Oahu scuba diving: two kinds of dive on two coasts
Oahu scuba diving comes in two very different outings. The beginner dives start from the beach at Magic Island in Ala Moana Beach Park, beside Waikiki, and need no certification. Only the Magic Island dives put a tank on your back.
Prices as of November 2026, per person: $85 and $89 for the two beginner dives. The real choice is what you want to see: a reef from the sand, or sharks from a cage.
Our picks: Oahu scuba diving
Two beginner dives at Magic Island for $85 and $89.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
North Shore shark cage dive, 2 hours
- Snorkeling equipment
- Shark cage diving
- Expert crew
No diving or snorkel experience is needed, and guests must be 5 or older. You climb the cage ladder under your own strength.
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Shark cage dive with local guides
- Bottled water
- Snorkeling equipment
A boat with six or twelve guests that goes about three miles out from Haleiwa. Check-in is 30 minutes before departure.
Check availability →Shark cage dive from Haleiwa Harbor
- Snorkeling equipment
- Shark dive experience
- Expert crew
Shark cage dive off the North Shore
A boat trip from Haleiwa with a guide. The cage dive and the snorkel gear are only included with the dive option.
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Beginner scuba dive with videos at Magic Island
- Professional guide
- All gear and equipment
- Complimentary videos
A guided dive from the beach with no certification needed. Check-in is 30 minutes before the start, and guests must be 10 or older.
Check availability →Beginner scuba dive in Magic Island Lagoon
- Scuba equipment
You walk from the parking lot to the site, about five minutes, and check in 30 minutes before.
Check availability →Oahu scuba diving tours
Beginner dives at Magic Island and shark cage trips from Haleiwa, with current availability and prices.
Beginner scuba diving at Magic Island
Both beginner dives meet at Magic Island Lagoon 30 minutes before the start. Park in the lot at the base of the park and walk the path to the end of the island, about five minutes. Look for the scuba tanks and gear.
The briefing happens on the shore, and you practise first in hip-deep water. The guided dive begins once you feel sure of the basics. Both dives accept guests from age 10, with no experience and no certification. Gear is provided. The $89 dive adds complimentary videos, and the $85 dive lists its scuba equipment. Bring a swimsuit, a towel and sunscreen, and fill in the online waiver before you arrive.
Shark cage diving on the North Shore
The half-day boat sells the cage dive as an option, so choose that option if the cage is why you came.
One operator asks for no diving or snorkel experience. You do need to climb down and back up a vertical ladder under your own strength. That operator takes guests from age 5, and another sells a child ticket for ages 3 to 13. One boat carries six or twelve guests, and check-in is 30 minutes before departure. A wetsuit is not necessary and none is rented, so bring a towel, dry clothes and sunscreen, plus a windbreaker for the ride.
The trips run year round. Early departures usually have the calmer wind, and later ones can be cancelled. Rain alone does not cancel a trip.
Which dive suits you
Anyone from 10 who wants to breathe underwater takes a Magic Island dive. Families with younger children can use the shark boats. If you prefer to stay near the surface, compare the turtle boats on our Oahu snorkeling page.
Health, flying and weather
The standard diver medical questionnaire calls for a doctor's opinion if you have heart or lung problems, asthma, or ear and sinus problems, and an illness is a reason to stay out of the water. Pregnancy is a reason not to scuba dive.
After a single dive, divers are advised to wait at least 12 hours before a flight, and at least 18 hours after several dives or dive days. One helicopter operator on our Oahu helicopter tours page asks for 24 hours after scuba. If the operator cancels a Magic Island dive for weather, you are offered another time or a full refund.
Oahu scuba diving: practical questions
How much does scuba diving cost on Oahu?
The two beginner dives cost $85 and $89 per person.
Do I need a certification to dive?
No. The Magic Island dives are for beginners from age 10, and the shark cage trips use a mask and snorkel inside a cage.
Can I fly after diving?
Wait at least 12 hours after one dive and at least 18 hours after several.