Niihau Scuba Diving: 2 or 3 Tank Private Charter

Monk seals found nowhere else on earth live in these waters.

Private scuba diving charter to Niihau for certified divers, with two or three tank options and a guide underwater at each site. The boat departs from Kauai's Kikiaola harbor and reaches Niihau in one hour, cutting travel time roughly in half compared to other operators. Between dives, you tour Lehua Crater (an extinct volcano now a seabird sanctuary), while eating lunch on board.

The experience

The boat leaves Kikiaola small boat harbor at 6:30 am. You'll try on gear at the dock before the one-hour crossing to Niihau, where the dive sites feature vertical walls with seemingly endless bottoms. Sandbar sharks, Hawaiian monk seals, walls of butterfly fishes, and manta rays are common sightings. Your dive guide, Jessie, stays underwater with you at each site to point out wildlife and keep you safe. The crew caps groups at six divers, which means you're not competing for the guide's attention or the best vantage points.

After the first dive, you return to the boat for lunch and a tour of Lehua Crater. The extinct volcano is now a seabird sanctuary, and the crew points out their favorite birds and the distinctive rock formation called the Keyhole. On the way around Lehua, you'll often spot dolphins and manta rays. Then you head back out for your second dive (or third, depending on which option you book). The ride home takes one to one and a half hours depending on weather and sea conditions.

You choose between a two-tank or three-tank dive when you book. The operator recommends at least 15 prior dives before joining this charter. If weather prevents a crossing to Niihau, the crew dives off Kauai instead and applies a 45 percent refund. Scuba equipment, lunch, snacks, bottled water, and an on-board restroom are included.

What’s included

• Use of scuba equipment.
• lunch and snacks on board.
• bottled water.
• an on-board restroom.
• a dive guide underwater at each site.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Niihau scuba, 2-tank optionGuide in English · 06:30Lasts 8 hours

Private Niihau scuba, 3-tank optionGuide in English · 06:30Lasts 10 hours

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Explore Kauai Scuba

Is this one for you?Book the two-tank option if you want a full day without the extra dive time, or choose three tanks if you're comfortable with a longer underwater commitment and want to explore more of Niihau's sites. Either way, the small group size and experienced crew mean you're not waiting for others or competing for the guide's attention.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What makes Niihau diving different from diving near Kauai?

Niihau's sites have vertical walls that drop seemingly endlessly, crystal clear visibility, and large marine life including species like Hawaiian monk seals found nowhere else on earth. The operator's one-hour crossing cuts your total travel time roughly in half compared to other dive shops.

How many dives do I do, and what happens between them?

You complete two dives at different Niihau sites (or three if you book that option). Between dives, the crew serves lunch on board and tours Lehua Crater, an extinct volcano and seabird sanctuary where you'll see the distinctive Keyhole rock formation and often spot dolphins and manta rays.

What's the full day like from start to finish?

You meet at 6:30 am at Kikiaola harbor, try on gear, then cross to Niihau in about one hour. After two dives with your guide underwater, you eat lunch and tour Lehua Crater for roughly an hour, then return to Kauai in one to one and a half hours depending on conditions. The full outing is around eight hours.

What if weather stops the boat from reaching Niihau?

If conditions prevent the crossing, the crew dives off Kauai instead and gives you a 45 percent refund. October through April, weather makes the Niihau crossing harder to guarantee.

How many people dive together on this charter?

Groups stay at six divers maximum, which keeps the experience small and lets your guide give each diver proper attention underwater.