Hawaii dive sites
United States · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
April-October, Year-round, April–October, April-November
Skill Levels
intermediate, beginner, all-levels
Nearby Cities
Kailua-Kona, Kihei, Lahaina, Maui
All dive sites
First Cathedrals
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
A spectacular lava tube cavern off Lanai's south shore where shafts of sunlight pierce through ceiling openings, creating an ethereal cathedral effect that makes this Hawaii's most iconic cavern dive.
Manta Ray Night Dive (Garden Eel Cove)
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
A mesmerising night dive where giant manta rays perform barrel rolls inches from divers drawn to plankton spotlights.
Molokini Crater
Maui · Hawaii · United States
Volcanic crescent crater with protected marine preserve. Crystal visibility and diverse Hawaiian marine life.
Molokini Crater
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
A submerged volcanic crescent off Maui with gin-clear 45-metre visibility, 250 fish species, and a dramatic 110-metre back wall.
Dive centers in Hawaii
Island Divers Hawaii
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Oahu dive center offering wreck, reef, and shore dives on the leeward coast, including the Sea Tiger wreck.
Reef Pirates Diving
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Charter dive operation from Honolulu harbor with south shore lava tubes and turtles.
Big Island Divers
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Established Kona dive center with daily reef trips and manta night dives on the Big Island.
Jack's Diving Locker
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Legendary Kona dive center since 1981, famous for manta ray night dives on Hawaii's Big Island.
Kona Diving Company
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Big Island dive operator famous for manta ray night dives and crystal-clear Kona Coast waters.
Maui Dreams Dive Co
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
PADI 5-Star center in Kihei, Maui, offering Molokini Crater and Turtle Town dives.
Extended Horizons
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Eco-conscious PADI center in Lahaina offering sustainable diving along Maui's west coast.
Extended Horizons Scuba
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Eco-conscious Maui dive operator with small-group shore and boat dives along West Maui's volcanic coastline.
Ocean Concepts Scuba
Wailea · Hawaii · United States
Full-service Maui dive shop in Kihei with daily boat dives to Molokini Crater and South Maui reef sites.
Maui Diving - Scuba & Snorkel Center
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
In2Scuba Diving Maui Dive Co.
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Maui Diving- Scuba & Snorkel Center
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Yonegan Pro-Diver Maui
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Dive Maui / Hawaiian Rafting Adventures
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Aloha Maui Diving
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Tiny Bubbles Scuba
Makawao · Hawaii · United States
Banyan Tree Divers Maui
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Destination Diving and Snorkel Maui
Front St #126 · Hawaii · United States
Scuba Luv Maui
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Island Style Diving
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Limitless Dive Co. Maui
Wailea · Hawaii · United States
Scuba Shack
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Black Rock Scuba
Lahaina · Hawaii · United States
Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
NeverDry Divers
Kihei · Hawaii · United States
Kona Honu Divers
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Aquatic Life Divers, Kona
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
KONA SHORE DIVERS
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Freedivers
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Manta Ray Dives of Hawai‘i
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Big Island Scuba & Repair
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Diving Company Huaka'i Boat
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Honu Divers Boat Slip
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Jack's Diving Locker (Harbor Store and Boat Trips)
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Big Island Divers (Olapa,Luu, Kahanuola)
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Diving EcoAdventures
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kona Ocean Adventures
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Dive.Travel.World.
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Pacific Rim Divers Ltd
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Kohala Divers
Waimea · Hawaii · United States
Hawaiian Scuba Shack
Kailua-Kona · Hawaii · United States
Dive Oahu, Inc.
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
WAIKIKI DIVE CENTER
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Ola ParaDive Scuba Oahu
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Hawaii Dive Center
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Aloha Scuba Diving Company
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Dive Oahu - Kewalo Basin Harbor
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Dive Oahu (Inside the NEX Garden Center)
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Westside Dive, Kunia
Waipahu · Hawaii · United States
Waikiki Dive Center
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Hawaii Eco Divers
Haleiwa · Hawaii · United States
Aaron's Dive Shop
Kailua · Hawaii · United States
Hawaiian Diving Adventures
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Green Dolphin Dive Shop
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Honolulu Scuba Company
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Kaimana Divers
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Manny's Diving Adventures
Honolulu · Hawaii · United States
Honolulu Scuba Company West
Waianae · Hawaii · United States
Diving in Hawaii
Hawaii offers cavern, reef, wall dive sites across 4 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
What is the difference between First and Second Cathedrals?
First Cathedrals is the larger and more dramatic of the two lava tube formations, featuring a main chamber approximately 15 metres wide and 10 metres tall with multiple openings in the ceiling that create the signature light beams. Second Cathedrals is located nearby and is smaller with a single main opening, producing a concentrated spotlight effect. Most dive operators visit both sites on the same dive when conditions permit. First Cathedrals requires slightly deeper swimming at 15 to 20 metres, while Second Cathedrals is shallower at around 12 metres.
How do I arrange a dive at Cathedrals on Lanai?
Cathedrals is accessed exclusively by boat from Lahaina on Maui, as Lanai has no dive operators of its own. The crossing takes 45 minutes to one hour depending on sea conditions. Several Maui-based operators run daily trips when the south shore of Lanai is calm, typically from April through October. Winter months bring south swells that can make the site inaccessible for weeks at a time. Morning departures are preferred as winds typically build in the afternoon.
What time of day produces the best light effects inside the cavern?
The cathedral light effect is most dramatic between 10 in the morning and noon, when the sun is high enough to send beams directly through the ceiling openings into the chamber. Morning dives that arrive at the site by 9 to 10 am generally catch the building light show, with peak intensity around 11 am. Overcast days dramatically reduce the effect, and some operators will postpone Cathedrals dives if cloud cover is heavy, offering alternative sites instead. Summer months with higher sun angles produce the most reliable light beams.
How close do the manta rays get during the Kona night dive?
The mantas regularly pass within inches of divers, and gentle wing-tip contact does occur naturally. Divers sit on the sandy bottom at about 10-12 metres depth in a circle, pointing their dive lights upward to attract plankton. The mantas swoop in to feed, performing dramatic barrel rolls and somersaults directly in the light beams. The animals are completely wild and unrestrained, making the intimacy of the encounters extraordinary.
Do I need to be an experienced diver for the Kona manta night dive?
No, this is one of the most beginner-friendly bucket-list dives in the world. The depth is only about 10-12 metres, there are no currents, and divers simply kneel on a sandy bottom and hold their lights up. Open Water certification is sufficient, and many operators offer Discover Scuba options for non-certified individuals. Snorkelers can also participate by floating on the surface with lights pointing down.