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Map of Five Caves / Five Graves (Makena Landing)
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IntermediateBoth

Five Caves / Five Graves (Makena Landing)

Hawaii, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested3–15 m (10–50 ft) depthBoth entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Five Caves / Five Graves (Makena Landing) at a glance

Five Caves / Five Graves (Makena Landing) is an intermediate both dive site in Hawaii, United States with depths of 3–15.2 m (10–50 ft). Typically most favorable Oct · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Whitetip reef shark, Spotted eagle ray, and Day octopus. Recent reports put the water around 27°C (81°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:53

Forecast for this hour · 12:00 · run 4 h ago
0.9 m (2.8 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 27°C · seasonal avg 27°C ( · Forecast 81°F · seasonal avg 81°F)

Site hazards: Overhead environments in the caves (do not enter without training/guide), surge in and around the arches with south swell, kayak and dive-boat traffic.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon8:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 3 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 3 kn wind (3.0 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Wed7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 5 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 2 kn wind (3.4 ft waves · 2 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.4 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Sun7:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 3 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:02 · Sunrise 6:25 · Sunset 17:53 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 6.4 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 07:25 GMT-10

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Five Caves / Five Graves (Makena Landing)

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Whitetip reef shark, Green sea turtle, Moray eels (various)
Best time: Calm mornings; avoid south swells.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots
  2. February, 26% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 2.0 m (6.5 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 43% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  4. April, 37% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.9 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  5. May, 29% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.9 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  6. June, 27% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  7. July, 35% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  8. August, 35% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.6 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  9. September, 49% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.0 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  11. November, 48% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.5 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  12. December, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots

October has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Green Turtle recorded here Mar, Jun, Aug (4 records)

    Chelonia mydasmost recent 2014

  • Oceanic Whitetip Shark recorded here Mar (2 records)

    Carcharhinus longimanusmost recent 2013

  • Painted Moray recorded here Jan, Aug (2 records)

    Gymnothorax meleagrismost recent 2018

  • Salt and Pepper Moray recorded here Aug (2 records)

    Gymnothorax eurostusmost recent 2013

  • Brachysomophis henshawi recorded here Jan (1 record)

    most recent 2018

  • Cassis cornuta recorded here Jun (1 record)

    most recent 2014

  • Hawaiian Lionfish recorded here Dec (1 record)

    Dendrochirus barberimost recent 2010

  • Picasso fish recorded here Jun (1 record)

    Rhinecanthus aculeatusmost recent 2014

Newest record here: 2018. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

The underwater calendar

When these animals are most recorded around Hawaiʻi — from open sighting data, not a promise.

Watch the whole year animate on the Migrations map

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

South Maui's signature shore dive off Nahuna Point near Makena Landing, also called Turtle Town. A reef honeycombed with caves, arches and ledges in 10-50 ft where green turtles rest and whitetip reef sharks pack the 'shark condo' cavern. Usually entered from the sandy ramp at Makena Landing Park with a surface swim, or directly off the rocky shoreline at Nahuna Point.

boatcavereefshore

Overhead environments in the caves (do not enter without training/guide), surge in and around the arches with south swell, kayak and dive-boat traffic.

Reviews

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