Name: Rainbow Reef
Rating: 4.5

Oahu

Hawaii

Rainbow Reef is a 4.5-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Oahu, Hawaiian Islands which is accessible from shore based on 2 ratings.

Rainbow Reef

This is a shore dive from Haleiwa Beach Park and is best accessed by swimming out from Jameson's Restaurant to the green (#3) buoy on the starboard side of the channel. There is a surface layer of poor visibility (2-3 feet) that clears to about 60 feet deeper down. The site is a labyrinth of channels, with walls that run from 25 feet, to within 3 feet of the surface. They are 12 to 15 feet across, and separated by a silt bottom, with the offshore end tapering to a width of one diver. This site is best dived when working in towards the shore. The matrix of pukas is filled with tiny lobster and a number of tiger cowries. Though inaccessible during the day, everything comes out at night for good photography, making this an excellent night dive site. As such, this is an advanced dive site that should be led by a guide.

Mole Heaven

You guys are missing a very good dive site from your repertoire of Oahu sites. May I suggest Kaena Point on the extreme West side of the island? There is a real entry point that is easy and on a calm day can make this site a beginner to intermediate site, but on rough days or days that have a strong current an advanced site. At the end of Farrington Hwy. there is a small cove in the Kaena Point Beach Park that makes an easy entry point. Navigation in the site is super easy since you follow a trough that loops around making it a ledge dive that lasts about 60min at a slow pace and ends where you began with 500psi. and Max. depth will be around 36ft. with average depth being about 20-30ft. I can almost guarantee a white tipped reef shark to be sleeping under one of the ledges at around 34ft every time you dive this site. I took my dive club here last weekend and we had a blast. Make sure to put this one on your sites list.



Kaena Point

This site is half the distance from Turtle Street and is inshore. The reef peaks at 10 feet below the surface and, because of seismic activity during its formation, has a valley below it that drops to a depth of 100 feet. The wall is on a vertical drop and it has a partner another 100 yards inshore. The main focus of the site is along a 200 yard section of the seaward side of the wall and its top has a wide variety of fish, corals, overhangs and arches. Small pukas are found through the side of the wall leading to Turtle Street. The characteristic valley is called the Haleiwa Trench. Another attraction is a substantial coral mound, 20 yards off the wall, which seems to be a remnant of the original structure. The pinnacle of this mound is 100 feet wide and stops 35 feet below the surface. About a dozen turtles sit on the mound and are at ease with visiting divers.

Turtle Heaven

Waimea Bay is a well-groomed beach park with all the facilities.  Snorkeling can be good, as at times huge schools of small fish congregate right next to the shoreline.  Diving is excellent, too,  around the south point of the bay.
Between dives, you might want to visit Waimea Falls Park just across the road.  You can easily spend a couple of hours roaming the gardens.

Off Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore in the Waimea area.

Waimea Bay (wall)

The site is Keawalo Pipe can be done from shore.  The entry point is from point panic located off of Ala Moana and Ward behind Jon Dominus restaurant.  You enter the water from the stairs.  Swim along the boat channel and then head out to the buoy for no surf boards.  Drop down and follow the pipe out.  Starting depth is 30ft with end of pipe at a max depth of 60ft.

 

Keawalo Pipe

This is the beach where Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr got hot and heavy, making out in a wicked beach break in the movie "From Here to Eternity". (I think I would've found the waves a little distracting. Seriously, they're getting their backsides handed to them big time and I doubt they enjoyed filming that scene at all.) It's also called Cockroach Cove by more recent generations, not sure why.
It's a very nice dive site. Use caution for the current and waves which can be treacherous. Only go when it's very docile. Rocks may be slippery as well.
After swimming out shallow cove, turn a little north and find the big crack that leads into the actual blow hole. If there's any waves at all, stay away from blow hole. Seriously, people have died in there (usually by getting sucked in from above, though) and you don't want to get stuck inside. Just use your head. If wave action is okay, it's pretty cool dropping down into this itty-bitty canyon.
Pretty good chance to see green sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, octopus and maybe a white-tip shark.

At first glance, Halona Blow Hole appears to be an easy, protected site for both snorkelers and divers.  However, a list of SCUBA fatalities since 1971 shows that more fatalities by far occur at Halona Blow Hole than any other dive site in the state.   First off, the sea cliffs that make this stretch of shoreline so great for diving also precludes any easy exit sites.  This, coupled with the strong current, slippery rocks, waves on the ledges, and lack of lifeguards makes this coast one of the most hazardous on the island.  Be especially careful on this stretch of coast!  The nearest facilities are at Sandy Beach to the North, so take plenty of water.

Halona Blow Hole, on the South Eastern shore,  can be found at a large touristy turn out between Hanauma  Bay and Sandy Beach Park.

Halona Blow Hole

Kea'au Beach is for advanced divers only because of the difficult entry along the lava ledge.  This dive should only be attempted in the calmest seas.  Consult your local dive shop to get the current conditions.

On the Farrington Highway on the West Shore.

Kea'au Beach

Makapu'u Beach Park offers some sensational diving along the cliffs that border the beach end.  When the weather is cooperating, advanced snorkelers will enjoy the challenge, as well.

Makapu'u Beach Park can be found at the Eastern tip of the Island.

Makapu'u Beach Park

 This dive site features the wreck of a barge that was sunk for use as an artificial reef in roughly 90 feet of water, 250 yards off the Kahala Hilton. The wreck, a 200 foot Matson Barge, lies upright and intact with a pilothouse one can penetrate, this makes for amazing photos. Visibility is great due to the currents cleaning the water, but one should take care not to get swept up in them. Overall, one should have some underwater experience before attempting this dive.

Kahala Barge

Koke'e Park is a great public access to a magnificent shelf.  This is sometimes used as an exit point from the next dive site, Koko Kai Park.

Take Kalanianaole Highway (72) East toward Koko Head.  Before heading up the side of Koko Head, turn right on Nawiliwili Street.  After .3 miles turn left onto Poipu Drive.  Bear right.  After .6 miles turn right onto Hanapepe Loop.  Take your first right into the public access.

Koke'e Park

This site is ok, but  probably the best thing about diving Ala Moana is its location. Being right in town, it's nice to do on a leisure.   The bad side about diving is that almost anywhere from Sand Island to Diamond Head is the huge amount of boat traffic. Some boaters don't understand dive flags.

Rainbow Reef

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Rainbow Reef