

Hawaii · 15–46 m

Edge of the World is a back-wall Molokini site where ledges and shadowed wall terrain drop into very deep water. It is a serious advanced-to-technical profile: divers can stay recreationally shallow, but the terrain invites depth creep beyond normal recreational limits. Treat it as a guided boat wall/drift dive for divers with excellent buoyancy and gas discipline.

ExpertBoat entry
Map of Electric Beach (Kahe Point)

Electric Beach (Kahe Point) Verified

Hawaii · 3–12.2 m

West Oahu shore dive and snorkel site centered on the Kahe power-plant discharge pipe and nearby reef. Warm discharge water and reef structure attract turtles, rays, reef fish, and macro life. It is easy in calm conditions but the pipe outflow and boat traffic make it more than a casual beginner site.

IntermediateShore entry
Map of Enenue

Enenue Verified

Hawaii · 6–18 m

Enenue is an inner/eastern Molokini site with a gentle reef slope and abundant butterflyfish in the shallows. It supports snorkeling, freediving, SNUBA, and scuba when boat conditions are calm. Deeper portions toward the wall can add sharks/eels/rays and a more advanced feel.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Flying Sea Cliffs

Flying Sea Cliffs Verified

Hawaii · 15–40 m

Flying Sea Cliffs is an exposed Molokini back-wall dive with shelves, wall relief, sponges/corals, and shadowed crevices. It is primarily a scuba site, with advanced snorkel stops only when operators judge conditions safe. Depth, current, and ledge navigation make it an advanced boat profile.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay)

Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay) Verified

Hawaii · 9–24 m

Garden Eel Cove, also called Manta Heaven at Makako Bay, is Kona's northern manta night-dive/snorkel site near Keahole Point. By day, divers can see garden eels on the sand slope and reef life around the margins; after dark, boats set up a lighted viewing area for resident reef manta rays. It is boat-only and operator-managed, with conservation rules focused on no-touch/no-chase manta viewing.

Boat entry
Map of General Store / Turtle Bluff

General Store / Turtle Bluff Verified

Hawaii · 18–27 m

General Store, often paired with Turtle Bluff, is a south-shore Kauai boat dive with reef structure, black coral, and wreck/historic-vessel context around the Pele. It is best treated as an intermediate-to-advanced guided boat dive rather than an independently navigated shore site. The exact wreck/site position should be confirmed by the operating boat before diving.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay Verified

Hawaii · 0.5–21.3 m

Marine Life Conservation District in a volcanic bay with shallow inner reef for snorkeling and deeper outer-bay diving for experienced divers. Official rules prohibit taking or injuring marine life, altering coral/geology, feeding fish, and operating watercraft. Access is managed by park hours, parking limits, fees, and required orientation/reservation rules.

Shore entry
Map of Honokohau Harbor / Crescent Beach

Honokohau Harbor / Crescent Beach Verified

Hawaii · 5–20 m

Honokohau Harbor is mostly Kona's dive-boat hub, but the nearby Crescent Beach/Alua/Naiʻa Bay shore entry is also a real local dive. The dive crosses a lava-walk approach to a small cove and follows a reef/sand slope near the active harbor entrance. It is a specialty shore dive rather than a general beginner reef, mainly for experienced divers who understand the boat-traffic and shark-context hazards.

AdvancedShore entry
Map of Kealakekua Bay (Ka'awaloa Cove / Captain Cook Monument)

Kealakekua Bay (Ka'awaloa Cove / Captain Cook Monument) Verified

Hawaii · 1.5–30 m

Kealakekua Bay is a protected South Kona MLCD centered for divers and snorkelers around Kaʻawaloa Cove near the Captain Cook Monument. The site has clear water, a gently sloping reef, abundant protected reef fish, and frequent morning spinner-dolphin presence at the surface. Access is controlled by permitted boat/kayak operations and conservation rules rather than casual self-guided motorboat access.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Koloa Landing

Koloa Landing Verified

Hawaii · 4.5–18 m

Koloa Landing is a protected Hanakaape Bay shore dive and snorkel site on Kauai's south shore. The old landing/harbor area has a U-shaped reef, sandy/rubble center, reef walls, and historic boating remnants such as anchor chain. It is useful for training, beginner scuba, snorkelers, and relaxed critter dives when surf is calm.

Shore entry
Map of Mana Crack / Na Pali Coast

Mana Crack / Na Pali Coast Verified

Hawaii · 14–30 m

Mana Crack is a remote offshore fringing reef/ledge system off Kauai's west/Na Pali side with multiple drop points and drift profiles. It is known for clear water, ledge topography, large fish, rays, and reef sharks when conditions cooperate. The site is logistics-heavy and normally run as an advanced boat trip from the west side.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Middle Reef

Middle Reef Verified

Hawaii · 5–30 m

Middle Reef is a central inner-crater Molokini reef with hard coral and abundant tropical fish. It is one of the more broadly useful Molokini subsites for snorkelers, freedivers, SNUBA guests, and scuba divers. Divers should still treat it as boat-only protected-area diving with coral-contact discipline.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Prince Kuhio Beach / Prince Kuhio Park

Prince Kuhio Beach / Prince Kuhio Park Verified

Hawaii · 1–7.5 m

Prince Kuhio Beach/Park is a shallow south-shore Kauai reef pocket best known for snorkeling and turtle encounters, with scuba possible for divers comfortable with a rocky, shallow entry. It is not a deep or high-volume scuba site; treat it as a calm-condition shore reef/snorkel spot. Koloa Landing is usually the easier nearby scuba option.

Shore entry
Map of Puako

Puako Verified

Hawaii · 2–18 m

Puako is a multi-entry Kohala shore reef system rather than one tiny point. Divers and snorkelers use lava-finger channels, sandy cuts, pukas/caves, and reef slopes around Puako Village and Puako Beach Drive. It can be excellent for turtles, white-tip reef sharks, rays, and reef fish, but entry and navigation are more demanding than a resort-beach snorkel site.

IntermediateShore entry
Map of Reef's End

Reef's End Verified

Hawaii · 6–40 m

Reef's End is the western tip/extension of Molokini's reef where inner-crater snorkeling transitions toward deeper outer-edge scuba terrain. Snorkelers usually stay on the safer inner side while divers can work the outer ledges/terraces. Current can strengthen near the tip, so it should be treated more cautiously than central inner-crater sites.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Sea Tiger Wreck

Sea Tiger Wreck Verified

Hawaii · 18.3–37.5 m

Deep artificial-reef wreck off Honolulu/Waikiki, usually done as an advanced boat dive. The upright cargo/fishing vessel has open deck/cargo areas, coral growth, and frequent turtles, sharks, rays, snapper, and macro life. Limited penetration should be treated as training- and guide-dependent, not casual sightseeing.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Shark Condos

Shark Condos Verified

Hawaii · 24–40 m

Shark Condos is a deeper Molokini site where white-tip reef sharks use cave/ledge pockets near the crater rim. It is a scuba-only advanced/deep profile, not a snorkel site. Divers should observe sharks from outside the structure and avoid penetration or harassment.

AdvancedBoat entry
Map of Sharks Cove (Pupukea)

Sharks Cove (Pupukea) Verified

Hawaii · 4.6–20 m

North Shore shore dive/snorkel site inside the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District. The cove and outside reef have lava tubes, caverns, arches, and swim-throughs, with better diving outside the shallow cove. It is generally a summer-only site because winter North Shore surf makes conditions dangerous.

IntermediateShore entry
Map of Sheraton Caverns

Sheraton Caverns Verified

Hawaii · 10.5–21 m

Sheraton Caverns is a classic Kauai south-shore boat dive near Poipu with partial lava tubes, arches, overhangs, and swim-through terrain. It is scenic and popular, but the overhead-like features make buoyancy, light use, and guide discipline important. The site is normally treated as an easy-to-intermediate boat dive in calm conditions.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Suck Em Up

Suck Em Up Verified

Hawaii · 3–8 m

Suck Em Up is a shallow North Kona boat dive built around lava tubes, cavern-like passages, skylights, and the pulsing surge that gives the site its name. It is shallow but not trivial: buoyancy and overhead discipline matter because the passages can be tight and surge can push divers around. Use it as a guided boat cavern/swim-through site, not as a technical cave dive.

IntermediateBoat entry
Map of Tako Flats

Tako Flats Verified

Hawaii · 5–15 m

Tako Flats is a sheltered inner-crater Molokini sand channel with coral heads and rubble, named for octopus encounters. It is one of the more approachable Molokini sites for scuba, snorkel, freedive, and SNUBA guests in calm conditions. The sand channel helps navigation, but coral-head buoyancy control still matters.

Boat entry

Plan a dive in Hawaii, United States

Compare nearby sites

Hawaii has 46 public dive sites in the PickADive catalog. Start with the map when coastline, nearby alternatives, and travel distance matter.

Explore sites on the map

Match depth and difficulty

Current public data shows 19 intermediate and 15 advanced dive sites. Listed depths range from about 1m to 46m where available. Boat is the most common listed access type. Use those signals as a starting point, then confirm the plan against training, equipment, and current local guidance.

Check conditions close to the dive

PickADive can help with research and comparison, but it does not certify that a dive is safe today. Weather, current, visibility, entry, boat traffic, and local rules can change quickly.

How condition context works

Common questions about diving in Hawaii, United States

What are the best dive sites in Hawaii, United States?

Use the ranked list on this page to compare 46 public dive sites in Hawaii. PickADive highlights ratings, reviews, depth, access type, difficulty, and mapped location so you can move from destination research to a specific site page. 13 dive sites are recorded with shore access and 31 with boat access, and 30 are verified listings.

Are there advanced dives in Hawaii?

Yes. PickADive currently marks 16 dive sites in Hawaii as advanced or expert level. That includes 1 marked expert. Listed depths in the catalog reach about 46m at the deepest sites, and 31 dive sites are recorded as boat access. These dives deserve extra attention to depth, access, current, visibility, and local guidance.

What depths can I expect in Hawaii?

Listed PickADive depth data for Hawaii ranges from about 1m to 46m. Both shallow shore entries and deeper boat sites appear in the catalog: 13 dive sites are recorded with shore access and 31 with boat access. Use that as a research starting point, then verify current conditions and site-specific guidance.

Can I see Hawaii dive sites on a map?

Yes. Use the map link on this page to compare Hawaii dive sites by location, coastline, nearby alternatives, and individual site details.