Small-group Deep Dive In Oahu With Shipwreck And Reef

As a PADI-certified diver since 2009, I have logged consistent dive travel experience—averaging two to three dive trips per year through 2020. While travel slowed for obvious global reasons after that period, I have continued diving, albeit at a less frequent pace. I share this context to underscore that I approach dive operations with both enthusiasm and a seasoned understanding of safety protocols, logistics, and guest experience expectations. Overall, Hawaiian Diving operates with high-quality equipment and a well-maintained vessel. The boat was in excellent condition, and all gear was prepared and assembled prior to departure. I appreciated that my equipment was fully set up upon arrival. I conducted my standard safety checks—verifying air levels and regulator functionality—and everything was in proper working order. The captain and crew were professional, courteous, and clearly experienced. Our group consisted of four divers, the boat captain, a dive master, and an assistant in training. The dive master requested verbal confirmation of certification from each diver, which I appreciated as an important baseline safety step. Our first dive was planned as a deep dive. Sea conditions were fairly rough that morning, and upon arrival at the site we experienced a prolonged wait while the boat was being knocked around. I later learned that this particular dive site allows only one vessel to tie up and descend at a time. While I fully respect marine management protocols, advance communication of this expectation would have helped set expectations—particularly given the surface conditions, where extended waiting can become physically taxing. On a personal note, I want to be candid. As a woman navigating menopause, I have experienced weight changes that required me to reassess my usual dive weighting. I acknowledged to the crew that the weights I previously dove with might no longer be sufficient. The boat captain was gracious in assisting with adjusting my BCD, which was not appropriately sized for me. I appreciated the willingness to help ensure proper fit and comfort. However, there were two operational elements that gave me pause. First, we were not formally paired with designated dive buddies prior to entry. I was the last diver to enter the water, and when I surfaced-ready to descend, the dive master and assistant remained at the surface while informing me that another diver had already gone down. Second, the weights provided to me proved insufficient for descent. Proper weighting is critical—particularly on a deep dive and in rough surface conditions—and ideally should be confirmed prior to entry to ensure smooth, safe descent and team cohesion. I offer this feedback constructively. Hawaiian Diving has strong operational fundamentals: quality equipment, a capable and attentive captain, and a courteous crew. With more proactive communication regarding site logistics, formalized buddy assignments before water entry, and tighter verification of weighting—especially for deep dives—the overall experience could align even more closely with best-in-class dive operations. I remain appreciative of the crew’s professionalism and the quality of the vessel. With refinements in communication and dive sequencing, this operation is well-positioned to deliver a consistently exceptional and confidence-inspiring experience.

The pre-booking experience from the UK with Caleb was great to begin with although we had no response to requests nearer the time. The location was great for us as we were within decent walking distance and Josiah very kindly looked after all our kit, either on board or hung our wetsuits up in the shop, saving us a load of grief. The boat was quite small and they were pretty busy but the dives were in small group, thankfully. Josiah guided us well. We dived with them for three days. We saw wrecks, "pipelines" and reefs. However, we did the same dives twice/three times and so jumped ship and moved to another operator.

Spent 3 days diving with Hawaiian Diving Adventurea and cannot recommend them enough! Caleb, Josiah and Callum were excellent Dive Masters and made sure we haf amazing dives. Safety was a top priority and so was the experience we had. We saw so many amazing things under the water and can’t wait to come back! Another big thanks to Captain D for driving The Beach so well! We saw turtles, dolphins, eels, Eagle Rays, and so much more! Book your next dive with them and you won’t be sorry!

We had an amazing dive trip! There were fish and turtles galore. The crew were very knowledgeable and helpful, thank you Demetrius and Rachel. And my husband and I were the only ones on the boat with them so it was perfect with our own private tour. I highly recommend the company and these dives!

I had an amazing experience diving with Hawaiian Diving Adventures for my wreck dive in Hawaii. The team was top-notch from start to finish. Caleb, my instructor, was simply the best—super chill, peaceful, confident, and just a lovely person to work with. He made the entire dive feel safe and relaxed, and his passion for diving really shone through. Not only was the wreck dive incredible, but I also got my Advanced Open Water certification done with them, and it couldn’t have been smoother. The entire crew made me feel welcome and comfortable, and the whole experience exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for a dive shop in Hawaii, Hawaiian Diving Adventures is the way to go. Thanks, Caleb and the team, for making it unforgettable! 🌺🤿

Amazing crew, very flexible to the needs of their customers and very knowledge about their dive sites. The guide on our dive spotted things I would have completely missed because of how small it well hidden they were. Looking forward to diving with them the next time I come to Oahu.

Unfortunately, I had terrible experience with this company. They called the day before and cancelled my trip because I was the only client. I understand that would have been a loss for them, but as a business owner I know that sometimes you have to take a hit to build your business. When they called and offered to reschedule for the next day I initially said yes but I quickly realized that would put me within 13 hours of my red eye flight back home, which would put me at risk for decompression sickness. I texted and called to see if I could get on a night dive or something earlier but no one would answer my texts (even though they texted me first) or answer their main line. Oddly enough, I never heard from them again. They didn't even reschedule my booking. I also noticed they marked my cancelled trip on Viator as complete and charged my card. I finally got a hold of them 45 minutes before the scheduled dive. I kept trying so I wouldn't hold up the group with them waiting for me. They were pretty nonchalant about the whole thing. I asked about a refund and they said I'd have to work it out with Viator. I asked about a refund for the cost of checking my scuba gear and they have so far not responded to that request. I have no idea if these guys are capable guides, but I can definitely say they are not reliable or responsive as a business.

Just finished 6 dives with Hawaiian diving adventures. Dove on the YO-257 and the Sea Tiger along with multiple reefs. All were great. I showed up one morning, set up my gear and found my computer wouldn’t turn on. Ed went above and beyond getting me switched to a different day and bringing gear for me to use on that day. I can’t thank him enough for that. The crew, boat and dive masters were all great.

What a fantastic team. I have gone out with them at least 15 times now. I will continue to dive with this great company. So much fun.

Caleb and Captain Dimitri were very helpful and easy to dive with. Dove on the YO and the Sea Tiger!! I would use these folks again!!

Awesome deep dive on the Sea Tiger wreck guided by Paige, followed by a shallow dive at the pipeline . Nice small group , swim through on the wreck and a nice shark lying on the sand followed by the biggest turtles I’ve ever seen at the pipeline. Paige was a great dive guide would highly recommend these guys

My wife and I booked 8 dives with Andrew and his team. They were all very friendly and knowledgeable. We book 4 dives per day but during the second day, my wife didn't feel well and Andrew was willing for us to come back another day to finish our dives. Great experience, saw many different animals during our dives.

These guys are great! Hands down the best diving company in Oahu. I have dove with a couple of others, and Hawaiian Diving Adventures are not only knowledgeable and friendly but also have a strong focus on safety. I completed my Advanced Adventurer Certification with them (i.e., three 2-tank dives), and every time I had a great experience. They have their own boat with small groups. They also had enough instructors/dive masters on the boat to make even the least experienced divers feel safe). I can compare this experience with completing my Nitrox Certification with another provider in Oahu, and it’s night and day in terms of customer service, professionalism and safety. Highly recommended! Thanks Evan, Bailey and Andrew for a great time!

My wife and I recently dove with this charter. Great dive experience with a lot of life to see! Dana and crew were very accommodating and are experts in what they do. Would definitely dive here again and recommend to others!

Absolutely the best on the island. I have dived with 3-4 other shops on Oahu and this crew knows what they are doing. The equipment is top notch, the attention is personal and the groups are small. First trip with them was the afternoon 2 reef dives. I enjoy these types of dives as they are typically longer, go at a slower pace which suits me as an amateur photographer. While students and beginners are frequently on the afternoons, that's not a problem for me. Everyone has to learn at some point, and I'm not perfect. Beautiful coral gardens, abundance of fish, turtles, a white tip shark and even endemic green lionfish and a Whitley's (!!!) boxfish. Second trip, owner suggested I take the morning wreck and reef. So glad I did. Stellar diving, good vis, and safe wreck swim throughs with frogfish and turtles. Again, the reef was like above, this time with a saddleback butterflyfish, more lionfish, turtles and nudis. Please enjoy their aloha hospitality and a hui hou! PS as an older woman, diving single, I was treated wonderfully.

Had a great experience and an awesome dive! My friend and I have been with them for three dives now and we highly recommend. Caleb does a great job keeping you safe while also showing you great dive spots on Oahu. Saw lots of sea life and had so much fun!

My teen boys went out with Caleb and Captain Grace right before Christmas 2020. We had the boat to ourselves. After seeing the boys' abilities on the first dive, Caleb didn't hesitate to challenge them on the second dive. The crew was flexible and adapted to circumstances. Caleb could spot the coolest things at the dive sites. Great choice for a dive company in the heart of Honolulu. Parking was easy in the morning, with the lot right next to the marina.

We did our wreck diving certification with Hawaiian Diving Adventures and enjoyed the experience so much we booked a second day of diving. The whole team is great, very experienced and knowledgeable, and their knowledge of the dive sites is excellent. The boat and the scuba equipment were in very good condition. I would highly recommend diving with them!

I completed a total of 6 dives. The crew has been amazing, very attentive and lots of fun to be around. Had a great time and can recommend, especially the wreck dives are fantastic. I will do this dive again because it was so much fun. COVID-19 precautions were taken.

Great captain. Great dive instructors. Great small group. Perfect. My guide found two Desirable Nudibranchs on the wreck....

I haven't dove in 10 years and while I was here for work, I decided to go diving. We dove a shipwreck and then the pipeline / reef. I had an amazing day and got to see so many different things like sharks, stingrays, eels, and huge turtles. The instructor took such good care of me since I was a little nervous cause its been so long. Would definitely recommend them for anyone who wants to go diving.

Did the shipwreck/reef dives, they were both fun and got to see plenty of cool fish and several sea turtles. The crew was cool and easy going. Abby was the guide for both dives; she was super cool, knowledgeable, and professional.

I went out with HDA two years ago on the late morning shallow dives. This time I did the early morning deep dives, including a wreck and a reef dive. I highly recommend HDA. Keith,our captain, and Caleb,our dive guide, were personable and attentive. There were just two of us diving with Caleb, and he made sure we had excellent dives. I rented equipment from them, and it was in great shape. I'll go with them again and highly recommend HDA! Malaho,guys!

The dive crew was fantastic. I would recommend them to anyone and will go again when in Oahu. We were the only people at both dive sites so it was a great experience. The knowledge and eyes of the dive master were incredible. I could not speak more highly about this wonderful experience.

Great and solid dive company to dive with always go out of their way to show you all the cool Critters and stuff in this league highly recommend you won't be disappointed

I've been diving with HDA a few times now and it's always been great. The crew is fun and super knowledgeable about the different spots around the island and where to find amazing wildlife. They will make sure you have a fun, safe and overall memorable diving experience. And most importantly for me: Small-Group Dive actually means small group, which makes the whole trip so much more fun. Mahalo and see you soon!

Visited the Sea Tiger, 2nd day in a row. What a difference an enthusiastic dive master makes compared to the other outfit. Personable, fun crew, all the safety you’d expect. Turned out to be a 1:1 private dive and Susanna revealed all the underwater detail that made for a great experience, in contrast to the diffidence of the other outfit the previous day. I highly recommend them!!

It had been quite a while since my last dive. Caleb ran through some questions while on the way to the dive site. Once underwater he ran me through a couple of tasks, and it was just like riding a bike. Caleb was great saw turtles, a shark, he found an octopus. They were great and I highly recommend them. Did four dives with them over two days. Had a blast.

I have been diving with HDA on my trips to Oahu for several years now and they continue to provide GREAT service and memorable dives. Being a SCUBA instructor for the last 25 years I have made dives with many companies and find HDA to be among the best time and time again. Thanx Andrew, Caleb and the rest of the crew. I will be back.

We hadn’t been diving for about 12 months, and were new to diving then! We did 6 dives with Nater and the dive guides, Caleb and Landon. Everyone knows what they are doing and most of all, they are fun to be around. Caleb took us on our first four dives, with my first one being a problem where I felt a bit panicky and uncomfortable after not diving for a while - Caleb was nothing but patient. He helped coach me through everything and the debriefs were extremely helpful. The highlight had to be a 100ft dive to a shipwreck. My first ever deep dive, which I was nervous about - again Caleb and the rest of the crew made us feel nothing but happy and comfortable. Landon took us on our second deep dive and a navigation dive - again, knowledgable and fun. We can’t wait to come back and dive with these guys again.

Susanna was very professional and experienced diver who was able to show us a lot of interesting things as we dove down to the Sea Tiger wreck and Horseshoe Reef. Fresh pineapple and Goldfish crackers provided between dives. Great for those who like small groups and friendly service.

Great dives last week with Hawaiian Diving Adventures! Sharks, turtles, Rey’s, and eels!! Great dive shop, nice rental gear, and excellent dive masters, highly recommend!

We’ve dived on all the Hawaiian islands except Oahu. So we decided to give this a try and had a great time! Location: they don’t have a dive shop, but booking and questions was quickly answered via cellphone. Their boat is docked at Kewalo basin Harbor, which is the waterfront just past Ala Moana shopping center (20 mins from Waikiki). Parking: there are city run pay parking lots nearby that’s reasonable (coins or credit cards only). If you’re lucky, there’s some free parking along the side of the road as well. Boat/Equipment: their boat comfortable seats 8, has a tarp covering front half of boat. Dive platform in the back and you can also go off the two sides (giant stride). We had our own gear, so only needed air (they offer Nitrox). Diving: we did 2 days of diving with them. A night dive (deep wreck, then shallow reef), and a 2 tank daytime dive (deep wreck and then reef). Dive location: it was such a pleasure to dive so close to shore, a short 15 mins boat ride. We dove ahead of Hurricane Olivia with no issues. Amenities: there’s a small head below deck (did not use). They offer hot chocolate, water, snacks and pineapple. Depending on the dive guide, they may not setup your gear for you or switch tanks for you. But if you ask, they’re happy to do it. Night Dive: Wreck: Sea Tiger Dive max out at 110 ft to the sea floor, we stayed at deck level around 80-90 ft. Lots of little fishes and the largest sea turtle we’ve ever seen. Visibility was good. Reef: Horseshoe was a nice shallow 45 ft shallow dive. Saw squid, lots of reef fish, the rare dragon eel. While shallow, there was a lot of surge here. Day Dive: due to Hurricane coming in, we did the same wreck as our first dive. But it was still awesome, saw white tip sharks, turtle and lots of nudibranch. The reef dive was awesome, saw large pod dolphins in the surface interval. Saw octopus and spotted ray on the dive. Dive guide: awesome at spotting small stuff and nice slow guiding. But gives us plenty of room to roam a bit as well. We were 4 divers the first night and 3 divers the second day. Loved them and would absolutely dive with them again.

I did my first post-certification dive with Andrew. Andrew is an excellent guide! He was fun, personable, clear, concise, and positive. We saw a lot of amazing things thanks to his suggestions and were really able to get the most out of our day of scuba. Andrew also answered a lot of questions I had about how to approach training and certification. He provided very thoughtful and honest answers, and gave a lot of helpful information about what I needed. He was honest about what I did NOT need to do, which was great because he saved me money (that he would have earned from me). In addition to being a great teacher, Andrew is a great person to ask advice when you're out on the boat. I highly recommend diving with him!

Hawaiian Diving Adventures continues to be an awesome group to go diving with.They are very accomodating to the needs and wishes of their guest divers. I have been diving with them for several years now and I will be back on their boat again in the future.