Cage-Free Shark Diving Oahu
Cage-free shark diving on Oahu’s North Shore guided by marine biologists.
★★★★★ 5.0 Google rating • 1,800+ reviews
AS SEEN ON
Shark Diving in Oahu Captured by Professional Photographers
Shark Diving Quick Details
Duration: 1 hour 30 min tour
Age: All ages welcome, however you must be 4ft tall minimum to participate.
Experience: We highly recommend having previous snorkel experience and you must know how to swim.
Time: We highly recommend booking as early as possible for better ocean conditions.
We do not accommodate scuba diving.
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To receive photos you can choose on the boat with the photographer. Photo packages are $85 per person and include multiple professional underwater edited photos of you and the sharks from our professional photographers on board that day. The photo and video packages are separate packages.
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As soon as possible, please email us at deepblueecotours@gmail.com at least 48 hours before your tour departure to request a videographer to be aboard! The video package is $120 per person and includes your individual dive videos from our videographer and a professionally edited highlight montage of your Deep Blue experience in the water with some of our favorite wildlife clips! All delivered in vertical reel format for easy sharing on social media!
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Our shared charter has a minimum requirement of 3 guests. If you have booked for a group of 1 or 2 people on an empty time slot and 3 person minimum hasn’t been met- we will reach out to you the day before your trip and offer to reschedule or refund your booking. If you are a party of 1 or 2 we recommend checking in with us 1-2 days before your tour to see if the trip has met the minimum requirement to run.
Shark Diving Price
Shark Diving Schedule
Daily Mon - Sun:
8:00am - 9:30am
10:00am - 11:30am
12:00pm - 1:30pm
2:00pm - 3:30pm
4:00pm - 5:30pm
What Is Cage-Free Shark Diving?
Cage-free shark diving means entering the open ocean with sharks without the barrier of a cage.
On our Oahu shark diving tour, guests snorkel at the surface rather than scuba dive. A safety rope attached to the boat is available to hold while you are in the water, and members of our crew enter the water with the group.
The experience allows you to observe sharks moving naturally through the open ocean while learning about their behavior, biology, and role in Hawaii’s marine ecosystem.
What to Expect on Your Shark Dive
Dive with sharks in the open water off the coast of North Shore Oahu. Get the chance to see species such as Galapagos, sandbar, and many others!
On your trip with us, you will be guided throughout the whole trip by our highly knowledgeable and trained crew of marine biologists.
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Once everyone is aboard, the crew will explain what you may see, how the dive works, and how guests should behave around the wildlife.
The boat ride offshore is approximately 25 minutes.
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Once conditions are assessed and the crew is ready, guests enter from the swim platform with one of our safety divers.
A safety rope secured to the boat is available to hold while snorkeling.
Guests typically spend approximately 30 minutes in the water.
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Galapagos sharks and sandbar sharks are among the sharks commonly encountered on our tours. Tiger sharks and other sharks may also appear.
Because these are wild animals in the open ocean, the species and number of sharks can vary from one trip to another.
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On the return trip, the crew can answer questions about what you observed and share more about shark behavior, marine science, and ocean conservation.
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There is always a chance (not guaranteed) of the crew spotting other wildlife on the way in (turtles, dolphins, whales, etc.). By the end of the trip we hope to have given you an experience that you will never forget, and a greater feeling of respect and love for the ocean and all of the life it provides.
Why Dive With Deep Blue Eco Tours?
Guided by Marine Biologists
Our crew explains shark behavior, what you are seeing in the water, and the role sharks play in Hawaii’s marine environment.
Cage-Free Open-Ocean Experience
There is no cage between you and the sharks. Guests snorkel at the surface while accompanied by our crew.
Safety Divers in the Water
Our crew briefs guests before entering the water and remains with the group during the encounter.
Small-Group Experience
Smaller groups allow the crew to provide more individual attention during the tour.
What Guests Say About Their Shark Dive
Comfort & Confidence
The guides made everyone feel comfortable in a real open water experience with the sharks.
★★★★★
Carla W., Tripadvisor, June 2026
Small-Group Experience
Much prefer the smaller group size and personalized experience.
★★★★★
Brad W., Tripadvisor, August 2026
Knowledgeable crew
The briefing on the way out, the crew in the water with you the whole time, the marine bio nerdery on the way back…
★★★★★
Katie McAtamney, Google, July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions About Cage-Free Shark Diving
Safety
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Yes! We (and many others) have dove with these sharks thousands of times. These sharks are Galapagos sharks. They eat small white crabs and do not look at humans as food. Humans are much bigger than their food source, and they see us as other large predators. They are also extremely used to humans since they see us every day. This is a safe and educational experience for all.
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Safety is our number one priority, and we want you to feel comfortable in the water at all times. For your comfort, we recommend practicing swimming and using a snorkel before joining our shark tours in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Also, tell the crew about your swimming concerns so they can plan accordingly. You will always have a safety diver with you, along with a life vest (upon request). However, if you choose not to snorkel, you can remain on the boat until the tour is over.
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At Deep Blue Eco Tours, we have a 100% good track record with no incidents. Also, shark diving has been taking place out of the Haleiwa Harbor for 10+ years and there has never been an incident.
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Yes! You can still participate. Sharks’ behavior is not affected by human blood. Think of human blood as a candle. To humans’ candles smell good, but they are not appetizing. Same with sharks, human blood and humans are not appetizing.
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We are swimming in the open ocean, which is a wild/uncontrolled environment. There are sharks, jellyfish, and other marine life. Therefore, we cannot guarantee safety. However, we have highly trained and experienced marine biologists on board and in the water with you at all times! We do have a clean track record with 0 incidents. The safety divers are there to make you feel the most comfortable in the water, and they will be the first ones in and last ones out of the water!
Prepare for the Shark Dive
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The night before the tour, get a good night's sleep. Then, take motion sickness medicine the night before, as well as 2 hours before the boat ride. The most common sea sickness medicine is Dramamine, which is an over-the-counter medication. We also recommend sea sickness wristbands that you can buy online or at some local pharmacies. When/if you are on the boat and you start to feel sick, stand up to get a fresh breeze and look out at the horizon. Also, drink a few sips of water and stay cool.
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Water bottle (no plastic, single-use bottles)
Towel (s)
Reef safe sunscreen
Feel free to bring your own snorkel mask and fins if you prefer to use them.
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YES! Feel free to bring your own GoPro or camera. However, we do offer photo packages for $85. These excellent packages can ensure you will get amazing photos of your experience. You can enjoy every second of your tour and let our professional photographers do the work.
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Wetsuits are not required for our shark tours in Haleiwa. However, feel free to bring one if you desire!
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We do not offer transportation to the harbor or boat. However, there are state buses and some hotel shuttles that will run all the way up to the North Shore. Also, you could rent a car or potentially Uber.
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We prefer you be at the harbor 20 minutes before your reservation. This gives us time to get you checked in and set up to take off on the boat. It also provides some wiggle room if you get lost trying to find the boat—our spot on the harbor changes daily.
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We will text you the boat's specific location in the harbor. If you need help, feel free to text or call that number (808-321-1251).
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The boat ride from the harbor to the dive location is about 25 minutes long. During the ride, there is always the potential to see wildlife along the way. You will also be given an educational briefing about sharks and their behaviors. You will also be informed on how to be as respectful as possible near large marine animals and what to expect when in the water!
Other Questions
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We only allow people 4 feet tall and up to dive with the sharks. They must be confident swimmers and comfortable in the open ocean.
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$100. We do this because it takes up space for a potential swimmer who would pay the full price, which is $150.
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If the wave or wind conditions seem dangerous, we will cancel and either reschedule you to the next open slot as soon as possible or refund your experience.
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We cannot guarantee seeing animals in the water. It's the wild ocean, so all the wildlife we see is different each day. However, the chance to see dolphins is higher in the morning during the summer months.
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We go to the same spot every day. This spot is within the general area where crab fishing is quite common. Therefore, the sharks are conditioned to associate the sound of the boat motor with food getting tossed off the crab boats. In conclusion, the sharks will come close to the boat when they hear the motor.
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We strongly guarantee that you will see sharks while in the water. However, we cannot guarantee the type of shark or how many you will see. There are so many species of sharks in the water, and they change constantly. We normally see sandbar sharks, Galapagos sharks, and the occasional tiger sharks, oceanic black tips, etc.
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You will spend 30 minutes swimming with the sharks.
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If there are fewer than three people booked for your tour day, we will call you 24 hours before and either reschedule you for a different time that day or a different day to make it a full trip.
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The photo package is $85 per person. It includes multiple edited, professional photos of you and the sharks (depending on your swimming ability) from our experienced photographers on board that day. You can decide on the day of your tour whether you want photos taken by the photographer or not.
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Edited photo packages can take 5-7 days prior to your trip to receive. You will receive them via a Dropbox link from the photographer you gave your contact information to on the boat the day of your tour.
Cancellations & Rescheduling Policy
Cancellations: Cancellations must be requested at least 48 hours before your scheduled tour time to receive a full refund. Cancellation requests must be submitted via email to deepblueecotours@gmail.com.
Rescheduling: Rescheduling also requires at least 48 hours' notice. Requests made with less than 48 hours' notice cannot be accommodated. Reschedule requests must be submitted via email to deepblueecotours@gmail.com.
No-Shows, Late Changes & Late Arrivals: Cancellations or rescheduling requests made within 48 hours of the scheduled tour time, as well as no-shows, are non-refundable. Guests are responsible for allowing sufficient travel time to arrive at the check-in location on time. Please plan ahead for traffic, road closures, parking, weather, or any other unforeseen delays. Guests who arrive after the scheduled check-in time will be considered a no-show, will forfeit their tour, and are not eligible for a refund or reschedule.
Weather: If a tour is canceled by Deep Blue Eco Tours due to unsafe weather or ocean conditions, guests may choose to reschedule for another available date or receive a full refund.
Minimum Guest Requirement: Our tours require a minimum of 3 guests to operate. If fewer than 3 guests are booked, we may contact you to reschedule your tour to another departure with additional guests. If we are unable to accommodate you on another departure, a full refund will be issued.
Adventure Awaits
Adventure Awaits
Book your shark diving adventure today—life is too short to miss out on this unforgettable experience! Dive in now and create memories that will last a lifetime.