UPDATED MAR 2020. Do you guys remember that time I had the crazy idea to free dive with sharks? Well, as you may already know from my Instagram feed, last week I went back for more! After my first dive, I said that it was an incredible experience. That is a statement I still stand by because this was just as incredible as the first time (and it was my third dive with the company!) Maybe I’m crazy or maybe I’m onto something great. Who knows? Either way, I firmly believe that Hawaii Adventure Diving is the gold standard when it comes to shark diving tours. It’s an adventure that will challenge your perceptions of sharks and leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
Free Dive With Sharks On Oahu (And Why You’d Be Crazy Not To Do It!)
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
FAQ for taking a tour to free dive with sharks
Where is it located?
Haleiwa Harbor is the meeting point, approx 50 minutes drive from Waikiki.
Which company should you tour with?
Hawaii Adventure Diving.
What is the cost?
$150USD per person – check their website for current prices and other tour options.
What should you bring with you?
- Underwater camera (I use a GoPro
and strap it to my wrist with this floaty selfie stick) - Lightweight towel
- Snorkel gear if you want to use your own, otherwise it is provided
- Swimsuit
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Cash to tip the crew
)
You should absolutely free dive with sharks on Oahu.
What it’s like to free dive with sharks
Every time we swim in the ocean we are entering the shark’s domain.
However, there’s something special about getting up close and personal with them on a tour like this. After each tour, I have come out of the water with more respect and appreciation for these graceful creatures than when I entered.
Watching them glide through the water around you is so peaceful. I know that sounds crazy but don’t knock it before you’ve tried it! It really is peaceful as they cruise around you so effortlessly.
Not only do I love watching them swim, but I also love the educational element of the tours.
Today I am sharing 10 fun facts about sharks that I have learned on my dive tours from the experts Captain Chris and Safety Diver Nick.
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10 fun facts I learned from the crew
1. A free dive with sharks is all about reading body language.
Sharks (and all animals for that matter) speak very clearly in how they behave and carry themselves. You just need to know what to look out for. Lucky for us that when diving on one of the tours we get an expert in the water with you to ‘speak shark’.
2. There is a system to how they group themselves
Generally the sharks you will see on the dive congregate by species, then by sex.
3. They’ll always have a toothy grin
Sharks never run out of teeth and may grow over 20,000 in their lifetime!
4. They’re basically old as dirt
Sharks are some of the oldest animals on the planet and have remained relatively unchanged for the last 30 million years.
5. Baby sharks share a name with baby dogs
Baby sharks are called pups and can be born in various ways including as live young or as eggs.
6. The mamas put in work
Depending on the species, sharks can have one to one hundred babies at a time!
7. Sharks have great vision
Sharks have excellent eyesight with a lens up to seven times more powerful than humans.
8. Sharks are held in high regard
Many Polynesian societies regard sharks as gods or demigods.
9. We kill more sharks than they kill humans
Ten to one hundred million sharks are killed by humans each year compared to approximately only six humans killed by sharks each year. To keep our oceans healthy we NEED sharks and the key to helping this situation is education. The more you know about the problem, the more you can avoid being part of it.
10. The crews favorite shark fact
I asked the crew what their favorite shark fact was and it was unanimous: “You are more likely to get bitten by a New Yorker than by a shark”.
I have to admit, I think it could be my favorite shark fact too!
What to do on the North Shore after your dive
If you’d like to do a hike on the North Shore, I recommend:
For snorkeling, I recommend:
There are a lot of incredible beaches on the North Shore like:
- Waimea Bay
- Sunset Beach
- Banzai Pipeline
- Dolores’ Beach.
- It’s lesser-known and a bit of a drive, but I also like Mokulēʻia Beach Park.
I should note that during winter the beaches on the North Shore are pretty much off-limits due to rough surf conditions.
If you go at this time, it’s great to see the huge waves and watch surf competitions but you won’t be able to swim or snorkel.
Where to stay on Oahu
I recommend staying in Waikiki because it has such an energetic vibe and there is always something going on. It’ll be an early start to drive to Haleiwa for this tour, but it’s only one day so not a big deal in my opinion.
I recommend the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. I’ve stayed here before and it was an amazing experience. Make sure you time your day with a Friday in it so you can catch the fireworks show they put on.
If you’d prefer to stay on the North Shore, I recommend Turtle Bay Resort. I’ve also stayed here and it’s an incredible resort with lots of activities and tours.
For other hotels, I recommend searching on Booking.com. I use this to book accommodation when I travel and can always find a good deal there.
For more information on free diving with sharks:
Check out my full review of the free dive with sharks tour
I hope this has inspired you to book your own tour to free dive with sharks on Oahu.
If you found it useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!
Free diving with sharks was definitely a main highlight of my time in Hawai’i. I learned so much during my dive and gained a much deeper respect for these amazing creatures. I was surprised by how much my nerves lessened as I learned more about them during the tour. I would love to go again, but my motion sickness is a killer …
Oh yeah we had some people spewing on our tour too! Haha. Definitely a highlight though and so interesting to learn about the sharks. Such a fun experience!