Honolulu Scuba Certification - Lessons

Honolulu Scuba Certification & Lessons - What to Know

Honolulu is the perfect place to begin or continue your scuba diving certification journey. Whether you’re trying scuba for the first time with a Discover Scuba program, earning your first certification with an Open Water course, or taking your skills further with an Advanced Open Water certification, there is something for everyone! If it’s been a while since your last dive, consider taking one of the refresher courses to re-learn essential underwater skills such as clearing your mask and emergency procedures.

There is also a unique program called referral certifications, allowing you to complete the bookwork and confined pool dive with your local shop, before traveling to Honolulu to finish the open water certification requirements. Plus, with the largest variety of dive shops on the island located in Honolulu, you’ll be able to find one to match your learning style and personality, that is conveniently located near hotels and restaurants.

Why Choose Honolulu for Scuba Diving Certifications

Honolulu is home to a diverse range of dive sites that are ideal for every stage of your certification journey. Beginners can practice and master essential skills in shallow reefs and sandy areas, while more advanced divers can participate in a number of thrilling specialty dives. Explore historic shipwrecks just off the coast for deep and wreck specialties, try descending into darkness for your night specialty, or practice search and recovery techniques using search patterns and underwater lift bags in the calm sandy environments.

Honolulu’s waters welcome a variety of marine life from schools of tropical fish, curious monk seals, and white tip reef sharks, to deeper marine environments hosting sandbar sharks, octopuses, nudibranchs, and slipper lobsters. When you’re not below the surface, enjoy a scenic boat ride along the bustling Waikiki coastline or take on the illuminated skyline of Honolulu on a night dive.

Where to go Scuba Diving in Honolulu

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 in Honolulu

• 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.
• Use a Dive Flag: It is illegal to dive without a dive flag and it is dangerous in Honolulu, where there is a lot of boat traffic. If you’re diving off a boat, the boat will raise a dive flag when you enter the water.
• 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 Honolulu Adventures

Check out other Honolulu Activities at Honolulu, HI Outdoor Adventures! These include snorkeling, paddleboarding, surfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, freediving, windsurfing, hiking, electric biking, and more!