Kauai diving
Kauai is the fourth largest of the Hawaii islands and it is often referred to as the Garden Island. There is both shore diving and boat diving available at different levels. Colorful coral can be seen as well as a multitude of marine life among which are tropical fish, dolphins and Hawaiian green turtles, monk seals and humpback whales.
Always dive according to your level of training. Never enter the water without checking with the local dive center for safety, additional information, level required for each dive site and without being accompanied by a professional. All the information provided is purely informative for our readers and shouldn't be used as is to plan your immersion.
Diving in Kauai always depends on the weather, ocean conditions and the time of year.
The diving and snorkeling opportunities are numerous. Kauai's topography is varied with pinnacles, archways, caves and caverns. There are extensive coral reefs that offer a great habitat for a variety of marine life. Underwater you will be awed at the density of life and the beauty of the corals.
Both novices and experienced divers will find their pick of dive sites. The north and south shores offers suitable diving for novices and snorkelers while the more advanced divers might want to head for east and western shores. On the advanced dives you can explore Kauai's lava tubes and caves.
An interesting place to visit, mostly suited for snorkelers and novices, but which advanced divers might want to see is Turtle Haven. As the name suggests, this site has an abundance of Green Sea Turtles which makes it special. It is a very shallow dive and has a spectacular coral garden.
Hanaka'ape Bay is another easy dive site that will appeal not only to novices but also for experienced divers. It is a shallow dive but very rich in aquatic life.
Advanced divers could look at Lehua Rock (an extinct volcano) and Ni'ihau (the forbidden island). These two sites are very close to each other, separated by about a quarter mile of water. Ni'ihau has superb wall dives, caves, lava formations, swim throughs and scores of marine creatures.
There are also the Ni'ihau arches which are a set of underwater caves. Look out for spinner dolphins, spotted eagle rays, Hawaiaan reef fish, Galapagos sharks, grey reef sharks, monk seals and manta rays just to mention a few. Humpback whales can be seen during the season which runs from December to April.
Lehua Rock is shaped like a horseshoe and it's a shallow and relaxing dive. It's usually done after Ni'ihau since they are so close. Layers of lava are visible well below the surface. The visibilty here, 200 feet (61 metres), is great and there is plenty of tropical fish and Hawaaian monk seals.
On the eastern shore you can dive Dragon's Head and Black Coral Arch. However these sites are rarely visited because of the tradewinds. On the western side you can dive the Mana Crack. This is a wall dive for advanced divers. Although this site is seldom visited it is a fantastic dive.
There is a wide variety of colorful coral and plenty of marine life. Encounters with whales, dolphins, jacks and sharks are common. Depth ranges from 50 – 90 feet (15-27 metres)
You want to start diving and certified? No problem, you can rent the necessary equipment while in Kauai and take instruction at any of the diving schools. You can also continue your diving education here to reach higher levels. The dive guides and instructors will also help you plan your dive excursions according to your level of expertise and wishes.
