Kapolei Aquatics Center is a hidden gem for scuba gear and swim lessons. Our 5 year old daughter…read morewas extremely nervous in the water and we signed her up for weekly lessons here. Now, only 4 classes in --- I cannot believe how much she has learned and how confident she is. We have met 3 of the instructors and they are amazing. Very professional but also great with children. NOTE: We have also taken lessons with the YMCA and Leihi Swim School - and while similar in pricing and length of time, Kapolei Aquatics Center is by far the best. They will not exceed 4 children per instructor and they are extremely flexible in available times for classes. The class is a definite 30 minutes (not 25 with 5 minutes to switch classes). So far, because they are working on getting more clients, we have been lucky enough to have one on one sessions with the instructor. It's not just fun and games, but real survival skills. In the beginning class they have taught my daughter to swim straight to the wall when she jumps in, and how to float and glide, and hold her breath well. The owners said they also offer classes for adults. I think I may sign myself up too! :) Highly highly recommend!

Kapolei Aquatic Center is newly opened and offers a whole lot!…read more A division of American Renaissance Academy, Kapolei Aquatic Center is more than a dive shop. Don't get me wrong, they have tons of dive gear and will help you find the right gear for what you do and will help you get the right fit, but they also have a huge retail space. It's not crowded and it's easy to see everything. It makes it super comfortable and easy to take your time. They also offer swimming lessons for the super young through adult. And if you want to take a dive class, they offer both technical and recreational classes. The pool is on site too. The parking lot is huge. GPS takes you to the wrong side of the building, so take the road down to Midway and turn from that side. Enter in the first entryway-the others are blocked off.

I highly recommend Kraken Marine Divers if you're in Oahu looking to get your scuba diving…read morecertification or even just looking for a dive master to go scuba diving with. Matt was very knowledgeable, patient, and focused on safety throughout the 3 days and 5 dives that it took me to complete my open water scuba diver certification, which I appreciated very much. He could tell when I was anxious and provided the support I needed to complete all my skills. If I vacation in Hawaii again, I will definitely be reaching out to Matt to dive again.

I'm a very experienced retired scuba instructor although I had not dived in a number of years and…read morewanted to dive in Hawaii. I contacted the concierge at our hotel for a recommendation for a scuba diving operation and they recommended Matt at Kraken Divers. I contacted Matt, he responded promptly and we scheduled two days of diving. He offered to supply all necessary equipment but I preferred to bring my own and he supplied tanks and weights. He is a consummate professional. I asked him to observe me and make sure that I made no mistakes, and he did. We did a one tank beach dive and a two tank boat dive. He gave terrific and thorough safety and site briefings on all three dives. I have no hesitation in giving him a five star recommendation. And, believe me, as a multi agency instructor myself, he skipped nothing. I would happily dive with him anytime.

All female crew, a first for us, and a nice smooth sail with Tamiko @ the helm. Courtney, Mariam,…read moreand Kaley (fingers crossed on spelling) were all very attentive, friendly, and made for a very pleasant experience. Snacks were individually packaged, MAJOR bonus cos it's nasty when you get passengers clamoring for cheese 'n stuff off of a tray. And, rather tasty, I might add. Didn't partake in the drinks cos we've had plenty leading up to sunset cruise. Big lot for parking and seamless check-in. Save time, a tree, and sign your waiver online.

The staff was incredibly friendly, which really made the adventure worthwhile. We spent a good…read moreamount of time snorkeling, it was actually more than enough since the majority of the passengers returned to the boat before the time was up. The buffet at the end of the trip was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately we did not see any dolphins or whales, but that is not their fault. I love the fact that the boat was not that packed and there's plenty of room to lounge and sit. They could've packed more people, but they didn't which is a huge upside. Don't forget the open bar!!!!

When it was time to upgrade my short fins and diving mask that I literally found on the beach -…read moreWestside Dive & Tackle was the spot I decided to go to. I walked into a few other surf and snorkel spots but they mostly carried short fins. I went with the Leaderfins which are the most affordable carbon fins. The fins do come separately from the foot pocket, so I also got their forza foot pockets. They do offer a service where they put together your fins and foot pockets but only certain people are trained on that, so I did have to pick it up just a few days later- and that service is $30. I also got a pair of diving socks to go with my fins. They have different sizes, thicknesses, and cuts (high vs low). I also got a new diving mask and snorkel. The best thing about going to a dive shop is the ability to try things on and Westside Dive has so many different options. Being able to put on the foot pockets with the diving socks or even just trying on a few different masks to find the one that best fits your face is why it's better to come in person than buying online. The service was also super friendly. I was making some big purchases, so I wanted to make sure that each component was exactly right and the staff here was helpful and overall super chill. We talked story for a bit, exchanged where we like to go diving and even some fish recipes. If you're looking for diving gear, support local and check out Westside Dive!

KAYDENZE is the man! Love this shop! Always helps out! Thanks for setting up my bf pathosread more

A little bit of ocean right in the midst here in Aulani…read more.. Not only can you get a free peek of the fishes though some windows located right across Lava Shack you can actually take a dip along with the fishes for the day or your length of stay though the hours here are short 10am to 3pm so plan your experience accordingly your day pass does allow you to enter and exit as you like as for the day it's $25 for adults and $20 for keiki and for your length of stay it's $45 for adults and $35 for keiki. It is a fun option without packing it all up and voyaging out to the beach this fun and cool place makes exploring something new a breeze as everything here is contained to snorkel and explore nothing like I've ever seen and it's Aulani of course. Thank you!

Yes! Perfect place to start a snorkeling experience. My 7 year old daughter loved it! I loved it…read moretoo. Plenty of beautiful fish, a lifeguard, they provide float vests and snorkel gear. You can also bring your own gear and they allow you to wear it. I took my own.

Great dive with Ed! The boat ride was nice and quick to our dive sites and I saw a turtle on each…read moredive! The equipment was set up for us and it was a great experience overall. Thank you so much!

We had semi-private diving (only 4 divers) which was great. Dive guide Faith is so nice, asking for…read moreour experience, caring during the whole time. I had issues with fins underwater and she jumped to help! We also got to see wreck which we didn't expect, which is awesome! We had pineapple for lunch, which was conveniently cut and was so yummy! Only downside is that their new dive computers didn't kick in during safety stop and I didn't see deco time - it was showing total dive time.

We had such an incredible experience with Dolphin Excursions in O'ahu! From start to finish, the…read moreentire crew was friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do. They made everyone feel comfortable and excited before we even got in the water. Seeing dolphins in their natural habitat was absolutely unforgettable. The guides were knowledgeable and respectful of the animals, which made the experience feel even more special and responsible. We never felt rushed, and they made sure everyone had a chance to enjoy the moment. The boat was clean, well-organized, and the overall vibe was fun and relaxed. They also pointed out other marine life along the way, which was such a bonus. If you're visiting O'ahu, this is a must-do experience. It was easily one of the highlights of our trip, and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

I highly recommend Dolphin Excursions Hawaii because the team who operates it are highly organized,…read morethoughtful, experienced, intelligent, friendly, and helpful. They do their utmost best to address any needs and answer questions during the entire time. Plus, with their knowledge of the area, we spotted dolphins, a whale, a rare Hawaiian Monk Seal (who actually surfaced to watch us). During our two dives, we even swam near beautiful turtles. Our guide, Morgan, was especially fabulous! Big gratitude to him and to the rest of the crew who help make such a positively memorable experience!

Swimming with sharks has always been on my bucket list and I'm so glad that I was able to check…read morethat off with Ocean Outfitters Hawaii. We booked their 9:30am dive and on the spot, added their photo package. You can check out their ocean photographer's instagram @culliem - he takes great shots! Directions to where exactly they are located at the Haleiwa harbor was super clear. Lucky for us, we found parking right next to the boat! Staff was super clear in all of their instructions and made us all feel very safe. To be honest, I wasn't very nervous at all thanks to how safe the staff made me feel! I brought my own gear (fins, mask, and snorkel) but they provide all of that and defogger for your mask. They main things you need to bring is a towel (maybe even 2 per person), sunscreen, sunglasses etc. Hat might fly off but if you can secure it, bring it. And water! The boat ride is about 15 mins. It's less choppy in the early morning, so be sure to book the earliest ride if you get seasick. I was feeling pretty seasick on the ride back but then they played "Hawaiian Rollercoaster ride" on the speaker and that brought me back to life. We saw 2 galapagos sharks. They are attracted to the sound of the boat, and come up when they hear the motor. It was such an amazing experience to get to freedive with these creatures.

This is now my fourth time going shark diving but my first time with Ocean Outfitters and it did…read morenot disappoint! This boat is so fun to ride on and so fast. (If you get motion sickness/seasick I highly recommend NOT going. There was a family on our trip that all took Dramamine yet still had a horrible time) We saw so many Galapagos sharks & even dolphins on the way back The crew was awesome, especially the captain Kevin. They were all very friendly and good at preparing everyone to get into the water safely. It was the perfect mix of freedom and safety while in the water. You don't need to hold on to a rope/stay right next to the boat like with other shark tours, but the crew keeps everyone safe the whole time. Soooo sick & I highly recommend taking a tour with Ocean Outfitters!!

One of my pledges this year is complete more reviews of dive sites and dive shops I've used or…read morevisited. I'm a current member of the Sea Lancers Dive Club (SLDC). Located on the Hickam side of Joint Base Pearl Harbor/Hickam, They are the oldest military diving club, started some 75 years ago in 1958. SLDC offers a number of services, including equipment rentals, air tank visual inspections, hydrostatic testing (referred out), and self-service air tank refills. SLDC will also organize of number of club dinners and dives throughout the year. The self-service tank refill stations are available 24/7 to club members. Once you get the hang of it, it takes less than 30 minutes to do it yourself, perfect for the serious dive hobbyist! Membership dues are currently $25/mo or an annual membership for $275. They are slightly out of the way, but I have been a member of other more convenient dive clubs that have turned out to be disappointing, mostly in air tank refills not being filled in a timely manner or not up to full pressure. Will repeat and recommend if you have base access!

If you actively scuba dive and have base access this is the perfect place to rent gear, meet…read moredivers, and get clean air refills.

We had a great time. Early April - we saw a turtle, some whales, two pods of spinner dolphins, and…read morea school of flying fish. Well worth the early wakeup call! Thanks crew.

Amazing! The staff…read morewere so nice and welcoming. Their rapport with each other was great and they made us feel like part of their family during our time with them. I did a sunset cruise with a group of friends where we got to snorkel. I had never snorkeled and was planning on skipping that part but the staff provided us with safety equipment and knew what they were doing. So they made me feel safe and I am so glad I did it. The Food was surprisingly good! We did not expect much but we enjoyed all of the food very much. We were staying at Aulani and we were so close to where the cruise departed. I would recommend anyone that goes to Oahu to make Ocean Joy a part of their trip. It was so great and definitely worth the money.