Shore Dives
Kahe Point/Electric Beach
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Take the HI West to Farrington Hwy (90) west. The park is on the right across from the electrical power plant.
All. (used for ow classes regularly and also spearfishing)
15-40ft
Parking lot, covered pavilion w/tables, cold shower, restrooms
Enter behind restrooms from the beach. Keep to the right to avoid being pushed up on the rocks. The area has many sandy areas as well as reefs. Directly out from the power stacks/towers(?) are the outflow pipes. The back side has coral growth and many fish and turtles are there, and the occasional eagle ray. . Be careful of the outflow...keep to the bottom as the current is strong. See the links below for more detail.
Site map this is from a video housing website, and a pretty good map of the dive. These are some photos we've taken at Electric Beach... pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4
Tracks Beach
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Right past Electric Beach, look for the lifeguard tower.
All.
15-50ft
none------highly recommended that you have a beach watch for your vehicle
Basically the same as Electric, minus the pipes. Reefs and sand, but in better shape as it isn't used for classes as heavily as Electric. Enter and exit from the shoreline.
none at this time.....
Shark's Cove
On the North Shore, past the Waimea Beach, right past the firestation.
all
about 50ft, most areas near the swim throughs being shallower
fresh/coldwater shoers, restrooms
A fun dive! Lots of juveniles here, as well as swim throughs/lava tubes. Enter on the small beach...watch for the rocks. Straight out is a sandy area and to the right you will find lots of swim throughs to explore. Pretty shallow in most spots so lots of bottom time. Note: this site is protected...don't take anything but photos please!!! Great night dive as well.
zip at the moment--too much backscatter in the last batch of photos.
also nearby: firehouse (the firestation I mentioned above) and three tables...the first turnoff after Waimea Beach (I haven't dove these two, but my understanding is they are pretty similar...most like Shark's Cove better than tables, and firehouse the best)
Please read this article on local conerns of diver's impacts of Shark's Cove!!!!!!!
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Portlock
In Hawaii Kai, not far from Hanauma Bay. Send me an email for specific directions.
Intermediate/Advanced
not sure the max, the area we dove the max depth was 40ft
none, but there's gas stations and a McD's not far away
Great!!! Alot depends on the waves...if the current is really strong or the waves to high do not attempt this dive!!! The entry is a trek across the smooth lavaflow then a ~5ft jump down into about 20 or so feet of water. If you follow the wall seaward there are lots of little ledges and crannies to explore. Lots of turtles and fish here, and friends did a night dive here and spotted a sleeping reef shark in one of the overhangs.
none yet...didn't bring the camera on that one (we brought the housing...just no camera-oops)
Skin Diver Magazine had an article in their 2/2000 mag in the I learned section about this site. You can view it by clicking under "Education" on the section: "I learned" on the side bar and looking for "Current trouble". It can be a difficult dive if the currents strong, but it can be an absolutely amazing dive otherwise. I would recommend going with someone who knows the site for your first time.
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Haunama Bay
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Hawaii Kai (H1East till it ends, follow the road and look for the signs)
all
10ft inside the main reef, up to 80ft outside
you name it...restrooms, shower, rentals (snorkel gear only...no tanks)
there are several "sites" here, the inner reef, telephone cable channel, withches brew, and toilet bowl, these being in order of skill level. Lots of life here...too much in some opinions. They used to allow fish feeding so lots of fat fish. Turtles, eels, stars, urchins, sometimes if your lucky larger fish from beyone the bay make their way in. Arrive early, they only allow so many cars to park and it fills up fast with tourists (not many divers). Also...take the tram down and up....its worth the money! I think it was $1 a person and $2 for tanks and also a charge for your gearbag too...it was around $4 down, and then back up they charge $2 a person but the gear was the same price. Like I said...its worth it...LONG hike with heavy gear is no fun!!!
We didn't have our cam yet so no pics, but there are lots of sites on Hanauma Bay if you do a search. Also, pick up the book "Exploring Hanauma Bay" by Susan Scott. It describes each dive site pretty good and even has a decent ID of the many fish, invertebraes and life you'll encounter there (and elsewhere in Oahu).
Pray for Sex Beach
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Wainaie Coast...follow Farrington forever it seems. After you pass through Wainaie and Makaha, you'll see a cave on the right. About 300yds there will be a dirt road on the left, take the split to the left (the right goes to the actual beach). Park and there will be a finger reef to your left.
all, but the entry/exit can be tricky at times
varies
absolutely none...the closet bathroom is up the road (towards town) at a beach park
giant stride in from the left of the reef and you can either stay near the shore line and explore all the little ledges or if you swim straight out from the point of the reef there is a site called the ampitheatre which is very nice. Lots of fish, eels, turtles, shrimp, and if your lucky dolphins, sharks, and maybe whales in season. The exit is on the left of the finger reef...watch the waves before you dive...you'll see the spot where the waves push on on some smooth lava. This is your exit, wait for a wave and walk right out. Do not dive this site if the waves are kicking!!!!
View our pictures from our last camping/diving trip here. And in case your wondering...there is a rock on the beach that was tagged with "Pray for Sex" hence the name. It does have a Hawaiian name, but I have no clue what it is, and everyone I know refers to it as pray for sex.
There are so many shore diving opportunities on Oahu it is unreal!! Anywhere the waves are flat you can dive in!!! To check out more shore dives visit my *new* and growing shore dives page 2.
Boat Dives
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