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    Waikiki Dive Center

    4.4 (569 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 7:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Climbing out after the last certification dive
    Shannon P.

    It was very fun! There are great instructors and many animals you can see diving! Definitely recommend coming to scuba dive. Our 13 yo was certified here and the instructors worked really well with him- special Kudos to Micah and Matt and boat captain Steve!

    White tip chilling on the ocean floor
    Mike C.

    This shop is amazing. Schedule your dive trip with them and leave your gear at home. Seriously they give you everything you need for an amazing dive experience. The dive sites are bursting with sea life. Everything from giant turtles to several species of shark on my recent dive. Zoey and Yoshi are amazing and k ow what they are doing. Under their guidance you will have a safe and memorable dive.

    Edward B.

    The captain and crew were amazing. Our dive master was very knowledgeable and helped us with all of our questions and needs.

    Our boat for our dive.
    Cassandra G.

    We scheduled a Discover Scuba Diving dive here. There were multiple instructors, but Terrance is the real deal. He was not our directly assigned instructor, but he was amazing with the most anxious participants. He treated them in such a way that they could be encouraged in a struggle and not lose their dignity. I was truly impressed with his abilities. Chad was our assigned instructor. He did a great job as well. I was nervous in very choppy water, but he encouraged me to make the dive and assured me I had all the skills. I made it and had two successful dives for a complete newbie with no dive experience. If you are trying to dive for the first time, or a certified diver just wanting to go out, this team can accommodate you. We would book here again. The only photo I got was of the back of the boat with no people in it.

    Drew A.

    Just want to send thanks to Chad and captain Jim. Went out with a small group and had a solid time.

    Octopus
    Doug B.

    Awesome! Chad, Anna, April, Zoe, Capt Steve, Capt Yoshi. This is my 3rd annual visit and I keep coming back. I'll be back next year. They run what looks like a very safe operation. Rental equipment looks well maintained (although I brought my own). Love the big boat. Lots of room. I dove three days and with my dive guide, averaged 4-6 total guests in our group. I'm sure it could get more crowded but the ratio seemed good. I wish they'd let me leave my gear even if just from dive to dive. I understand they don't want the liability. Best location. Short van ride to the boat. Check them out!

    Instructor Ryan. Hooah!
    Adam M.

    Ryan is a great instructor! Very paciente and knowledgeable. Captain Jim was very friendly and skilled. Whole experience was top notch and they really went the extra mile! Water was incredible and we saw sea turtles and beautiful fish and moray eels.

    Sea turtle on a Dive Charter with Waikiki Dive Center
    Jon S.

    I dove several charters with Waikiki Dive Center and had an incredible experience every time. Taylor, April, Anne, Natasha, and Micah were awesome--super friendly, helpful, and always quick to help me spot interesting marine life to photograph. Captain Yoshi, Steve, and Jim kept everything running smoothly on the boat, assisting with gear and making sure all the passengers were comfortable and having a great time. Highly recommend if you're looking for a great underwater adventure in Waikiki!

    Tash B.

    Very convenient location in the heart of Waikīkī. I was in town for a week and took the open water certification course with them (heads up you can take the prerequisite learning course direct in the PADI website for $59 cheaper). It took three days in total which I did back to back; first day was in a shallow bay instead of pool which I appreciated, more of an authentic test experience, the next two days each had two dives at the same site which kind of bummed me out. Would have been nice to check out various sites given how far I flew to get certified. Pros: very friendly dive masters - shout out to Micah and Matt! And Selena at the front desk was super friendly and knowledgeable. Gear was clean and dry for the most part. Cons: It pissed me off they buried the lead on the computer not being apart of the very expensive certification cost. On top of that, to my surprise on day two I learned renting the watch for an extra $50 was DAILY and not for all three days. To the owner - that's ridiculous and sneaky. Not to mention the poor quality - none of them which had a part to tuck the super long neck into which kept getting in the way. Be transparent about add ons please. They also charge you for new mouth pieces on the regulator but on day two I inhaled mine and there was sand in it so that's a farce. Because they bundle you up with other groups that booked different types of dives - expect to lose most of your morning/day to these sessions. Typically we'd get back to the dive shop at 2:30 (starting at 9). Suggestions: - The moment I got " certified" was so lack luster both on the boat and at the shop. I'm a UX designer and I highly recommend investing a little more delight into this for your customers, it will go a long way both in reviews but also memories and referrals. - Would have been nice for the masters to at least offer to take one picture of you on your dives so you have a keep sake - as students you're not allowed to bring your own cameras in the water. Huge bummer. - Sell headbands for those who want to avoid dreads after dives - Incentivizing five star reviews for a sticker is unethical. I tried to buy the sticker to commemorate my certification (god forbid they give these out for free); because I wanted to write an honest review, and they won't let you. So you're forced to inflate your reviews which is just bad business practice. All in all outside of all those very manageable opportunities to improve- was a good experience and a great check on my bucket list!

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    21 days ago

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    1 month ago

    Everyone was really really polite, and our instructor was very kind. 10/10 would recommend!

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    2 months ago

    Great dive with awesome dive masters. great reefs. Lots of sea turtles and marine life

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    5 days ago

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    5 days ago

    Great experience. Rozz was fantasizing and got us set up with everything we needed to go snorkeling! Highly recommend

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    2 months ago

    April was an amazing dive master and helped me feel very comfortable after several years of not diving. Highly recommend!

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    12 days ago

    friendly folk, extremely professiona! and super fin! can't wait to come back next year!

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    2 months ago

    Chad was a great guide! Love his sarcastic humor and Patrick was a great photographer! Would highly recommend for your first dive!

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    6 months ago

    Yoshi and April were awesome and so informative! Would recommend the morning dive it was so much fun and beautiful!!

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    Waikiki Dive Center Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Waikiki Dive Center

    Do you have a diving mask for myopia?Can we rent it?

    Aloha William, We have prescription mask for our divers to use for free.… 

    For non-certified divers, are we allowed to bring our own cameras and such to take photos?

    Yes, you can. The instructor will let you know when you can use your camera. It is usually after the training session and you passed the initial skills.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Waikiki Dive Center

    Captain Yoshi was great as well and took his time to help me with blocking the airway to clear my mouth of water.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Deep Freediving Instruction

    Deep Freediving Instruction

    4.3
    (11 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    The management is a mess. The instructor wasn't told I was coming to the confined water session. No…read moremessaging, no check-in ahead of the class because the instructor didn't know I was coming. I was lost, called and no one picked up the phone because everyone was in water. They expected me, a complete beginner, to put on all the gears myself and swim to the teaching location (the confined water pool is at least 7ft, someone not comfortable with water can potentially drown without supervision). As a result I missed half of the class and wasn't qualified for the open water session. I asked for a refund and they pointed to me to their one-year free instruction policy, which will cost me non-trivial hotel, flight expenses for another trip. Despite of the above, Max was very patient catching me up when I was late to the class. I appreciate his instruction.

    this is a review for Neal Tyagi. My partner and I took the Level 1 Free Diving class and also did a…read moreprivate coaching session with him. Neal has great energy and is passionate and knowledgeable about the sport of free-diving. he is also very attentive, detail-oriented and challenges you in a gentle way. i learned a lot from our time together about the mind-body connection present in free-diving, and by the end of our session together definitely saw shifts in how i related to the physical act of diving and understanding how to better my technique. thanks Neal, for the gems. hope to get out there with you again soon!

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    Honolulu Freedivers

    Honolulu Freedivers

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    My short review for the Wave 1 beginner freediving course is: If you're even slightly interested,…read moretake this course! Whether you're beginner or "advanced" but not certified, you won't regret it!! Since there were no other reviews here yet, I decided to also write an in-depth (see what I did there?) one. Now the long review... I'm so glad that I enrolled in the freediver certification course with Honolulu Freedivers. I've been an avid snorkeler for decades, competed in distance freestyle ocean swims, paddling competitions and triathlons--even taught some folks how to swim. I LOVE the ocean, BUT I also love to be able to BREATHE often, whenever I want to, even more. I could dive to pool depth, but needed to pop right back up. So, freediving was always kind of a unicorn. Prior to taking the certification course, holding my breath during the exertion of ocean dives was incredibly hard for me. Despite having good cardio, the urge to breathe while swimming underwater and the desire to surface was overwhelming. I tried watching hours of YouTube "expert" videos on my own. But it didn't really help, and in retrospect I'm lucky to not have accidentally drowned trying some of the stuff I saw. In the two-day, info-packed beginner course (Wave 1), Derek's instruction and his course materials helped me to fully understand my self-inflicted limitations. On the first day, extended my person best static (land) breath hold by a full minute! In the water, I was able to reach AND RELAX FOR A WHILE at a depth I would have thought impossible for me--then on day two, I DOUBLED that distance to earn my certification (20 meters). Derek is ultra-experienced, patient, friendly and puts safety first during dives. His assistant kept an extra set of eyes on us and provided additional instruction/feedback. The pre-dive breathe up and the post-dive recovery were drilled extensively because of their importance. He gave precise, helpful critiques. And, because he limits his class size, everyone had more than enough time and it was fun!! I felt very safe doing all the dives. Some went perfectly, and for the ones where I lapsed on technique, Derek was right there to keep me from making things worse for myself. Then at the surface after recovery he was quick to give corrective instruction for the next dive. Most importantly, I also learned how to confidently deal with dive buddy emergencies: shallow water blackout, loss of motor control, cramps, etc. I now have increased value as a dive buddy for my friends, family and fellow divers because of this class. With what I learned, I might save a life one day, maybe my own. An added bonus is that any diver certified through this class, has an open invitation to attend recurrent Honolulu Freedivers boat dives and weekly pool training, and also becomes a member of an international online community group (Molchanovs) where even more material is accessible. I took the class with two other friends and made a new friend, as a tourist also dropped in to attend. We all agreed it was well worth the investment! Thanks, Derek and V!!

    Fantastic first-time Freedive experience; exceeded my expectations! Derek is an amazing freediver…read morewho excels as an instructor. His reputation as a patient and positive teacher is well deserved. He gave me the confidence to go further than I thought possible. Highly recommend! - Will

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    Honolulu Freedivers
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    One Ocean Diving

    One Ocean Diving

    4.7
    (373 reviews)
    28.1 mi

    I created a Yelp account just to write this review. This is the most amazing shark diving company…read more One Ocean Diving is the poster child of conservation and education. Once you try this dive, you will want to go more than once. It will change your perspective on sharks. The team at One Ocean is the best. They are hyper aware of the safety of their guests. They are kind, patient, warm, friendly, and happy to be there. Once you complete a dive you will become an advocate for sharks. They are really peaceful and mellow swimming around everyone. If you are on Oahu do not miss this opportunity. Skip the cage and go with One Ocean Diving. Thank you for a round two dive! I first tried this place in 2024. It was so good, I ended up returning for a second dive. A wonderful team of people trying to spread awareness and education.

    There are many options for shark diving on the North Shore…read more One Ocean Diving seems like they are committed to the shark conservation, research, and education. You sign up online. With the times, if there are not enough they will consolidate times. We were signed up for 10am but got moved to 8am. You meet at Haleiwa docks near the blue hut (see photo). They provide mask, snorkel, and fins. You should bring a rash guard or wetsuit. The ride out is about 15 mins and as is typical in Hawaii, water can be choppy so you might get a little seasick. They give you instructions on the boat. Once there you hang on to a rope on the side of the boat and they take you individually to dive down closer to the sharks. We got lucky because there were tiger sharks (see photos). The cost is about $150 person but I would recommend paying some additional money for the go pro. You really want some documentation of what you did and saw. It's $50 for 2 people. They also have $250 option for photos and go pro but I think the go pro was enough. The people were really good and it was a great experience for all of us. Strongly recommend.

    Photos
    Safety diver Faith going over how to be safe and respectful in the water with the sharks with me my 79-year-old mom
    Safety diver Faith going over how to be safe and respectful in the water with the sharks with me my 79-year-old mom
    Getting comfortable in the water
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    Westside Dive & Tackle

    Westside Dive & Tackle

    4.2
    (74 reviews)
    15.4 mi
    $$

    When it was time to upgrade my short fins and diving mask that I literally found on the beach -…read moreWestside Dive & Tackle was the spot I decided to go to. I walked into a few other surf and snorkel spots but they mostly carried short fins. I went with the Leaderfins which are the most affordable carbon fins. The fins do come separately from the foot pocket, so I also got their forza foot pockets. They do offer a service where they put together your fins and foot pockets but only certain people are trained on that, so I did have to pick it up just a few days later- and that service is $30. I also got a pair of diving socks to go with my fins. They have different sizes, thicknesses, and cuts (high vs low). I also got a new diving mask and snorkel. The best thing about going to a dive shop is the ability to try things on and Westside Dive has so many different options. Being able to put on the foot pockets with the diving socks or even just trying on a few different masks to find the one that best fits your face is why it's better to come in person than buying online. The service was also super friendly. I was making some big purchases, so I wanted to make sure that each component was exactly right and the staff here was helpful and overall super chill. We talked story for a bit, exchanged where we like to go diving and even some fish recipes. If you're looking for diving gear, support local and check out Westside Dive!

    KAYDENZE is the man! Love this shop! Always helps out! Thanks for setting up my bf pathosread more

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    Westside Dive & Tackle
    Westside Dive & Tackle
    My instructor Max and me  finished my dives for my Open Water Diver license

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    My instructor Max and me finished my dives for my Open Water Diver license
    Hawaii Adventure Diving

    Hawaii Adventure Diving

    4.8
    (214 reviews)
    28.2 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    It's honestly hard for me to even put into words how much this experience means to me. Diving with…read moreHawaii Adventure Diving on the North Shore is something truly special, and every single time I go, it exceeds my expectations. The crew consistently goes above and beyond to make the experience both fun and safe especially Ro, Stacey, Terry, and Ronnie. Their professionalism, energy, and genuine care make all the difference. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows in every detail of the dive. The optional photo package provided by Terry is worth every penny. I'm a certified diver and have had the opportunity to dive in several locations around the world, as well as with other companies on the North Shore, but none compare to this team. Hawaii Adventure Diving stands in a league of its own. This experience means the world to me. I travel to Hawaii every month for work, and I try to do this shark dive every time I'm here. That alone says everything. I won't be diving with any other shark diving companies on the North Shore, Hawaii Adventure Diving is simply the best!! The North Shore has been hit really hard recently with devastating flooding. Hawaii Adventure Diving's crew needs our support. Book your dive today!!

    100/10 I would trust them every single time! If you are looking for a little adrenaline but safe…read morethis team is definitely the way to go. Everything was explained thorough and they made our family feel safe with them. Tgey gave us the most amazing experience in the world. Also make sure you buy the pictures you won't regret it!

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    Affinity Freediving

    Affinity Freediving

    5.0
    (4 reviews)
    9.7 mi

    I learned about Affinity Freediving through Elaine's monthly community freediving meetups. At the…read moretime, I had only just started getting into freediving and was also new to the island, so the meetup was an opportunity to get connected to the freediving community and to make friends. Despite being a beginner, I felt very welcomed to the group and appreciated Elaine's careful attention to our group's safety and comfort. Her experience as a clinician and emphasis on mental health and making freediving as accessible as possible resonated with me, which is why I chose to take my Level 1 course with Affinity Diving. My experience with Affinity Diving exceeded all my expectations. Elaine was patient, receptive to various learning styles and experience levels in our group, and was able to tailor the course to meet everyone's individual needs. Our theory portion of the course was outside on Magic Island which was wonderful compared to a traditional classroom setting, and having the lagoon which meets the criteria for the confined water portion of the course was really nice because it was less cramped than a swimming pool which is more common for other courses. Elaine also provided nearly all the equipment including weight belts, weights, masks, fins, even spare neoprene pants and tops, which not all schools provide. This also gave us a chance to try out gear that we weren't all necessarily in the position to be able to upgrade right away. I passed my exam, but did not pass my skills test at the end of Day 2. Elaine was encouraging and unlike other instructors who leave it up to the student to reschedule make up sessions, Elaine took the initiative to offer times to reschedule to anyone that didn't pass, and encouraged me to continue attending the monthly community free diving meetups. I don't know of any other instructor or dive school who as as invested in their students success as Elaine, and about a month later after additional practice, I was able to come back and complete my final skills test. Affinity Freediving's commitment to inclusivity and community is genuine and I have come away from the course with lots of wonderful memories and new dive buddies. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say and would recommend this course and Elaine as instructor to anyone looking to discover freediving or take their existing skills to the next level. Mahalo! -Jess Chilinski

    Elaine's instruction was exceptional! Tailored to my level, patient, and experienced. Def recommend…read morediving with her, Will be back for more!

    Photos
    Your freedive instructor, Elaine.
    Your freedive instructor, Elaine.
    Affinity Freediving
    Receive personalized attention.

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    Receive personalized attention.

    Waikiki Dive Center - scuba - Updated August 2026

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