Oahu North Shore: Shark Dive Tour & Cage-Free Swim

4.83

(229 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I almost backed out at the last minute. The idea of a shark dive tour on Oahu’s North Shore sounded bold in theory, but standing at Haleiwa Boat Harbor with salt in the air and the crew joking around, it suddenly felt very real. Our guide—Kaleo, who grew up here—told us not to worry, “The sharks are just curious neighbors.” He grinned and handed me a mask. I tried to laugh but my heart was pounding louder than the boat engine as we headed three miles out, leaving land behind until all you could see was blue.

The water out here is this deep cobalt color you don’t really get close to shore. Kaleo pointed to where Galapagos sharks usually cruise by, and right on cue, there they were—sleek shadows moving below us. I hesitated before slipping in (the ocean felt colder than I expected), but floating above those sharks was oddly peaceful. You could hear nothing but your own breath through the snorkel and the occasional shout from someone spotting a bigger one—a tiger shark maybe? Hard to say; everything underwater feels slower and dreamlike.

At one point I tried saying thank you in Hawaiian (“mahalo nui loa”) and Li, another guide, just laughed—my pronunciation was hopeless. But everyone was patient, even when I got tangled in my snorkel strap (twice). There’s something about being out here with locals who know these waters that makes you trust the whole experience more. On the way back, sunburned and salty, we all just sat quietly for a bit watching Haleiwa come back into view. I still think about that silent moment floating above the sharks—it’s not scary like you’d expect; it’s weirdly grounding.