Hanauma Bay

Best time to dive

January to December; May to September

What you might see

• Sea turtleReliably seen

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Snorkel-friendly - True

Safety notes

Rip currents/surge at the Keyhole and Witches Brew/Toilet Bowl channel; coral cuts; strict no-touch rules for turtles and monk seals with real enforcement; scuba diving prohibited except for City & County of Honolulu commercial-permit holders (Part IV rules: max 6 annual/5 monthly/4 daily permits, weekdays only, groups capped at 6 people including instructors, $1M liability insurance required); heavy visitor volume; reef-safe/mineral sunscreen effectively required

Permits & fees

$25 entry per person for non-Hawaii residents ages 13+ (plus online service fee); Hawaii residents and children 12 & under enter free with ID; parking $3/vehicle non-resident, $1 resident; mandatory online reservation opens 2 days before visit at 7:00am HST via the City & County of Honolulu system (pros.hnl.info/hanauma-bay); commercial scuba requires a separate City Commercial Scuba Diving permit

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Honolulu