Surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian Islands are easily the best place in the United States to get up close and personal with marine life. And while we endlessly enjoy experiencing the sea life you’ll find off the coast of Hawaii — from Hawaiian green sea turtles and tropical fish to humpback whales and spinner dolphins — we’re not entirely thrilled to encounter the sharks that inhabit the Pacific… until now, that is.
If you love sharks and want to see them in their natural habitat — albeit safely from inside a cage — you might be interested in embarking on an epic cage diving excursion with North Shore Shark Adventures.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
Whether you’re new to exploring the vast Pacific Ocean or a seasoned adventure enthusiast, cage diving in the crystalline waters off Oahu’s north shore is the perfect weekend activity, and trust us: it’s not as scary as it sounds, especially when you know what to expect.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
Your adventure will begin at the Haleiwa Boat Harbor, where you will head out on a 32-foot boat and be given safety tips, boat rules, and what to do if you’re feeling seasick.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
Along your three-mile journey to the dive site, you will witness sweeping, panoramic views of the Hawaiian coastline as well as spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, flying fish, and in the winter months, humpback whales.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
Once at the shark diving cage, the sharks will rise from the depths of the ocean to greet you. You see, the sharks are attracted to the sound of the boat’s motors which they interpret as a crabbing vessel and a potential food source.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
You can expect to see young whale sharks as well as Galapagos, sandbar, hammerhead, and gray reef sharks during your tour. The sharks range in size from five to fifteen feet and are often swimming just inches away from the cage and the spectators inside.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
While we understand that this sounds terrifying, you have nothing to worry about here: this is the safest way to swim with sharks in the Aloha State. This excursion is not only the first and finest in Hawaii, but it’s sure to change your life and affect your attitude towards sharks in Hawaii.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
Tours last approximately two hours from check-in to completion and are offered several times per day.
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website The cost is just $96 for adult snorkelers, with additional discounts for kama’aina, military, and students. Children over the age of three are also allowed to participate, and if you don’t want to get in the cage, you can purchase a ticket as a boat rider to enjoy the experience with your family from a more comfortable distance.
Address: 66-105 Haleiwa Road, Haleiwa, HI 96712
North Shore Shark Adventures/Website
The cost is just $96 for adult snorkelers, with additional discounts for kama’aina, military, and students. Children over the age of three are also allowed to participate, and if you don’t want to get in the cage, you can purchase a ticket as a boat rider to enjoy the experience with your family from a more comfortable distance.
North Shore Shark Adventures is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, or to book this excursion for yourself, visit their website. You can also follow them on Facebook. So, tell us: are you brave enough to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with sharks off the coast of Oahu?
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