The Only West Side Dive Boat

Since January of 2022 the South Seas II became the ONLY dive boat operating on the west coast.  There are no dive boats operating out of Ko Olina and only our boat, the South Seas II is operating out of Waianae Small Boat Harbor.

We are keeping the groups small with less that 50% of boat capacity allowed and a 6:1 diver to guide ratio.  We are providing all high quality scuba gear and directly supervised dives (unless you tell us you don’t want that).  

We have transportation from Ko Olina hotels.  As of this writing our new van has not yet arrived, so transportation is free in an older vehicle.  

Why is diving on the west side so much better?  The conditions of the reefs and abundance of lava tubes are a big reason. But for the comfort of the divers, it is mostly about the Waianae mountain range.  The mountains block the prevailing trade winds out of the northwest, putting Waianae coast in the lee of the mountains.  That makes for calmer, flatter water than elsewhere on the island.  The only downside for people visiting the island is that it is about an hour and 20 minute drive from Waikiki.  Ko Olina is only 20 minutes.  There is a common saying here on Oahu “the west side is the best side”.

It’s been commonly thought that the island of Oahu is made up of the remnants of two volcanoes, Waianae and Koolau. But extending almost 62 miles WNW from Kaena Point is a large region called the submarine Kaena Ridge.

It is that region that has now been recognized to represent a precursor volcano to the island of Oahu, and on whose flanks the Waianae and Koolau Volcanoes later formed.

Much of our knowledge of Hawaiian volcanoes is based on those that rise high above sea level, and almost all of those, formed on the flanks of earlier ones. Kaena formed in isolation on the deep ocean floor.

The Waianae volcano is now extensively eroded, bearing large amphitheater valleys on these western slopes. These valleys are some of the largest in Hawaii, and they are believed to represent the sources for large landslides now seen on the sea floor to the west of the island.

Because of these landslides, the topography found while diving on the west coast of Oahu is unique. On this side of Oahu you get to experience deep lava tubes, archways, and caverns. Also Hyaloclastite, a hydrated tuff-like breccia rich in black volcanic glass, formed during volcanic eruptions under water, (presumably from the Kaena volcano).

Explore this amazing underwater topography on our Scuba Diving Tour. See the countryside of Waianae and dive a variety of locations including wrecks, caverns, and reefs.Visit different dive sites that offer you different perspectives on the marine world of west side Oahu!