Best shark diving experience on island! This was my second time diving and the staff were…read moreabsolutely incredible! I felt very safe!

I like to find an adventurous thing to do for each decade of my birthday. In my 20's it was…read moreskydiving, and my 30's, it's shark diving. I had such a fun experience with Ocean Outfitters! We lucked out with perfect wind, water, and sky conditions, which made the whole trip incredible. The ride out was 10-15 min? Getting into the water was easy. Water was great! Though there weren't many, we did manage to dive next to a Galapagos shark, a jellyfish, turtle, and eagle ray (this guy was in port tho). Lilly and the entire team were so helpful and accommodating the whole time. They were fantastic about answering all of our questions and really made the process of getting in and out of the boat less stressful. I will say: you will need to have decent strength to hoist yourself out of the water from a small solo step on the boat (they help but keep in mind for my fellow limited bodied folks). On windier conditions, you will have to be a decent swimmer, too. So those not familiar with the ocean, practice at like Waikiki or hanauma bay first. We had someone swallow water on our boat and we had calmer conditions, too. I honestly wish we could have been in the water for longer, but I'm just looking at it as a great excuse to book another trip and head out again! My favorite part was actually the ride back in: the crew picked up some speed and took some fun turns, which I really enjoyed. Everything was set up to be convenient, too. They provided all the snorkel gear, including flippers and masks, and there is a cubby under the seat to keep your items safe, dry, and out of the way. Parking is readily available, so you don't have to worry about that. Just a heads up on the media side of things: they do offer professional photo packages, which run about $80 to $100. You are allowed to bring your own GoPro, but they are pretty specific about which models you can bring due to concerns about radio wave interference, so it's worth double-checking with them beforehand. Overall, it was a fantastic day out on the water with a good crew.

Took my two kids 11 and seven years old respectively. I couldn't have asked for a better trip for…read morethem. My seven-year-old did not want to get into the cage initially, but decided to get in on two different occasions thanks to how the captain and his crewmate made him feel. I wouldn't hesitate to book with the captain and, Kama in the future. Not only did we get an opportunity to talk a little bit of Wrestling, but they created such a fun environment for everyone on board!

If you're thinking about doing a shark tour on Oʻahu--this is your sign…read more We had the absolute best experience with Haleʻiwa Shark Tours on Thursday (3/5) at 7am, and I can honestly say it's something I'll never forget. From the moment we arrived, everything felt welcoming and well-organized, but what really made the experience special were our deckhands, Lono and Kama. They were beyond amazing--so knowledgeable, calm, and genuinely passionate about what they do. You can tell they truly care about the ocean, the sharks, and making sure everyone feels safe and informed. Before we even got in the water, they took the time to explain everything--what to expect, how to stay safe, and the importance of respecting these animals in their natural environment. There was no fear-based energy at all--just education, respect, and appreciation. That meant a lot to me. Getting into the cage and seeing the sharks up close was unreal. It's one thing to see videos, but being out there in the open ocean, surrounded by that deep blue, and watching these beautiful creatures move so effortlessly... it really shifts your perspective. It gives you a deeper respect for the ocean and everything in it. What I loved most is that this didn't feel like just a "tour." It felt intentional. It felt local. It felt like we were being invited into something meaningful, not just another activity to check off a list. As someone who believes in supporting local businesses, I can confidently say this is one worth supporting. The team embodies aloha, professionalism, and care--not just for their guests, but for the ʻāina and ocean as well. Huge mahalo to Lono and Kama (and Kala and Makua) for making this experience so special for me, my best friend, and her family. You guys made us feel comfortable, educated, and honestly just in awe the entire time. If you're on the North Shore and looking for something unforgettable--book it. You won't regret it.

This was definitely a great small group activity which was perfect for us due to my significant…read moreother's disabilities! I researched other snorkel activities and most had groups of 35 or more, so 19 is about as good as it gets without paying someone for a private snorkel tour! I wish there would have been a water lounger for him to use to get him into the water, but he enjoyed his conversation on the boat with the Captain which still gave me the opportunity to snorkel. The 3 women crew were confident and capable from the Captain to her first mates! We motored out to Shark's Cove, and saw a huge pod of spinner dolphins on the way! Once the anchor was dropped, we snorkeled where we saw plenty of coral, fish, and two sea turtles! We loaded back onto the Cat for lunch with drinks and a sail back to the dock with our 3 women crew really showing their skills by unfurling the sails! They were well organized from having sandwiches nicely displayed after the snorkel to the shoes being displayed on dock after the excursion! They had every detail well thought out and planned which kept things running smoothly! Be sure to use the restrooms at the dock before boarding; otherwise, you're contributing to the toxins in the sea during the snorkel! ‍

Captain Mark was great as was first mate Brenda, bright light from Brazil. Captain Mark gave us…read moresome interesting lesser known facts about the north shore. The ride was smooth and we got to see a sea turtle. Would highly recommend!

I booked a private boat tour today 8/24 to scatter the remainder of my dad's ashes. I had plans to…read morestop in Chinatown to pick up some flower petals and we lost track of time. I have two young kids and getting them out of the house is a struggle. We had to drop them off at my mother's house on the way to Haleiwa. We couldn't make it to Chinatown which I was really bummed about because I really wanted to honor my dad and do a nice final send-off. I called Jared because we got lost, and he was very helpful in guiding where the boat is and the name of it. We arrived about 10 mins early and were greeted by Captain Alex on the Flyer. The boat used today was a deep-sea fishing boat and a little larger than the Banzai one they use per Jared. That actually made me feel better because all 3 of us (myself, husband, and bestfriend) get seasick. Captain Alex shook each of our hand and introduced himself to us and had rose petals and plumerias for me to use. I was soooo relieved and so thankful he went and did that. The extra kindness and gesture goes a long way! The ride was good, and we didn't really feel sick at all. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and I believe dad loved it! The music was like old school local and matched the vibes. After scattering, my husband and bestfriend let Captain Alex know we can go back. Our trip was actually short which I didn't expect to stay until 11am as it was also really hot and only the 3 of us. It was nice and intimate and just what I envisioned. Anyway, I would highly recommend Banzai Adventures! I was debating between this company and Oahu Ash Scattering. I read the reviews and I'm so glad I didn't go with them. Also, I believe the companies usually charge you if you wanted a bag of loose petals but Captain Alex had generously offered them to us. To me, I think that is great service...especially how I felt earlier when I was rushing and couldn't get them beforehand. I'm really happy I could give dad this. Thank you!!

Thank you so much to the boat captain, Hailey, and to Banzai Adventures for helping my family grant…read moremy brother's final wish to scatter his ashes off his beloved Shark's Cove on June 25th, the anniversary of his passing. We took a photo from Ke Iki Beach the next day and a double rainbow appeared at the spot where we scattered his ashes. Hailey was wonderful, friendly, and thoughtful. She made the ride to Shark's Cove as comfortable as possible, and was so kind to ask about my brother's life. Ka'imi moved from Honolulu to Pupukea 20 years ago where he made lasting friendships, helped sponsor young surfers, and volunteered with Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea to support the environment. My son, younger brother, and I had a great conversation with Hailey. E ho'omana'o mau makou i kou lokomaika'i We will remember your kindness forever.

Absolutely 10/10 experience. This is my second time coming with the company and it was…read moreunforgettable. I have seen sand bar sharks, Galapagos sharks and even a pregnant tiger shark! I've never felt so safe in open water but the people who run the dives do an amazing job at educating & making sure everyone in their group feels safe. They go the extra miles to ensure an amazing experience and I am so beyond grateful to experience something so beautiful. If you are interested or even slightly hesitating this is your sign to DO IT!!

Island View Hawaii is a small well run outfit! I booked it through a 3rd party but the conversation…read morebetween Island view and myself was perfect to the night before! I truly appreciated the background education on sharks and the how tos for all the participants! Safety was their top priority! They provided the mask, snorkel, fins and flotation devices if needed. They also took photos and we were hands free without having to worry!!!I would definitely go out with them again when we are back on the island!

Captain Porter and the entire North Shore Sailing Adventures team was fantastic! My family of four…read more(with two tween boys) did a snorkeling adventure in June 2025. From booking the reservation, to the instructions on when/where to meet up, to the recommendation on getting to Hale'iwa early in the morning to rent snorkel gear, it was a very smooth process. Captain Porter and his deckhand were laid back, informative, and fun to be around. There wasn't a focus on time and it was a very casual, relaxing experience. They gave us clear instructions aboard the boat to keep us safe. We anchored in Waimea Bay and got to swim with dolphins! Captain Porter's wife even made us sandwiches for lunch! Love that they keep it private to one family. Really helps make it special and exclusive. This was the highlight of our trip to O'ahu! Highly recommend! It's worth the price.

Simply put our favorite thing to do on Oahu. Captain Porter and his crew are always the best.read more

Amazing experience with a very competent group of individuals. A lot of sharks, but felt very safe…read moreand guarded by the staff. 10/10

Just did a cageless shark dive with Go Adventure Hawaii and wow... what an unforgettable…read moreexperience! I'll be honest it was the scariest thing I've ever done. At one point, I refused to even look down into the ocean but then my son tapped me and pointed... and there it was a shark swimming right toward us. I almost passed out! Even though I was terrified, it turned into such an amazing memory. My son had the best time and is already asking to come back again. That alone made it all worth it. Huge appreciation to the staff they were professional, supportive and made us feel safe the whole time. Plus, we got some really cool pictures to remember it by! If you're looking for something thrilling and unforgettable, this is it.

Amazing experience with Darrin and JC! Came out for a quick trip with our family and just happened…read moreacross Hawaii Boat Tours by chance. I looked into a number of different fishing charters, but none seemed to offer the experience I was hoping for (very touristy and large group numbers) and then we found Hawaii Boat Tours. Darrin and CJ welcomed us onto their boat like we were part of their family. Darrin was incredibly professional as our Captain and made us all feel at ease and extremely safe, while CJ made sure everyone had an amazing experiencing bringing home some fish. These guys had a great sense of humor and kept us all laughing and smiling the entire trip. Will definitely be recommending booking an experience with these guys to all our friends and family. Till next time guys! Hopefully February for whale watching AND more fishing!

From the owner: Hawaii Boat Tours is a locally-owned and operated company dedicated to sharing the unparalleled…read morebeauty of the North Shore with adventure seekers from around the world. Our passionate team, Captain by Darrin Whittaker and Jacy Shimahara, is committed to providing unforgettable experiences while preserving and respecting the pristine environment that makes Hawaii so unique.

Five tiger sharks. FIVE…read more I spent the last month psyching myself up to maybe, hopefully, catch a glimpse of one tiger shark. We got five. I'm still not over it. What made this trip though wasn't just the sharks, it was the crew. Finn, Nika, Tyler, and Lochlan are the real deal. I've done plenty of excursions where the guides are clearly clocking in and counting down to the end of the shift. This was the opposite. When that fifth tiger came through, these four looked like kids in a candy shop. They were losing it right alongside us, because apparently five in one dive is extremely rare. You cannot fake that kind of enthusiasm, and it made the whole day about ten times better. They also know exactly what they're doing. Big animals, open water, and at no point did I feel anything but completely safe. The briefing was thorough, the in-water guidance was calm and clear, and it was obvious this crew has deep respect for the sharks and total command of the situation. That combination of expertise and genuine excitement is rare. Coolest experience of my life with the coolest crew on the water. If you're on the fence about booking with Deep Blue Eco Tours, get off the fence. Ask for Finn, Nika, Tyler, and Lochlan. Ten out of five stars.

We went out with Deep Blue twice on our trip, once for snorkeling and once for free swimming with…read moresharks, and both were great experiences. Actually, we had originally only planned the snorkel, but it was such a great experience that we booked the shark swim for later in our trip so we could do both. For our snorkel we had an incredible experience seeing dozens of spinner dolphins bow riding our boat on our way out of the harbor - it was such an incredible experience! They took us out to a small rocky island out near Waimea Bay and we got to see lots of fish, coral, and follow a turtle for a little bit. Everyone in our party snorkeled, but our daughter was interested in also diving. Our guide Dallas was great with her - teaching her all the tips and tricks to help her dive down in her snorkel gear. He also retrieved some really pretty shells that he gave to us. The shark swim was really neat - I love that they offer the opportunity for a group to have some people who want to swim and others who want to stay dry on the boat. It's definitely rougher water but they knew exactly where to go and what to do to responsibly call for the sharks and we got to see a lot of them! Our daughter did the swim and had a great experience. The team was extremely skilled and did a great job ensuring a responsible and fun experience for all. We'd definitely recommend them for charters out of Haleiwa!

Adding the Shark Dive to our trip right before heading to the island was the best decision we made…read more This was the most incredible experience I have ever experienced. We arrived a little more than 30 minutes prior to our charter time, unfortunately the captain missed us at check in and we joined a later charter which worked out really well for us. Captain Ken was our boat captain and he was very kind & knowledgeable, he provided us alot of information prior to us taking off and while we were out on the water. He also had floating camera handles he allowed us to use - thanks Ken - we didn't even think about this. The First Mate & crew on our charter were great and very informative. It was whale season in Hawaii while we were there so we were able to see sprays from the whales on the trip out to the shark encounter area. We were able to see whales breaching the water in the distance, we also saw alot of sharks. The charter takes us 3 miles off shore & then hooks up to the shark cages that are tethered out in the open water while charters go to and from. It is about a 20 minute boat ride out to the shark cages & 20 minutes back. Each group gets so spend roughly 20 minutes in the shark cage, getting up close and personal with these majestic creatures. Captain Ken took some video footage from a pole camera and we were able to be in the background in the cage, the video provided by the captain was clear and a great perspective. I am so glad that we added this to our trip because this was hands down one of the coolest experiences of my life! I would definitely do this again, on our next trip to Hawaii.

First, the trip started a little late. They were about 15 minutes late to pick us up since the last…read morecharter had run over. No big deal, but we wish they could have at least told us since we had to show up 30 minutes early, we were standing around for almost an hour with no real communication about them being late. Because they were late to pick us up, they seemed a little rushed, telling us we needed to make sure we were quick and rushing us into the water. I get that they were behind but it wasn't our fault. The water was very, very rough. Which is not the boat's fault either, but just a warning to others. I have heard sometimes it's super calm so I am sure it's likely time of year, but when we went it was bad. Almost every single person got seasick. Also, when you go in the cage, it's almost worse for the seasickness. You are getting tossed around badly inside that thing. We actually had to hold on pretty hard. We were given some cool facts about the sharks and the waters, but it was like 5 minutes worth. We wish they would have talked with us a little bit more. Also, they were very thorough with instructions regarding safety of the cage, which is great. They gave no instructions about the mask and snorkel. I guess they just assumed everyone understood, but we had one guy get in the water and asked how to use the snorkel. I guess overall, when compared to other boat tours we had went on in Hawai'i, this one just doesn't compare. They provide no drinks or snacks (which again is okay, but for the same cost on another boat we were given them). Seeing the sharks was super cool; I just don't know if it was worth it.