Shark Diving Oahu – Feedback and Advice from Our Interesting Experience

Considering sharks don’t have a “puppy-like” reputation in the ocean waters, when Leo came to us and said open ocean shark diving was on his bucket list, many questions ran through our minds.

Is it worth the money?
Is it scary?
Do I have to be an expert swimmer in order to do it?
IS IT SAFE?

I’m sure there were more questions in our minds, but the surprise of hearing him say this probably caused us to momentarily black out.

Stay calm though friends, because we successfully snorkeled with sharks and got back on dry land unscathed. And because of that success, we are going to answer all the above questions for you and then some. But first, allow us to give you some background information on our personal water expertise.

Swimming Skills: Gerardo vs. Laura

To say I, Laura, am a novice swimmer, is an understatement. I’ll admit it here (but only because we are friends), I still plug my nose to go underwater. I cannot float and never have been able too. I can tread water, doggy paddle or frog stroke (or whatever you call it), and can hold my breath for about 30 seconds. And, I have basic swimming skills to have fun in a pool, snorkel in shallow waters and piddle around.

Gerardo, on the other hand, is a very skilled and experienced swimmer. He swam on a team in high school and completed dive school in the Navy. Gerardo is very relaxed in the water, can hold his breath for a long time, and could float forever if needed. He trusts the snorkel to do it’s job and knows how to go with the flow of the water.

Leo Swimming Skills

Leo takes more after his dad when it comes to water proficiency. While he’s not as skilled or controlled in the ocean, he’s leaps and bounds beyond his mother (me) at a mere 12 years old. Having water run over his face or up his nose doesn’t freak him out and he can easily swim laps in a pool for exercise.

What North Shore Oahu Shark Diving Entails

Before we move onto our personal experience and the pros and cons, you need to see a picture of what shark diving on Oahu entails from start to finish.

You can book with most companies either online or over the phone. There is a limit of 6 people per boat, including ride alongs. We found with the company we chose, in order to get military or kama’aina discount, you must book over the phone. Upon booking, they will ask if your snorkeling skills are beginner, intermediate or advanced. You will also have the option to book the photographer to be part of the dive.

After arrival, the captain of the boat gives a quick safety briefing and familiarizes you with the boat. From there, the other crew mates introduce themselves and provide their expertise. You’ll find it’s a 3 mile boat ride to reach the open ocean where the sharks are. During the 15-20 minutes boat ride, a crew mate will go over safety information in regards to the sharks, getting on and off the boat, and using the gear. This is your opportunity to ask questions.

Once the diving location is reached, the captain revs the engine to attract the sharks. You can have anywhere from 1-12 sharks, 12 being a lot. We had 4 sharks on our dive, all of them Galapagos sharks. From here, you gear up and get in the water after the safety diver. The dive lasts around 30-45 minutes.

Our Personal Shark Diving Experience

The crew was great, the equipment was top notch and the overall experience was amazing! We did, however, have a few issues with the experience that we will be transparent about.

Snorkeling Skills
On the websites of all the shark diving companies, it indicates that basic snorkel and swimming skills are required. We indicated we were all at a “basic” level, even though Gerardo is not. I have to say that it was a very challenging experience for me being a basic level. I was not familiar at all with how to use a snorkel and float on my stomach in order to see the sharks best.

Gerardo felt that we were led astray and that most people should have an intermediate level of snorkel skills to have a successful dive. As he said, people train to use snorkels for open ocean water (which is a far cry from tide pools, calm waters, and shore line snorkeling).

I struggled to trust the snorkel since I was not overly familiar with it. I also did not know how to properly use fins, causing me to over kick and exert all my energy. This caused me to become exhausted and frustrated. Leo had a slightly easier time than me, but was still struggling with the fin and snorkel usage a bit.

Seasickness
I have done breakfast cruises, big ship cruises, small boating with friends, and other water activities. I’ve felt slightly queasy from time-to-time, but I have never gotten seasick like I did on this boat. The water was rolling and no matter if I was attempting a dive or sitting on the boat, nothing made me feel better. Both Gerardo and Leo said I went from green to pale FAST.

I highly recommend using dramamine before your dive or wearing pressure point bands, even if you’re not prone to seasickness. The open ocean is a different beast from a spot like the Waikiki waters.

Timing
It’s well known that the North Shore of Oahu has big surf in the wintertime. Feeling like we would be past the surf, we didn’t realize how big the rolling water would still be. Had we known and planned sooner in the year, we would have done the dive in the spring or summer months instead of December. A friend let me know that their experience was amazing and much more calm in the summer month they went. Nnot placid, but more friendly. Timing in the ocean is everything.

Pros and Cons of Shark Diving

Pros:
-Incredible experience that not many people get to do!
-It’s a lengthy excursion, making it worth the money.
-You can bring your own camera and other equipment to use.
-You do not need to bring anything other than a towel. All snorkel gear (including fins) is provided.
-You can get in and out of the water as much as you like.
-Education on shark behavior and safety protocols happen prior to getting in the water.

Cons:
-Extreme rolling water in the winter.
-A very challenging dive if you’re not proficient in the water.
-No education on snorkels even if you’re labeled a beginner.
-The photographer costs $75/person and you’re not guaranteed a lot of photos.
-Only 6 per boat, so if you have a large family you have to split up.
-Possible seasickness.
-May have only 1 shark show.

Conclusion: Is it worth it?

We say, yes! Gerardo got some amazing footage. Leo said it was a great experience he will remember forever. We probably wouldn’t do it again, but we don’t regret doing it at all.

Again, our biggest recommendations are skill level and timing. Practice snorkeling skills if you’re not proficient, and book your shark diving excursion in the spring or summer. The water will be more friendly.