UPDATED FEB 2020. “Just sit on the edge of the boat and when you are ready, slide into the water nice and slow…” – that’s what the guides said just before I began my cage-free shark swim in Hawaii.
How To Do A Cage Free Shark Swim In Hawaii & Why You Need To
Disclaimer
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FAQ for swimming with sharks on Oahu
Which company is best for cage free shark swim tours?
Hawaii Adventure Diving.
I’ve been with them multiple times now and they are much better than the tours I’ve done with their competitors.
Where is the location for the tour?
Meet at Haleiwa Harbor on the North Shore, approx 50 minutes drive from Waikiki.
What is the cost of the tour?
$150 USD per person (check their website for current prices and other tour options).
What should you bring with you?
- Lightweight towel
- Snorkel gear (if you prefer to use your own otherwise it is provided)
- Water bottle
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Underwater camera (I use this one and make sure it is attached to your wrist – I use this floaty pole)
)
Getting in the water
The water looked like smooth, royal silk from above.
As my body slid off the back of the boat, I took a deep breath through my snorkel and submerged into the cool salty water. Once in the water, I opened my eyes and had a ‘wow’ moment.
Well, that is the more eloquent version. In reality, it was more of a ‘wow this is f***ing awesome!’ moment!
I was surrounded by sharks.
Beautiful Galapagos and Sandbar sharks that were swimming around me, trying to figure out what I was.
Now, swimming freely in the water with sharks is probably unnerving for some.
Though, I can tell you that the experience will change your perceptions of these powerfully graceful creatures, especially if you view sharks like the Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, or even worse, Sharknado sharks.
You do know those are not documentaries right?
What to expect on a cage free shark swim in Hawaii
They have almost a glow in the water as if Mother Nature puts a spotlight on them to help our observation.
I too have a glow in the water actually, like an underwater Rudolph.
Though that is definitely not a Mother Nature spotlight and more a reminder to work on my tan.
Back to the sharks, this spotlight is a fleeting glimpse, as once they glide past you, they disappear back into the shadowy depths of the deep blue.
Coming and going without care.
They definitely command respect and it is a humbling, breathtaking experience knowing that you are in their home with the opportunity to share it with them this close.
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Which tour company is best?
Naturally, an experience like this requires a team of people to get you there and keep you safe.
That is where the crew at Hawaii Adventure Diving comes in.
I have been out on pelagic shark dives with two different companies here on Oahu, and Hawaii Adventure Diving is by far the best tour here.
As we started the tour, the first priority was the all-important safety briefing.
This was delivered to us by Nick, who explained how we should behave in the water to least agitate the sharks.
Again, we were diving into their home and needed to show our respect as well as ensure our own safety. Nice, long, slow movements are the key.
Is it ethical to swim with sharks in Hawaii?
Then, and this was one of the key aspects of the tour that gave it an edge, we got the shark behavior briefing.
Nick taught us all about the types of sharks we would most likely encounter, how to tell the different species apart, how to read their behavior, and deflect a bump if they are getting more curious.
All the things you need to know.
This was the most valuable part of the experience for me because once I was in the water, I was able to look at their body language and understand what they were displaying, putting that education from the briefing into practice.
From the briefing, I could tell which sharks were the dominant ones in the water, how to safely assert my dominance, and how to tell males from females among many other things.
The dive was not just being in the water with them, it was also learning about them and understanding them.
Conservation through education, delivered by people who are experts in their field.
The dive process
Once you reach the dive spot, the safety diver enters the water first while you get your fins and mask on.
The safety diver assesses the behavior of the sharks and establishes whether or not it is safe for the group to enter the water. Once you get the green light, you slide in and that is where the real fun begins.
There is a rope for safety, so if you are not as strong of a swimmer, you could still enjoy the tour in the water with the rope to hold on to.
Since they are wild animals, you may see a lot of sharks or you may only see a few.
That is for nature to decide.
I can guarantee you though, no matter how many you see, it is an exhilarating experience being with them.
Fun fact – sharks play chicken
One thing you will probably experience is a game of chicken.
Sharks like to play this to assert their dominance so you may just find yourself in a game of chicken with a shark.
I don’t mean that the shark looks at you and thinks ‘mmmmm…chicken’ a la Homer Simpson style.
They will just swim up at you and as long as you hold your ground and hold eye contact, they will probably swim off before they get to you.
This is just one of the interesting things that you learn in the briefing and put into practice in the water.
Final thoughts
All you need to do is keep calm, remember the training that the team gave you, and listen out for any extra instructions from the crew.
They are here to help you so make sure you follow their lead to get the best out of the experience.
Overall, I definitely recommend this tour and hope you all get a chance to experience a shark dive outside of a cage, though if you prefer that, they do offer cage dives too.
It was a five-star tour, from a team of educated professionals, and a once in a lifetime experience that I personally hope to do again while I am in Hawaii.
Where to stay on Oahu
If you plan to stay on the North Shore, I love Turtle Bay Resort. It is a fantastic resort that will give you a complete ‘I’m on vacation in Hawaii’ feel.
If you plan to stay in Waikiki, I love to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village when I am having a staycation.
No matter where you choose, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I use when I book accommodation and I can always find a good deal there.
For more information:
Visit the Hawaii Adventure Diving website and follow their Instagram for updates.
Other posts to help you plan a trip to Hawaii
- Best Beaches On Oahu – Here’s The 10 Beaches You Don’t Want To Miss
- Koko Head Stairs – How To Conquer The Stairs Of Doom
- Swim With Turtles On Oahu – A Guide To All The Best Places
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