Oahu diving suggestions

[sumner_h]

My boyfriend and I are going to Oahu the second week in May with friends and are staying in a house on the north shore and Aaron's dive shop is the closest dive shop to us that I am aware of. I have my advanced certification but my boyfriend just became certified.
I was wondering 1) if anyone could recommend Aaron's Dive Shop or a dive shop that isn't too difficult to get to, 2) which shipwreck you would recommend to charter 3) a good night dive site to charter 4) and a relatively easy shore dive for me to take him on since he's a beginner --I was thinking maybe Kahe Beach Park or Shark's Cove on the North Shore
Thanks for your input!

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Just bumping this a little, perhaps to induce clarification. The north "side" of Oahu is "broken" into two pieces; Windward and North Shore. It is kind of funny, that you could be at a North Shore dive site and looking directly North is a bunch of houses, while standing on a Windward beach looking north all you see is ocean, but you are not on the North Shore.

Kailua is Windward; Haleiwa is North Shore.

 

[smellzlikefish]

Hi Sumner-

1) Aaron's runs a solid shop that is nowhere near the north shore. If I was staying up North I would rent tanks at Deep Ecology in Haleiwa.

2) Oahu has a lot of wrecks, but often you don't get to choose which one to go to, just where you leave from and the conditions choose from there. I'd depart from Kewalo Basin where they'll take you to the Sea Tiger or the YO-257. Both are large ships with lots to explore.

3) I like Haleiwa Trench (which can be a shore dive) for night dives. Read the parking signs so your car doesn't get locked into the park.

4) Either Shark's Cove or Kahe Point would be perfect for him. As always, watch the conditions.

 

[smellzlikefish]

Well put, Hale. That confuses a lot of people.

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

Hi Sumner-

1) Aaron's runs a solid shop that is nowhere near the north shore. If I was staying up North I would rent tanks at Deep Ecology in Haleiwa.

2) Oahu has a lot of wrecks, but often you don't get to choose which one to go to, just where you leave from and the conditions choose from there. I'd depart from Kewalo Basin where they'll take you to the Sea Tiger or the YO-257. Both are large ships with lots to explore.

3) I like Haleiwa Trench (which can be a shore dive) for night dives. Read the parking signs so your car doesn't get locked into the park.

4) Either Shark's Cove or Kahe Point would be perfect for him. As always, watch the conditions.

+ 1.

Deep Ecology offers equipment for rent, and (assuming traffic's not too badly backed up) it's only a 15-minute drive to awesome dive sites like Shark's Cove, Firehouse, Three Tables, and groovy locales in Waimea Bay. (It's very close to Haleiwa Trench, though!). Those North Shore sites are a good hour away from Kailua, where Aaron's is located. Some dive shops also offer guided North Shore dives during the summer season, if you prefer to go that route. In any event, shorediving the North Shore is wonderful - you won't be disappointed. Good for night-dives, too. If you can time a night-dive with the full moon, that's utter perfection. One night-dive in Shark's Cove, I lost count of the number of eels we saw, and had to resort to counting species!

Kahe Point is a decent place for easy shore-dives, but it's a hike from the North Shore. Got to drive down the middle of the island before joining up with the coastal road that takes you up to Kahe Point.

 

[scottitheduck]

All good info here...... best to rent gear from DE and just cruise and dive on the North Shore. As far as wrecks go there are many so it's best to book with an operator that can get you out on multiple boats to access all that you want to see (YO and Seatiger in town, Corsair and barges in Hawaii Kai and Mahi and LCU's on the Westside). I wonder who could arrange something like that........ hmmmmm.....

Hope to see you out blowing bubbles soon.

G

 

[ScubaWulf]

I just recently dove with some of Gabe's divers and had a great time. Ended up doing the Sea Tiger twice. Glad we did because the conditions were perfect the second time around. Current was kicking some the first time. Second time you could almost see the wreck from the surface cause it was so clear. Water was like a lake. Coming up I did my safety stop just floating near the boat and not having to hold on to anything and not floating away at all. I also did Sharks Cove. It was a little rough going in and out since this was my first shore dive. Once underwater there was a nice back and forth surge which felt like a swinging gently on a swing. That may not be for everybody but I got a kick out of it. You can really feel the ocean wrapped around you like that. More of a living thing instead of just a body of water. Wanted to say thanks again Gabe.

Jeff

 

[sumner_h]

Thanks for the clarification. I think that we are actually on the windward side (north end of Kahana Valley State Park) and we are about 23 to 24 miles from both Deep Ecology and Aaron's. We aren't conveniently located near any dive shop. Since Aaron's is actually closer according to google and we can save around $50 or more I'll probably go with them.
Thanks for all the great input and advice!

 

[sumner_h]

Thanks Gabe! Your website looks great and I appreciate your input. I wish we weren't so far away from you guys.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

It would be interesting to hear how "going with Aaron's" will save you $50.