Island Divers

Located in Honolulu, Island Divers Hawaii has spent over two decades establishing itself as a central point for the Oahu diving community. The centre operates with a focus on local engagement, maintaining the Oahu Scuba Diving Club and participating in marine debris clean-up initiatives alongside the Ocean Defenders Alliance.

Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or are a technical diver seeking rebreather support, the facility is designed for efficiency. The proximity of the fleet is a significant advantage, as the boats depart from the area immediately behind the shop, minimising transit time between the shore and the dive sites.

The team at Island Divers is built around extensive local knowledge and a commitment to marine conservation. They offer a wide range of educational programmes, extending beyond standard certifications into specialised ecology courses, including Manta and Ray Ecology, Shark Ecology, and Sea Turtle Ecology.

Instruction is provided through both SSI and PADI frameworks. For those looking to progress professionally, the centre facilitates Divemaster internships and instructor-level examinations, including Assistant Instructor and Open Water Instructor tracks.

The training programme covers the entire spectrum of scuba diving, from the initial Open Water Diver course through to Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver levels. They also offer specialised training such as the Deep Diver and Wreck Diver courses, as well as Perfect Buoyancy to refine your control.

For those pursuing a professional path, the centre provides Divemaster internships and instructor training examinations. Beyond standard agency courses, they offer unique educational programmes such as Coral Identification, Fish Identification, and Marine Conservation Diving, alongside dedicated Freediving courses.

The fleet consists of six vessels, including the 50′ Seafox, which serves as a primary platform for daily charters. These boats are configured to handle various dive profiles, including night dives and drift dives.

On board, you will find water and snacks provided for the duration of the trip. The logistics are streamlined for divers, with the boats departing directly from the shop location to get you to the reef or wreck sites as quickly as possible.

The centre is fully equipped for shore-based preparation, offering complete kit hire for those travelling without their own equipment. A retail shop is available on-site for those needing to purchase new gear or require servicing for their existing kit.

For technical and extended-duration diving, the facility provides Nitrox and rebreather services. The centre also maintains an on-site swimming pool, which is used to facilitate training and skill development before heading out to the open ocean.

The reefs around Oahu are teeming with life, from large pelagics to intricate macro species. You will regularly encounter green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) patrolling the walls and reef flats.

In the smaller details of the reef, keep an eye out for diverse invertebrates and macro life. The area is home to various nudibranchs, including Blue Dragon and Gold Lace species, as well as Hawaiian octopuses (Octopus vulgaris), garden eels, and various species of frogfish. You may also spot large hairy hermit crabs and various scorpionfish.

The fish populations are diverse, featuring Moorish idols, butterflyfish (Chaetodon), damselfish, and sergeant majors. On the deeper sections or around wrecks, you can find moray eels (Muraenidae), including white-mouth moray eels, alongside snapper and grouper species.

During the months of January to March, you may have the opportunity to see Humpback whales passing through the area.

Diving in Oahu involves a variety of conditions depending on the site. While many locations like Turtle Canyons offer protection from the wind and swell, other areas are better suited for drift diving where light to moderate currents are present.

Sea conditions can vary with winds typically ranging between 10 and 15 knots and swells between 1 and 3 feet. Some sites, particularly those involved in marine debris clean-up along the Portlock wall, may require managing moderate currents during drift dives.