From Kewalo Basin Down to a Sunken Ship Off Waikiki
Two boat dives out of Honolulu: a deep wreck the crew picks on the day, then a shallower reef.
A two-tank boat trip for divers who already hold a card. The first dive drops onto a sunken ship off Oahu's south shore. The second goes onto a shallower reef after a rest at the surface. Proof of certification is checked before you board, and the listing sets the minimum age at 15.
Dive Oahu runs the boat from Kewalo Basin Harbor in Honolulu, with departures at 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The listing puts the trip at three hours. The operator's own booking page says three to four.
The booking covers the boat, an in-water guide the listing describes as a PADI professional, rental gear, and snacks with soda and water. Gratuities, parking and hotel pickup are not included. GoPro rental, a Nitrox tank, a private guide and a private photographer are add-ons at extra cost.
Certified Diver: 2-Tank Deep Wreck and Shallow Reef Dive Off OahuTwo boat dives from Kewalo Basin: the Sea Tiger or YO-257 wreck, then a reef. About three hours. Proof of certification required.www.viator.comThe Crew Picks the Wreck on the Day
The listing names two possible wrecks, the Sea Tiger or the YO-257, and neither one is yours to lock in. The operator's booking page says the YO-257 site can see strong currents and is only dived when conditions are ideal.
The two are different ships. Dive Oahu describes the Sea Tiger as a cargo ship of nearly 190 feet, sunk in 1999 for Hawaii's artificial reef program and now sitting upright. The YO-257 was a Navy yard oiler that served in World War II and Korea before it was sunk in 1989. The smaller San Pedro, a fishing vessel sunk in 1996, lies close beside it.
A reviewer who dived on Thanksgiving Day 2025 wrote that the booking listed the Sea Tiger. On the boat a crew member asked the group which wreck to do, and the plan became the YO-257.
How Deep It Goes, and Who It Suits
Treat any single depth as approximate, because Dive Oahu's own pages give different numbers. Its booking page puts the decks of both wrecks at roughly 60 to 90 feet, with the ships resting in 115 to 123 feet of water. Its dive-site pages give the Sea Tiger and the YO-257 about 100 feet each, and its FAQ gives a third set.
Dive Oahu's wreck pages rate both as Advanced dives and say newer divers may stay on the outside of the wreck with close guidance. The listing asks only for proof of certification through PADI or another approved course, and names no level. Put your certification level and logged dives in the special requirements box when you book. The operator's FAQ says a digital certification card works.
Newly certified divers have done it, though one reviewer found the pace fast. A reviewer who first certified at Open Water level wrote in March 2026 that the Sea Tiger was his and his wife's first wreck dive. Another, diving with his two sons in 2021, wrote that the pace was fast and the surface interval short, and that he would bring his own dive computer next time.
The Reef Dive, and What Swims Past
The second dive is shallower, on a reef the crew chooses. Reviewers name different ones: a March 2026 trip went to Kewalo Pipe after the Sea Tiger, and a 2021 trip to Horseshoe Reef.
Dive Oahu's site pages list turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks at both wrecks, with visibility often 80 to 100 feet. Both pages name May through September as the clearest stretch of the year. The listing adds octopus, eels and dolphins to the possibilities and frames all of it as a chance to see, with no animal promised.
The Rules That Decide Whether You Go
- Minimum age 15, able to swim, and healthy
- Not recommended during pregnancy or for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- The booking form asks for your weight
- Be at the harbor 30 minutes before departure for waivers and gear fitting
- No flying for 24 hours after the dive. Leave a full day between this trip and your flight off Oahu.
The listing carries two cancellation rules. Its booking terms refund in full up to 24 hours before departure. The same listing also quotes Dive Oahu's own 48-hour policy, with payment forfeited inside that window. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead and both are covered. If the operator calls the trip off for poor weather, you choose between another date and a full refund.
📍 Check in at Dive Oahu's storefront at 1085 Ala Moana Boulevard, which the operator says sits directly in front of the boats. The map pin marks Kewalo Basin Harbor itself, not the storefront.
Two paid lots connect to the harbor, and the operator points to the posted pay system, PayByPhone included. Give yourself time to park and walk to check-in. There are public restrooms in the parking area and restrooms on the boats. The operator's own booking page lists swimwear, a towel and reef-safe sunscreen as yours to bring.
Then the boat heads out of Kewalo Basin toward the first wreck.