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IntermediateShore entry

Puako

Hawaii, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested2–18 m depthShore entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Puako at a glance

Puako is an intermediate shore dive site in Hawaii, United States with depths of 2–18 m (7–59 ft). Typically most favorable Sep · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Yellow tang, Spotted eagle ray, and Hawaiian garden eel. Recent reports put the water around 28°C (83°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 1h ago
0.5 mwaves — under a meter expected

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

Site hazards: Sharp lava, shallow reef crossing, surge, current, limited exits, afternoon wind, rain/runoff visibility drops, overhead-like pukas/caves, boat traffic offshore, and wildlife-distance rules.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sun
Fri8:00–12:00
Sat7:00–12:00
Sun7:00–19:00
Mon7:00–15:00
Tue7:00–19:00
Wed7:00–19:00
Thu7:00–19:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:47 · Sunrise 6:10 · Sunset 18:29

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 9.7 km from site · graded 1h 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: Yellow tang, Hawaiian garden eel, Green sea turtle
Best time: Early morning and calmer March–October conditions are best; avoid low tide, heavy rain/runoff, and high surf.

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. Jan65%26°C1.5 m
  2. Feb55%25°C1.6 m
  3. Mar78%25°C1.3 m
  4. Apr90%25°C1.2 m
  5. May97%26°C1.1 m
  6. Jun98%27°C1.2 m
  7. Jul96%27°C1.1 m
  8. Aug92%27°C1.2 m
  9. Sep100%27°C1.0 m
  10. Oct98%27°C1.1 m
  11. Nov79%27°C1.4 m
  12. Dec81%26°C1.4 m

September 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 seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

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

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

Data updated July 2026

Site details

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.

cavereefshore

Sharp lava, shallow reef crossing, surge, current, limited exits, afternoon wind, rain/runoff visibility drops, overhead-like pukas/caves, boat traffic offshore, and wildlife-distance rules.

Reviews

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