Oahu - Lonely Planetmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/diving-hawaii-2-oahu-preview.pdf · most visited Hawaiian island, Oahu has the greatest number of dive operators and dive shops,

Koko Crater1208ft

KokoHead642ft

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7863

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see inset map21o15'N

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157o45'W 158oW

157o45'W 158oW

Wahiawa

Honolulu

Laie

Hauula

Punaluu

Makaha

Waianae

Nanakuli

MailiKailuaKaneohe

Waimanalo

KahaluuAhuimanu

AieaWaipahu

PearlCity

Kapolei

Waikane

Waiahole

Heeia

Lanikai

Kahuku

Kawela

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Haleiwa

WaialuaMokuleia

HonoluluInternational

Airport

Mokuauia Island

Mokolii IslandKualoa Point

Laie Point

Makahoa Point

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Maili Point

Barbers Point

Mt Kaala4020ft

Mokapu Point

Kapapa Island

MokoO Loe

Mokapu Peninsula

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Moko Manu

Mokulua Islands

Wailea Point

MakapuuPoint

MananaIsland

Kahuku Point

Pauena Point

Sand Island

WaimeaFalls Park

Malaekahana StateRecreation Area

Kahana ValleyState Park

Sacred FallsState Park

DiamondHead StateMonument

KualoaRegional Park

WaikikiBeach

Kahana Bay

Kailua Bay

WaimeaBay

Waialua Bay

Waimanalo Bay

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Pearl Harbor

Kamananui Stream

Opaeula Stream Poamoho Stream

Waimalu Stream

Kaneohe Bay

P A C I F I C O C E A N

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Mamala Bay

Kaiwi Channel

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Oahu not for navigation4 miles0

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© Lonely Planet Publications

By far the most developed of the is-lands, Oahu has a culturally and ethni-cally diverse population of close to a million people. This melting pot offers all the excitement of a large cosmopoli-tan area alongside the pleasures of a tropical island: nightlife, fine dining and interesting museums complementing great beaches, surfing and good diving and snorkeling.

Oahu is the only island that offers several first-class wreck dives, which continue to get better as their marine life populations increase. Although Oahu’s reefs do not generally have the pristine coral and superb visibility found on most of the other islands, there is a nice balance of reef and volcanic cavern dives with swirling, colorful fish. Several shallow reefs also make excellent shore dives for both divers and snorkelers.

As both the most populated and most visited Hawaiian island, Oahu has the greatest number of dive operators and dive shops, the majority of which

are modern and up-to-date. Equipment rentals and airfills are readily available around the island. Some shops special-ize in teaching courses designed for lo-cals and the military, while others cater mostly to visitors.

Dive sites on Oahu are divided into four main regions: the leeward side, the south coast (including Hanauma Bay), the windward side and the north shore.

LEEWARD SIDE

Oahu’s sheltered leeward side, extend-ing from Kaena Point to Diamond Head, is one of the state’s most popular diving areas, thanks to nearly year-round ac-cessibility. Several wrecks that shelter a variety of fish and coral species from the strong currents that often flow through the area, while lava formations provide additional places to look for interesting marine life.

Oahu Dive Sites

Oahu Dive Sites

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1 MAKAHA CAVERNS • •2 THE MAHI •3 KEWALO PIPES •4 MAGIC ISLAND • •5 YO-257 •6 THE SEA TIGER WRECK •7 THE BABY BARGE •8 CORSAIR •9 TURTLE CANYON • •

10 INSIDE REEF • •11 OUTSIDE REEF • •12 WITCH’S BREW •13 MANANA ISLAND •14 MOKU MANU •15 SHARK’S COVE • •16 THREE TABLES • •

A rare daytime sighting of a Spanish dancer nudibranch

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