Oahu

Hawaii

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)

Fifteen minutes from Haleiwa Harbor at the east end of Dillingham Airfield is a finger of the Wailalua Wall which stretches seaward. On that plateau, about half a mile offshore, rests a large wash rock. The position for diving in varied topography is marked by Devil's Rock which rises four to five feet above the surface. The inshore rock drops suddenly to a sandy bottom and a depth of 70 feet. There are frequent turtle sightings at this spot. One can find shells (such as tiger cowries) in the few 5 to 10 vertical cracks, although these hide the resident lobsters. The washrock provides an excellent snorkeling spot and is also coated in healthy corals. On the seaward side the drop falls to 90 feet and is a good spot for dolphins in the summer and whales in the spring.

Devil's Rock

Big turtles can be found here.

Fairly close to Baby Barge.

Fantasy Reef

See my review below. -- Stephen Porter

From h-1 west travel to H-2 north, On H-2 north to Mililani/Wahiawa take exit 8 (right) to Wahiawa/Kamehameha highway (approx 12 miles to Pupukea Beach park/Fire House) Comments for Pictures below: pic#1 At this light turn left pic#2 Across the street from food land pic#3 Pupukea park (before the fire house (station) pic#4 Park here, Try to arrive early. On the far end of the parking lot there are bathrooms, but no shower. There is a spigot to rinse gear. The closest showers are at Shark's Cove.

Fire House

Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach Park is just to the West of the harbor.  It is an alternate entry site for Hale'iwa shore dive. Enter at the right of the trench (looking makai) and swim to trench and descend to avoid stepping on the coral. Off Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore in the Hale'iwa area.

Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach

Hale'iwa Beach Park is another family oriented beach with all the facilities.  Snorkeling is good here, but the diving requires a good kick for about 150 yards.

Off Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore in the Hale'iwa area.

Hale'iwa Beach Park

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

What is there that hasn't already been said about Hanauma Bay?  Divers' paradise, excellent diving, friendly marine life, etc.  Unfortunately, the
overcrowding of this popular site has caused major environmental impact and has necessitated the implementation of many conservation measures.  As crowded as this place is, it now has only one-third the attendance it used to have before restrictions were passed in 1990.  Parking, and access to the beach is controlled, and volunteer docents try to educate the visitors so additional damage is avoided.  One of our greatest concerns is the trampling of the reef.  Although numerous signs are posted, it still constantly occurs.  Although there's not too much live coral inside of the reef, other living organisms inhabit the zone, and it is basic diver etiquette to avoid touching any reef.

Take Kalanianaole Highway (72) East to Koko Head.  At the top of the hill, turn right into Hanauma Bay.

Hanauma Bay

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 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

Kahe Point Beach Park (also known as Electric Beach) offers diving for all skill levels.  The entry is very easy, you'll find a covered shelter, and all the facilities to make for a pleasant dive.

On the South West corner of the Farrington Highway on the West Shore.

Kahe Point Beach Park

I had 2 great dives. During the first, one a seal came along for the whole dive -- very cool!  Very nice place, but no washrooms, so plan ahead.

Waimea Bay (wall)

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Waimea Bay (wall)