North Shore Shark Diving Tours (Marine Life Tours & Cruises), Oahu tours & activities, fun things to do in Oahu | HawaiiActivities.com
Other Interests
Marine Life Tours & Cruises

North Shore Shark Diving Tours

4.67
Swim and dive with sharks on an Oahu shark cage diving and open water swimming tour! Book a North Shore shark adventure, and choose from a thrilling open water shark swim or an exciting shark cage dive. If you are wanting to know where to see sharks on Oahu, look no further than one of the best Haleiwa shark tours on the island, and you will soon be slipping into the dark blue waters as Hawaiian sharks swim around and below you as expert local professionals ensure a safe and fun experience.
Your Guide to Oahu Shark Diving & Swimming
Departing from Oahu’s popular North Shore, Hawaii shark diving tours are a unique experience only available on the island of Oahu. Located approximately 15 minutes off-shore by boat, there is an area known as the Pelagic Zone, and the smooth flowing ocean current and clear waters have become a haven for a variety of different species of sharks. The expert professionals of the various Haleiwa shark tours, discovered that the sharks will simply relax and swim around boats and swimmers, and now the area has become one of the best places to see sharks in Hawaii in a safe and controlled environment.

What to Expect & Know Before You Go
  • The ocean waves and tradewinds often pick-up later in the day and in the afternoon, so it is recommended that you book your shark diving tour as early in the morning as possible.
  • Each boat can only take a small number of people, and since Oahu shark tours are so popular, they often sell out. Be sure to book in advance to make sure you can experience these amazing tours.
  • While the North Shore waters are calmer in the summer, and rougher in the winter, the small boat size, coupled with the time spent at anchor, can lead to motion sickness for some participants. Even if you are not normally prone to motion sickness, it is highly recommended that you take a motion sickness preventative one hour prior to departure.
  • There are restrooms available at the harbor, and you will need to have your swimsuit on before boarding the boat. Do not forget the sunscreen since the Hawaiian sun can be quite strong throughout the day.
  • Since tours can be canceled due to inclement weather for safety reasons, to allow the best opportunity to rebook, reserve your Oahu shark dive and swim tours towards the beginning of your visit to Hawaii.
  • Many of the shark dive companies do not offer transportation, and the departure area is approximately an hour away by car from most major hotels and resorts. You will need a rental car, secure a ride share or taxi, or book one of the tours that do offer round-trip transportation from Waikiki.
  • Once your tour is completed, take the opportunity to explore the North Shore of Oahu. There are many popular restaurants and stores in Haleiwa Town, scenic beaches, a botanical garden with a waterfall, and more!

About Haleiwa Harbor & Oahu’s North Shore
All Oahu shark diving tours and shark cage experiences depart from Haleiwa Harbor, located in the heart of Oahu’s North Shore in Haleiwa Town. This area combines the best of city and country life with a laidback island flair. Once your shark tour is completed, don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore this quaint town, and have some delicious local Kona coffee, refreshing acai bowls and shave ice, and hearty shrimp plates and BBQ. There are also many small locally-owned boutiques and stores where you can find items not sold anywhere else in the world.

Outside of Haleiwa, you will find a number of beaches, including the famous Banzai Pipeline, and Laniakea Beach, home to many Hawaiian green sea turtles. For those wanting to experience nature by land, head over to Waimea Valley, a lush botanical garden complete with a 45-foot waterfall that guests are welcome to swim under.

How to Get There
Guests driving from the Waikiki area will need to take H1 to H2 and follow the signs that will lead you to Haleiwa Town. Depending on the traffic, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to drive.

Please take into account the distance if you plan to use a rideshare or taxi as prices will start at $60.00 or more.

Public transportation is available from Waikiki and will take approximately two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a shark cage dive and open water shark swim?
A: There are two types of Oahu shark dive tours. Both tours will take you to the dive area by boat, and the differences occur once you arrive. On the Oahu shark cage tour, there is a cage in the water that is attached to the boat. You will enter the cage with other participants, and then the cage will float near the boat for approximately 15 minutes.

For open water shark swimming, you will enter the water with an expert guide, and the sharks will be swimming beneath you. The guide will nudge away any sharks that get too close to the participants in the water.

Q: What kind of sharks will you see on an Oahu shark dive tour?
A: The sharks that are seen on a shark diving tour are usually docile Galapagos and Sandbar sharks. Hammerhead, Tiger, and Oceanic White Tip sharks can also be seen in the area, and are not aggressive.

Q: Do you need a SCUBA diving certification for the Oahu shark dive tour?
A: No, you will not need a SCUBA diving certification since you will not be SCUBA diving on this tour. Guests should be comfortable in open water and know how to swim for the shark swim, but no experience is necessary for the cage tour.

Q: Where can I swim with sharks in Hawaii?
A: All shark diving and swimming tours in Hawaii are located on the island of Oahu and depart from Haleiwa Harbor on the island’s North Shore.

Q: Where is the best place to go on a Hawaii shark dive?
A: Shark cage dives and open water swims are only available on Oahu.

Q: When is the best time to go on an Oahu shark dive tour?
A: It is best to go in the early morning since that is when the ocean and winds are the most calm.

Q: Is it safe to shark dive on Oahu?
A: Yes, both the shark cage dive and open water snorkel swim are safe since you will be with expert professionals who are very familiar with the ocean and the sharks.

Q: Can kids go on an Oahu shark dive tour?
A: Yes! Most shark tours can accommodate children from five years old and above.

Q: How far are Oahu shark dive tours from Waikiki?
A: Haleiwa Harbor is approximately 35 miles away and will take an hour to drive there.

Q: How far are Oahu shark dive tours from Ko Olina?
A: Haleiwa Harbor is approximately 30 miles away and will take 45 minutes to drive there.

Top-Rated Activities for Oahu

Latest reviews of North Shore Shark Diving Tours

Oahu Cage Free Shark Swim Tour & Marine Life Research - One Ocean Diving

Great Experience

2023/05/23 Couples Grecia Garcia

If you’re second guessing whether or not you should do it, DON’T. I’m so glad I didn’t let my fear get in the way of experiencing such an unforgettable moment. I learned a great deal and have found a new appreciation for... more

Close
North Shore Shark Cage Dive Tour Adventure with Waikiki Transportation

Great Morning Out

2023/04/29 Families Rob

Great Morning Out, was the only package on the Island (I checked with tonnes of tour guides out there) that offered Transport to the North Shore and Time in the town up there.
100% recommend, Get out of Waikiki and see ... more

Close
Hawaii Shark Encounter Small Group Tour with Cage Diving Experience from Haleiwa

Sharks up close and personal

2023/04/02 Families Sara C

My daughter and I had an amazing time with the crew learning about sharks and observing them in their natural habitat. A MUST DO for everyone. Bring an underwater camera but don't spend your whole time behind the camera ... more

Close
Oahu North Shore Cage Free Shark Dive & Swim Adventure - Ocean Outfitters Hawaii

ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE MONEY!!

2023/03/08 Couples Kaylee Stovall

My husband and I had A BLAST!! We would definitely recommend it!! Not only did they do an awesome job, one of the crew members noticed us having an underwater camera and offered to take it down deeper for us, so that we ... more

Close
North Shore Shark Swim Tour & Snorkel Cruise from Haleiwa - Go Adventure Hawaii

Best experience on Oahu!!!

2023/02/14 Couples Nikki J.

Go Adventure Hawaii was one of the best experiences we had on Oahu!! Not only did we see at least 10 sharks and a whale, the staff were some of the greatest people we met! All three guys were super informative, accommoda... more

Close
Haleiwa Shark Tour & Pelagic Cage Dive Adventure with Local Experts Guides

Saw some sharks

2023/01/25 Couples Traveler

The tour description says 2 hours but we were done in an hour. Saw only 2 sharks compare to other reviewers but I guess that’s better than nothing. The crew team was great and we felt safe in the cage.

North Shore Shark Diving Tours (Marine Life Tours & Cruises), Oahu tours & activities, fun things to do in Oahu | HawaiiActivities.com
Swim and dive with sharks on an Oahu shark cage diving and open water swimming tour! Book a North Shore shark adventure, and choose from a thrilling open water shark swim or an exciting shark cage dive. If you are wanting to know where to see sharks on Oahu, look no further than one of the best Haleiwa shark tours on the island, and you will soon be slipping into the dark blue waters as Hawaiian sharks swim around and below you as expert local professionals ensure a safe and fun experience.