Hawaii is the 50th state of the United States and is located off the west coast of the country. Approximately 2,500 miles from the nearest point in the United States, the island is part of the greater Polynesian archipelago. The Hawaiian archipelago is made up of hundreds of islands that stretch over around 1,500 miles. As the islands are made up of volcanic islands, the entire area is replete with rich volcanic features both onshore and offshore.
Its remote location also provides it with a suitable environment for all sorts of exotic marine life that cannot be found on other mainland reefs. If you are planning to visit the island, scuba diving Oahu is a must-try sport as the marine life in Hawaii is one of its biggest attractions. Here are three of the best scuba diving spots in the area that you must visit when touring the island archipelago.
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Sea Tiger Wreck
Sea Tiger Wreck is an advanced divers’ diving destination located off the western shores of Waikiki, Honolulu. It is a favorite destination for divers because of the unique activities associated with diving in the area. The main attraction is a Chinese ship that was impounded in the 1990s for carrying illegal immigrants.
The ship was later purchased by a tour company in the area, cleaned up and sank to the bottom of the reef in the late 90s. This provides divers with at least 150 square feet of underwater sights to explore. The dive is approximately 80 to 110 feet and has a visibility of about 15 to 30 inches. The Sea Tiger is a must-visit for scuba diving enthusiasts.
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Manta Ray Night Dive
The manta ray night dive is an iconic excursion that brings tourists face to face with the docile yet intelligent manta rays. Located in Kailua-Kona, the dive is appropriate for all stages of dive experience and allows snorkelers, one tank, and two-tank divers.
The tour is especially fascinating because lights have been built into the ocean floor in this area, allowing divers to experience the manta rays, which are primarily nocturnal animals, in great visibility settings. Besides the manta rays, the dive also has other fascinating and exciting exotic fish species and other marine life.
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Molokini Crater
Molokini Crater is a semi-submerged volcano whose peak juts out of the water like a crescent-shaped island. Located in the Alalākeiki Channel straddling the islands of Maui and Kahoolawe, the diving destination is a favorite with experienced divers keen on exploring the mysterious nooks and crannies of the submerged volcano.
As the site is barely 4 kilometers from the shore, it is an easy location to access and divers can start diving early and wind up by 10:00 am when the swell becomes a challenge to boats attempting to return to shore. Some of the marine wildlife you can expect to see include pennant coral fish, tiger fish, pencil slate urchins and scissortail sergeant fish. The site has a maximum dive depth of 80 meters so experienced divers can also free dive.
Other diving sites in Hawaii worth looking at include the Corsair dive in Oahu, the Cathedrals in Lanai and the Forbidden Island in Niihau.