Oahu Dive Sites
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© Lonely Planet Publications 0 8 km 0 4 miles Oahu not for navigation 158oW 157o45'W 21o45'N Kahuku Point PACIFIC OCEAN Kawela 83 Makahoa Point Kahuku Mokuauia Island Malaekahana State Waimea Recreation Area Laie Point Bay Laie Ka man Waimea anu i S Falls Park tre am Pauena Point Hauula Waialua Bay Haleiwa Punaluu 930 Opae Sacred Falls ula Stream Mokuleia State Park Kahana Bay P 83 Waialua o 99 am o ho Kaaawa S tr ea 93 803 m Kahana Valley Kualoa State Park Regional Park Mt Kaala Mokolii Island 21o30'N 4020ft Kualoa Point 21o30'N Waikane Kaneohe Bay Wahiawa Kapapa Island Makaha Waiahole Moko Manu 99 Kahaluu Mokapu Point Lahilahi H2 Point Waianae Ahuimanu Mokapu Peninsula Moko Kailua Bay 750 Heeia O Loe m Kapoho Point Maili Pearl ea Str City lu Kaneohe H3 ima H3 Kailua Maili Point Wa Mokulua Islands Nanakuli Aiea Pearl Lanikai Waipahu Harbor Wailea Point H1 63 78 61 Waimanalo Bay Waimanalo 76 Honolulu H1 Kapolei International Manana Airport Honolulu Island Makapuu Sand Island Point Barbers Point Diamond H1 Mamala Bay Waikiki Head State Maunalua Beach Monument Bay 21o15'N 21o15'N see inset map el nn ha C iwi Ka PACIFIC OCEAN Koko Crater Reef 1208ft Depth 0-18ft 18-60ft 60-300ft 300-600ft 600ft+ o 21 N Koko Head 642ft 158oW 157o45'W 40 Oahu Dive Sites A rare daytime sighting of a Spanish dancer nudibranch are modern and up-to-date. Equipment rentals and airfills are readily available around the island. Some shops special- ize in teaching courses designed for lo- cals and the military, while others cater mostly to visitors. Dive sites on Oahu are divided into four main regions: the leeward side, the south coast (including Hanauma Bay), the windward side and the north shore. LEEWARD SIDE Oahu’s sheltered leeward side, extend- ing from Kaena Point to Diamond Head, is one of the state’s most popular diving areas, thanks to nearly year-round ac- cessibility. Several wrecks that shelter a variety of fish and coral species from the strong currents that often flow through the area, while lava formations provide By far the most developed of the is- additional places to look for interesting lands, Oahu has a culturally and ethni- marine life. cally diverse population of close to a million people. This melting pot offers Oahu Dive Sites all the excitement of a large cosmopoli- tan area alongside the pleasures of a tropical island: nightlife, fine dining and interesting museums complementing great beaches, surfing and good diving SNORKELING GOOD NOVICE INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED and snorkeling. 1 MAKAHA CAVERNS •• Oahu is the only island that offers 2 THE MAHI • several first-class wreck dives, which 3 KEWALO PIPES • continue to get better as their marine 4 MAGIC ISLAND •• life populations increase. Although 5 YO-257 • Oahu’s reefs do not generally have the 6 THE SEA TIGER WRECK • pristine coral and superb visibility found 7 THE BABY BARGE • on most of the other islands, there is a 8 CORSAIR • nice balance of reef and volcanic cavern 9 TURTLE CANYON •• dives with swirling, colorful fish. Several 10 INSIDE REEF •• shallow reefs also make excellent shore 11 OUTSIDE REEF •• dives for both divers and snorkelers. 12 WITCH’S BREW • As both the most populated and 13 MANANA ISLAND • most visited Hawaiian island, Oahu has 14 MOKU MANU • the greatest number of dive operators 15 SHARK’S COVE •• and dive shops, the majority of which 16 THREE TABLES •• 41.