oahu - lonely planetmedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/diving-hawaii-2-oahu-preview.pdf · most...
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Koko Crater1208ft
KokoHead642ft
750
930
803
83
99
93
99
7863
61
76
83
H3H3
H1
H1
H2
H1
see inset map21o15'N
21oN
21o15'N
21o30'N 21o30'N
21o45'N
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
Kaaawa
Haleiwa
WaialuaMokuleia
HonoluluInternational
Airport
Mokuauia Island
Mokolii IslandKualoa Point
Laie Point
Makahoa Point
LahilahiPoint
Maili Point
Barbers Point
Mt Kaala4020ft
Mokapu Point
Kapapa Island
MokoO Loe
Mokapu Peninsula
Kapoho Point
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
MaunaluaBay
Pearl Harbor
Kamananui Stream
Opaeula Stream Poamoho Stream
Waimalu Stream
Kaneohe Bay
P A C I F I C O C E A N
P A C I F I C O C E A N
Mamala Bay
Kaiwi Channel
0-18ft18-60ft60-300ft300-600ft600ft+
DepthReef
Oahu not for navigation4 miles0
8 km0
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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
GO
OD
SN
ORK
ELIN
G
NO
VIC
E
INTE
RMED
IATE
AD
VAN
CED
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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