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Map of Makaha Caverns
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IntermediateBoat entry

Makaha Caverns

Hawaii - Oahu, United States
Open Water suggested8–14 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Makaha Caverns at a glance

Makaha Caverns is an intermediate boat dive site in Hawaii - Oahu, United States with depths of 8–14 m (26–46 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Moray eel, Pufferfish, and Whitetip reef shark. Recent reports put the water around 28°C (82°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 13h ago
1.2 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 28°C · seasonal avg 27°C

Site hazards: Surge inside swim-throughs, overhead/cavern temptation, boat traffic, current, shallow surge near Kepuhi Point, visibility loss after swell, and coral damage risk from anchoring.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sat
Fri7:00–19:00
Sat7:00–19:00
Sun7:00–15:00
Mon7:00–12:00
Tue7:00–19:00
Wed7:00–12:00
Thu—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:56 · Sunrise 6:19 · Sunset 18:39

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 7.2 km from site · graded 13h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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: Pufferfish, Hawaiian green sea turtle, Reef fish
Best time: Flat or small long-period swell on the west shore; avoid days when surfers are using the area or surge is visible.

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. Jan16%25°C2.2 m
  2. Feb40%25°C1.8 m
  3. Mar66%25°C1.6 m
  4. Apr77%25°C1.5 m
  5. May89%26°C1.3 m
  6. Jun99%26°C1.1 m
  7. Jul99%27°C1.1 m
  8. Aug92%27°C1.2 m
  9. Sep99%27°C1.2 m
  10. Oct78%27°C1.4 m
  11. Nov57%27°C1.6 m
  12. Dec30%26°C2.0 m

July hastypically 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

  • Chelonia mydas recorded here Sep–Nov (3 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Triaenodon obesus recorded here Aug–Sep (3 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Canthigaster jactator recorded here Sep–Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Rhinecanthus rectangulus recorded here Sep–Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Thalassoma duperrey recorded here Sep–Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Zanclus cornutus recorded here Sep–Oct (2 records)

    most recent 2013

  • Abudefduf abdominalis recorded here Oct (1 record)

    most recent 2013

  • Gymnothorax eurostus recorded here Sep (1 record)

    most recent 2013

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.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

West Oahu lava-tube/cavern and reef system near Makaha/Kepuhi Point. The site has open-ended swim-throughs, skylights, collapsed tube sections, and frequent turtles, puffers, lobsters, and whitetip reef sharks. Boat access is preferred for scuba; confident snorkelers/freedivers may use calm windows but should avoid overhead areas beyond training.

boatcavereef

Surge inside swim-throughs, overhead/cavern temptation, boat traffic, current, shallow surge near Kepuhi Point, visibility loss after swell, and coral damage risk from anchoring.

Reviews

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