Oahu Scuba Certification - Lessons

Oahu Scuba Certification & Lessons - What to Know

Oahu’s unique mix of dive sites, from large sunken wrecks to shallow tropical reefs, make it the perfect place to try scuba diving or get fully certified. If you’re completely new to diving, try a Discover Scuba or Intro to Scuba lesson, where you can enjoy a one-time scuba experience under the guidance of a professional.

For those ready to get certified, start with an Open Water course or take advantage of referral programs. These programs let you complete bookwork and pool dives at your home dive shop and finish your open water dives on Oahu so you can maximize your vacation time. Oahu’s diverse dive sites also make it the ideal place to get advanced certifications, with specialties like wreck and deep diving offering the chance to explore historic ship and plane wrecks, and night diving specialties that reveal the completely different underwater world of nocturnal marine life.

Why Choose Oahu for Scuba Diving Certifications

Oahu’s warm-waters and great visibility make it a great place to get scuba certified at any time of year. With many offshore dive sites, you'll have the exciting experience of diving from a scuba boat, rather than just walking in from the shore. As you head out, you might even spot spinner dolphins leaping from the water and putting on a show. Once underwater, Oahu offers a massive variety in marine life - from larger creatures like sea turtles and reef sharks to small creatures, such as tiny nudibranchs and shy Hawaiian garden eels. With such a wide array of dive spots, even compared to the other Hawaiian islands, divers of all levels will have an adventure scuba diving on Oahu.

Where to go Scuba Diving on Oahu

Beginner Dive Sites

Turtle Canyon: It's in the name! As many as two dozen green sea turtles can be seen together here. Chill between 15 to 30 ft (5 to 10 m) and watch one of the busiest turtle cleaning stations on the island. Several at a time gather to have their shells cleaned by tangs, wrasses and other fish. The turtles are used to divers, so getting a photo with one is usually easy. Don't touch though, these guys are protected by law.

Fantasy Reef: One of Honolulu's favorite reef sites in 25 to 50 ft (8 to 15 m) of water. Made up of three plateaus of lava rock, these coral reefs have a host of marine life.

Nautilus Reef: At about 30 to 60 ft (10 to 18 m), this is a great example of Hawaiian hard corals creating a nice elongated reef. One of those rare dives where white tips can almost always be found resting under lava rock ledges by day. Massive yellow margin moray eels, leaf scorpionfish, and octopus are also common!

Horseshoe Reef & Kewalo Pipe: Horseshoe Reef gets its name from its shape where you can find several species of eels, pincushion starfish, and antler coral. From Horseshoe, you can swim about 50 ft (15 m) to the Kewalo pipe. Keep your eyes peeled for spotted eagle rays off in the distance, and follow along this drainage pipe covered in coral and little critters galore. These both settle at around 40 to 65 ft (12 to 20 m) of depth.

Advanced Dive Sites

Sea Tiger: Hawaii's deepest recreational diving wreck! The 168 ft (51 m) Sea Tiger rests in 121 ft (37 m) of water while the superstructure and deck are at a depth of 90 ft (27 m), offering great diving!

YO-257 & San Pedro: These two ships lay side by side with about 150 ft (46 m) between them. The YO-257 rests in 115 ft (35 m) of water while the superstructure and deck are at depths of 70 to 90 ft (21 to 27 m). The San Pedro is a bit shallower, 65 to 85 ft (20 to 26 m). This site can experience strong currents and is only dove when conditions are ideal.

Ewa Pinnacles: Ewa Pinnacles is an ancient lava pinnacle formation covered with Hawaiian corals and surrounded by fish in 75 to 90 ft (23 to 27 m) deep water.

The Navy Tug: The Nashua, a Navy tug boat sunk in 2012 as an artificial reef in 65 ft (20 m) of water and is now an active training site for the Navy but still open to recreational divers!

The Corsair: Dive a WWII fighter plane, the Corsair, that sits in 106 ft (32 m) of water in an upright position. The plane was ditched back in 1948 while on a routine mission from Pearl Harbor. The water may be fairly rough and currents can be strong so this Oahu dive is conditions permitting. 

The LCU Wreck: Glide along the LCU Wreck, an upside down Landing Craft Utility that is surrounded by artificial reef Z-blocks in 75 to 90 ft (23 to 27 m) of water. You can glide underneath the landing strip for almost the entire length of the boat!

Top Tips for Scuba Diving on Oahu

• Best Time to Scuba Dive: You can dive year round but from April to May and September through November there will be fewer crowds with ideal weather. The best time of day to dive is early in the morning before the wind picks up and when the seas are flatter with better visibility. During the winter you have the chance to hear Humpback whales singing.
• Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Please use reef-safe sunscreen to avoid polluting the clear waterways! With so many visitors a year, it is essential to keep the waters as clean as possible for the wildlife!
• Respect Marine Life: Observe wildlife from a distance without chasing or harassing them. Never feed or touch animals, even if they approach you out of curiosity. Please stay off the reef at all times. Green sea turtles, seals, dolphins, and many more species are protected resulting in a fine or jail time if you’re found harassing them.
• Stay Hydrated: Swimming, diving, and relaxing on the boat in the hot Hawaii sun can be intense. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Follow Leave No Trace Principles: Keep all trash with you and secured down while on the boat or shore and dispose of it properly when you’re near a trash can or back at your hotel.
• Check Equipment Thoroughly: Even if gear is provided, it’s important to check everything thoroughly. Ensure your mask fits properly, your BCD inflates correctly, and your regulator is working well. Don’t hesitate to ask the crew for help if something doesn’t feel right.
• Listen to Your Dive Briefing: Pay close attention to the dive briefing given by your guide or instructor. They will cover important information about the dive site, safety procedures, and marine life you might encounter.
• Consider a Refresher Course: If it’s been a while since your last dive, consider taking a refresher course. This can help boost your confidence and ensure you’re comfortable with basic skills and equipment before hitting the water.
• Book in Advance: Popular dive tours can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. Booking ahead ensures you secure your spot on the desired tour and at your preferred time.

Other Oahu Adventures

Check out other Oahu Activities at Oahu, HI Outdoor Adventures! These include snorkeling, paddleboarding, surfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, freediving, windsurfing, canoeing, hiking, electric biking, cruiser biking, and fat biking!