There are six main islands that make up Hawaii; The Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai. With the exception of Molokai, all are popular luxury travel destinations that offer perfect South Pacific vacations. Tourists who love ocean activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling, will find that each island has its own top coral reefs and shipwrecks. Together, they make the best diving spots in Hawaii, and any tropical vacation there would be enriched by a day or half day scuba and snorkel trip.
Lanai - Lanai is the smallest of the main islands in Hawaii, with only one town. It follows that there are less beaches here, and less organized tourism activities. Lanai does have, however, the Hulopo'e Bay Marine Sanctuary, and two popular scuba destinations: The First and Second Cathedrals, and Fish Rock. Fish Rock is the best dive and snorkel spot in Lanai. Fish Rock is a volcanic cone with a depth of around 75 feet, and it's great to explore all around the underwater rock. First Cathedral and Second Cathedral are really amazing - they are old lava tubes, hollowed out to a depth of 65 feet, with light shining in from above. Many smaller species of fish seek out refuge in them, and the wall crevices are home to all sorts of crustaceans. Second Cathedral is the larger of the two, but either will provide a top scuba diving experience.
Oahu - The Mahi shipwreck is off the shore of the Waianae coast. A WWII minesweeper in its former life, the Mahi was sunk in 1982 to be made into an artificial reef. This shipwreck off Oahu is now home to reclusive moray eels, elegant eagle rays, and scores of tropical fish darting in and out of the Mahi's hull.
There are two other shipwreck scuba sites off Oahu, these closer to Waikiki. The YO-257 was a Navy Yard oiler, sunk as an artificial reef in 1989. There are a lot of large swim-through holes for scuba divers in the YO-257. There is also a sunken airplane: A WWII Corsair ran out of gas, and sunk in 1946 (the pilot escaped). The oiler and the Corsair both are home to school upon school of angelfish, butterfly fish, wrasses, and large marine animals like sea turtles and reef sharks. The best beach on Oahu for off-shore snorkeling is Hanauma Bay. Hanauma means "curved bay," and this caldera, east of Honolulu, is a popular destination for tourists looking to do something other than visit their resort hotel's luxury day spa. Hanauma Bay is likely best known for the giant green sea turtles that swim near shore and occasionally sun themselves on the beach. This makes it perfect for snorkeling, but tourists who can scuba enjoy diving deeper to the underwater caverns.
Lanai - Lanai is the smallest of the main islands in Hawaii, with only one town. It follows that there are less beaches here, and less organized tourism activities. Lanai does have, however, the Hulopo'e Bay Marine Sanctuary, and two popular scuba destinations: The First and Second Cathedrals, and Fish Rock. Fish Rock is the best dive and snorkel spot in Lanai. Fish Rock is a volcanic cone with a depth of around 75 feet, and it's great to explore all around the underwater rock. First Cathedral and Second Cathedral are really amazing - they are old lava tubes, hollowed out to a depth of 65 feet, with light shining in from above. Many smaller species of fish seek out refuge in them, and the wall crevices are home to all sorts of crustaceans. Second Cathedral is the larger of the two, but either will provide a top scuba diving experience.
Oahu - The Mahi shipwreck is off the shore of the Waianae coast. A WWII minesweeper in its former life, the Mahi was sunk in 1982 to be made into an artificial reef. This shipwreck off Oahu is now home to reclusive moray eels, elegant eagle rays, and scores of tropical fish darting in and out of the Mahi's hull.
There are two other shipwreck scuba sites off Oahu, these closer to Waikiki. The YO-257 was a Navy Yard oiler, sunk as an artificial reef in 1989. There are a lot of large swim-through holes for scuba divers in the YO-257. There is also a sunken airplane: A WWII Corsair ran out of gas, and sunk in 1946 (the pilot escaped). The oiler and the Corsair both are home to school upon school of angelfish, butterfly fish, wrasses, and large marine animals like sea turtles and reef sharks. The best beach on Oahu for off-shore snorkeling is Hanauma Bay. Hanauma means "curved bay," and this caldera, east of Honolulu, is a popular destination for tourists looking to do something other than visit their resort hotel's luxury day spa. Hanauma Bay is likely best known for the giant green sea turtles that swim near shore and occasionally sun themselves on the beach. This makes it perfect for snorkeling, but tourists who can scuba enjoy diving deeper to the underwater caverns.
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