Oahu] Let's enjoy diving in Oahu! Introducing the charm of diving and popular dive sites!

Oahu, Hawaii's most popular resort island

Oahu is a world-famous resort island with spectacular scenery, dining, shopping, activities, and natural wonders that make people who have visited Hawaii want to go back.

The more you learn about its charms, the more you will be captivated by Oahu.

 

What is Oahu like?

Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

It covers an area of 1,545 square kilometers and has a population of about 900,000.

Honolulu, the capital of Oahu, is the political, economic, cultural, and entertainment center of Hawaii and the gateway to Hawaii with Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Oahu, also known as The Gathering Place, is familiar to many people.

 

How to get to Oahu

Oahu is a very popular overseas travel destination for Japanese, and direct flights from Japan operate daily.

Japanese and U.S. airlines and LCCs operate from major domestic airports such as Narita, Haneda, Shin-Chitose, Nagoya, Kansai, and Fukuoka.

Please note that there is a slight difference in flight times between Japan and Hawaii due to the prevailing westerly winds.

Departing from Japan in the evening or late night, the flight takes approximately 7 hours and arrives in local Hawaii in the morning or noon.

The flight from Hawaii to Japan departs in the morning or evening, takes approximately 9 hours, and arrives between 3:00 p.m. and night.

For reference, other than Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, there are also direct flights to Kona International Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Connections are required to other islands.

 

Attractions of Oahu

Oahu has a number of attractions that attract visitors to the island.

Here are three of the main Oahu attractions.

 

Beautiful beaches and vast wilderness

Hawaii has a stable, mild climate with average temperatures ranging from 24°C to 30°C. Oahu has beautiful ocean and vast nature.

If you are a first-time visitor to Oahu, the best way to enjoy nature is to climb Diamond Head, the symbol of Oahu.

The summit offers a spectacular view of Waikiki, and the sunset over the ocean is indescribable.

Waikiki has beautiful ocean views, but we also recommend avoiding the hustle and bustle and visiting Kāulua Beach.

Also, if you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Oahu, visiting power spots is a popular way to do so.

 

One of the world's leading resorts

The island of Oahu in Hawaii, one of the world's most famous resort destinations, is surrounded by a mild climate and beautiful emerald green waters, attracting tourists from all over the world in search of healing.

Especially on the island of Oahu, where Japanese people also live, Japanese is also spoken, making it a popular destination for both children and the elderly, as well as a safe place to travel even if you do not speak English.

 

Shopping and restaurants are also recommended

One of the best things to do on Oahu is shopping.

Hawaii's largest shopping center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, has approximately 290 specialty stores and 70 restaurants.

There are also stores that sell familiar Japanese brands and goods that are only available in Hawaii, and the area is crowded with tourists looking for souvenirs.

Restaurants offer a wide variety of Mexican, Thai, Korean, Italian, and Japanese cuisine, so you can spend a whole day there and not get bored.

Other well-known locations include the International Marketplace, the duty-free T Galleria Hawaii, and the KCC Farmer's Market.

The Waikiki area is also crammed with restaurants offering a variety of gourmet foods, making it hard to decide what to eat.

 

Enjoy diving in Oahu!

The beautiful waters of Oahu, including Waikiki, attract surfers and divers from all over the world.

There are also tours that anyone can join, even beginners, after taking a training course, making it easy to participate.

There are more than 100 dive stores, especially in the Waikiki area, and you can see why they are so popular.

 

What is Diving?

Diving is a marine sport in which you dive deep underwater, breathe through a tank filled with air, and enjoy colorful fish and topography.

The inside of the sea, which is completely different from the terrestrial world where humans live, is truly an extraordinary world.

 

Types of Diving

If you are a beginner diver, keep in mind the three types of diving.

 

Experience Diving

If beginners want to dive, experience diving is recommended first.

Experience diving is the first step to diving the waters of Oahu.

If you want to try diving, you can enjoy diving after a half-day lecture.

Oahu has an abundance of diving spots, and there are tour companies that specialize in experience diving tours.

 

fun diving

For those who want to enjoy diving in earnest, fun diving is the way to go.

Fun diving is for licensed divers who enjoy diving and can move freely in the ocean, including deep dives.

A diving license (C-card) is required, but can be easily obtained by taking a diving course.

 

skin diving

Skin diving is an activity that divers enjoy using only their own breath, without the use of underwater breathing apparatus such as scuba or oxygen tanks.

It is almost the same image as bare diving and is a major activity on Oahu.

The appeal of skin diving is that you can dive and swim freely as long as you can hold your breath, and feel at one with the ocean.

 

How to enjoy diving

If you see the beautiful waters of Oahu, you will probably want to dive and swim freely like a fish, or if possible, encounter and swim with dolphins.

As I mentioned earlier, even without a license, experience diving is recommended for beginners.

You can start in shallow water, and even if you are not a good swimmer, the instructor will stay close to you.

 

Diving Attraction

Oahu offers a variety of fascinating dive sites, each with a different atmosphere and a wide variety of creatures to encounter.

Let us introduce you to some of Oahu's diving attractions.

 

Enjoy one of the most beautiful seas in the world!

The island of Oahu, with its beautiful beaches, is a popular destination for marine sports.

Diving, snorkeling, and surfing can be enjoyed in the beautiful waters of Oahu, one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

 

Mysterious deep-sea world

The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic islands, so the undersea topography is rich and fascinating.

When sunlight shines on such a seabed, a fantastic sight can be seen.

 

Observe a wide variety of marine life

The Hawaiian Islands are located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which is one of the reasons why they are so popular for seeing a wide variety of underwater life.

Many endemic species can be found only in Hawaii, and fish watching can be enjoyed.

There are many spots for beginners as well as advanced levels, so you can enjoy the ocean world that only Hawaii has to offer.

 

Popular Dive Sites on Oahu

Oahu is known for its many attractive diving sites.

Each spot has a different atmosphere and various features that attract divers.

Here are some typical popular dive sites.

If you are lucky, you may see dolphins, sea turtles, and whales.

 

Spitting Cave (for advanced students)

Source:TripAdvisor

Spitting Cave is an advanced dive site and is famous for being one of the most beautiful waters on Oahu.

 

Point Features

Drift diving is recommended for Spitting Cave's features, and you may encounter green turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, and white tips.

The depth is not very deep (10m to 20m), but it is known as a spot with large waves and is said to be for advanced surfers.

 

Access

Spitting Cave is a 20-minute drive from Waikiki.

Parking on the street is common, so please park accordingly.

There are no tours that incorporate Spitting Cave, so you will have to go there on your own.

 

Corsair (for advanced students)

Another famous dive site for advanced divers on Oahu is Corsair.

This is a dive site off the coast of Hanauma Bay.

 

Point Features

The Corsair has a depth of 31 m. The Corsair, an American fighter plane sunk in World War II in 1946, sank in the sand at a depth of 30 m.

The transparency of the water is stable throughout the year. At this point, you can see amberjack feeding on small fish, whales surfacing in winter, manta rays and whale sharks, as well as dolphins.

 

Access

Corsair is located in Hawaii Kai on the East Shore.

It takes about 30 minutes by car from Waikiki.

 

Coco Crater (for beginner and intermediate level)

For beginners, Koko Crater on the east side of Oahu is recommended.

The depth is shallow at 10 meters, making it a fun spot for experience divers and beginners and intermediate divers.

 

Point Features

Koko Crater is one of the calmest dive sites on Oahu, and is home to many endemic Hawaiian species, including sea turtles.

The clarity of the water allows for relaxing underwater exploration.

On the seafloor, craters of about 30 meters in diameter line the sea floor from north to south, and sea turtles sleep there.

 

Access

Coco Crater is a 30-minute drive from Waikiki.

From there, a 15-minute boat ride will take you to the dive site.

 

YO-257 (for beginner and intermediate students)

YO-257 is a popular dive site on the south side of Oahu.

The depth is 25 meters, the water is clear, and the current is not fast, making it ideal for beginners and intermediate divers.

 

Point Features

Two U.S. Navy refueling tankers were sunk on YO-257.

It is very large, about 50 meters long, and diving around the wreck is popular.

If conditions are good, the submarine Atlantis may be seen.

The reef is full of endemic species.

 

Access

It takes about 15 minutes by boat from the North Shore harbor to reach YO-257.

 

Sea Tiger (for beginner and intermediate level)

Source:Sunshine Scuba

Sea Tiger is also a good dive site for beginners and intermediate divers.

The depth is 35 meters, but the current is relatively calm.

 

Point Features

This is the point where a large 55-meter-long Japanese fishing boat sunk in 1999.

You can see Hawaii's endemic Potter's angelfish, mudfish, butterflyfish, and grouper.

 

Access

It takes only about 5 minutes to reach the point after sailing from Kewalo Boat Harbor.

 

Turtle Reef (for beginner and intermediate level)

Introducing the popular diving spot Total Reef.

The high transparency and gentle waves are suitable for beginner and intermediate divers.

 

Point Features

Turtle Reef is shallow, at 12 meters, and there is a high probability of encountering sea turtles.

It is a popular dive site for tours and is not easily affected by wind, so conditions are always good.

Swim with sea turtles together or take a commemorative photo.

 

Access

The dive site is a 15-minute boat ride from the harbor.

 

Canyon Reef (for beginner and intermediate level)

Canyon Reef on Oahu is also recommended for beginner and intermediate divers.

This is the best spot off the coast of Waikiki and is famous for its shallow depth of 6 to 12 meters and high transparency.

 

Point Features

Many Japanese tourists are familiar with this diving spot located right in front of Waikiki.

The friendly sea turtles do not run away when divers approach, and two shots are not a dream.

 

Access

The boat departs from the harbor, a 10-minute drive from Waikiki.

 

Three recommended diving tours on Oahu

Tours are recommended to enjoy diving safely.

Here are three recommended diving tours on Oahu.

 

Experience Diving Departing from Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, a phantom island!

For experience diving, Sandbar, a phantom island in Kaneohe Bay, is a great dive spot for beginners.

The colorful and lovely tropical fish and coral reefs are a must-see.

If you are lucky, you may even encounter sea turtles.

Instructors are Japanese, so first-timers can participate with ease.

Prices are USD188 for 2 dives for ages 10~60 and USD138 for 1 dive.

Visitors over 3 years old are USD 58, and visitors under 3 years old are free.

 

Diving Experience Diving at the best point from which you can see Diamond Head!

You can enjoy diving at the best sea turtle habitat on Oahu.

Dive sites with a view of Diamond Head are said to have a sea turtle encounter rate of 901 TP3T or higher.

It is sure to be enjoyed by beginners and experts alike.

Prices are USD 152 for one dive for ages 10 and up and USD 183 for two dives.

 

Fun diving Many points from beginner to advanced!

Tours are popular with a variety of points of interest to suit all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced.

This is a fun diving tour that allows you to enjoy Oahu to the fullest: the calm South Coast for beginners, the East Coast for advanced divers, and the West Coast for those who prefer unexplored areas.

Japanese-speaking guides are also provided, so you can enjoy diving with peace of mind.

 

summary

We hope you enjoyed our introduction to the attractions and recommended spots for diving on Oahu.

If you enjoy marine sports, diving on Oahu is recommended for beginners and advanced divers alike.

If you visit Hawaii, enjoy diving to the fullest.

Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end.