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Boat entry

Turtle Canyon Reef

Hawaii, United States
Open Water suggested3–15 m (10–50 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Turtle Canyon Reef at a glance

Turtle Canyon Reef is a boat dive site in Hawaii, United States with depths of 3–15.2 m (10–50 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see goldring surgeonfish, Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, and Flame angelfish. Recent reports put the water around 27°C (80°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: tomorrow 7:00–18:00 · favorable

Forecast for this hour · 18:00 · run 10 h ago
1.0 m (3.3 ft)waves — about 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 80°F · seasonal avg 81°F)

Site hazards: Boat and canoe traffic, turtle harassment laws, surge/swell on shallow reef, eels/urchins in holes, and accidental ascent away from the boat.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

SunNo window

1.0 m waves · 8 kn wind (3.3 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Mon7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.5 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 3 kn wind (3.7 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Wed7:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–14:00 moderate, 14:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 9 kn wind (4.1 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 6 kn wind (4.1 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

1.2 m waves · 3 kn wind (3.9 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

1.2 m waves · 5 kn wind (4.0 ft waves · 5 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 6:08 · Sunrise 6:31 · Sunset 17:59 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.4 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 07:24 GMT-10

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Turtle Canyon Reef

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: goldring surgeonfish, Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, Green sea turtle
Best time: Year-round with operator-selected calm conditions; summer often improves visibility.

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, 16% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (78°F), waves have typically been 2.2 m (7.3 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  2. February, 40% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.9 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  3. March, 66% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  4. April, 77% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  5. May, 89% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  6. June, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  7. July, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  9. September, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  10. October, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  11. November, 57% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 10 knots
  12. December, 30% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 2.0 m (6.5 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots

July 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 Jul, Sep–Oct (5 records)

    Chelonia mydasmost recent 2018

  • Chelonia Brongniart, 1800 recorded here Sep (2 records)

    most recent 2002

  • Bluefin Trevally recorded here Jul (1 record)

    Caranx melampygusmost recent 2018

  • Melichthys vidua recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2012

  • Painted Moray recorded here Jul (1 record)

    Gymnothorax meleagrismost recent 2018

  • Thalassoma duperrey recorded here Jul (1 record)

    most recent 2012

  • Wedgetail Triggerfish recorded here Oct (1 record)

    Rhinecanthus rectangulusmost recent 2014

  • White moray recorded here Jul (1 record)

    Echidna nebulosamost recent 2012

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 July 2026

Site details

Boat reef off Waikiki/Honolulu known for Hawaiian green sea turtle cleaning stations on lava finger reefs and coral heads. It works for beginner scuba and is also used by snorkel/freedive boats in calm conditions. The main safety issue is surfacing/ascending around heavy boat, catamaran, canoe, and tour traffic.

boatreef

Boat and canoe traffic, turtle harassment laws, surge/swell on shallow reef, eels/urchins in holes, and accidental ascent away from the boat.

Reviews

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