Shark Cage Snorkeling North Shore Oahu: Native-Hawaiian Owned

Dive into shark cage snorkeling guided by Oahu’s native watermen who know these waters best

Shark cage snorkeling on Oahu's North Shore with Haleiwa Shark Tours, a Native-Hawaiian owned operator run by watermen Makua Rothman and Kala Alexander. You board one of two double-hull catamarans, ride out into the ocean, and snorkel in the cage with sharks. Both boats are built for stability and speed, which means more time in the water and less seasickness. Bottled water and snorkeling equipment are included. A live English-speaking guide leads the experience. Children from age 3 are welcome.

The experience

The boat ride out is where you start to feel the difference. Haleiwa Shark Tours operates the fastest and most stable catamarans on the island: double-hull builds that cut through the water without the pitch and roll that turns stomachs. That stability is not a luxury. It is the reason you spend more time actually in the cage instead of gripping the rail. The two boats run the same operation, so you get the same access either way.

Once you're in the cage, you're snorkeling face-to-face with sharks in their space. The cage keeps you safe while you watch them move through the water at close range. Something you cannot do from a boat or from shore. The experience runs about two hours total, from boarding to return, and the pace is built around what happens in the water, not around a schedule. Bottled water is there when you need it, and all snorkeling gear is provided, so you show up and get in.

The company is owned and run by Native-Hawaiian watermen who have spent their lives in the ocean. That background shapes how the operation moves: the respect for the water, the knowledge of where to go and when, and the attention to keeping people comfortable so they can focus on what they came for. A live guide in English is with you throughout, answering questions and pointing out what you're seeing.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• bottled water.
• live English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

ObserverGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Observer option: Come along on the boat ride and watch the sharks from the deck.

Shark cage diving off "The World Famous North Shore of Oahu", HawaiiGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

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

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day, 7 start times, from US$ 100 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Thursday: 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Thursday: 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.3 with pickup ›

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

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

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Haleiwa Shark Tours

Is this one for you?Book the snorkeling option if you want to be in the water face-to-face with sharks. Book the observer option if you want to watch from the boat without entering the cage. Both run on the same stable catamaran, so the choice is just about how close you want to get.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

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's included in the shark cage snorkeling experience?

Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are included. The guide is live and speaks English. You do not need to bring or arrange your own gear.

How long does the shark cage snorkeling tour take?

The full experience runs about two hours, from boarding the boat to return. That time includes the ride out to the cage location and the snorkeling itself.

Why does Haleiwa Shark Tours use double-hull catamarans?

The double-hull design makes the boats faster and more stable than single-hull vessels. Stability means less seasickness and more time actually snorkeling in the cage instead of dealing with rough water.

Is the shark cage snorkeling tour accessible for people with mobility needs?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. If you have specific accessibility questions, contact the operator before booking to confirm what works for your situation.

What makes this shark cage tour different from other operators?

Haleiwa Shark Tours is the only Native-Hawaiian owned shark cage diving company on the island. The owners, Makua Rothman and Kala Alexander, are watermen with a lifetime of ocean experience, and that knowledge and respect for the water shapes how the operation runs.