Hawaii Shark Encounters: Cage Dive

Quick Details

Age Requirement

5 years and older

Activity Times

7:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Tour Duration

2 Hours

Overview

Jump in the clear blue Pacific Ocean and come face to face with 5 to 15 foot sharks. Learn about conservation efforts and the Shark’s role in Hawaiian culture.

Highlights

You get to see sharks ranging in size from 5 to 15 feet!
Safe for You & for the Sharks
Each shark cage is fitted with a poly-glass window for perfect safe viewing
No scuba gear required
All divers welcome (No experience required)
Eco-friendly

What's Included

Diving mask
Snorkel
Shark cage
A comfy spot on our seaworthy boat 'The Kainani'
Tour guides to fill you in on the significance of sharks to Hawaiian culture and their critical part in a balanced marine ecosystem.

Upgrade Options

GoPro Rental ($50)

Description

Why sit back on your couch watching the shark cage divers on TV have all the fun?  This is your chance of a lifetime to feel the excitement of being face to face with one of the ocean's most important and precious predators from the safety of a cage.

We are proud of our reputation to educate people worldwide about sharks as we have been featured on The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and Animal Planet.

We pride ourselves in offering an eco-friendly subsurface experience that is safe and inspiring for everyone from seasoned conservationists to budding citizen scientists. We hope you’ll join us on a trip three miles off the gorgeous North Shore in Oahu, Hawaii for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of some of the ocean’s most fascinating and elegant creatures: sharks!

All Divers Welcome

Because our cage hovers just below the surface of the water, you can relax and experience the ocean using a mask and snorkel. No scuba gear required!

Each diving cage is fitted with a poly-glass window where you can watch the natural environment of the ocean unfold right before your eyes as you come nose to nose with the curious sharks that glide up to visit.

Safe for You, Safe for the Sharks

We are always mindful that we are visiting these sharks’ natural home and make every effort to create a low-impact encounter that is safe for both our guests and the sharks. We don’t travel over reefs or drop anchors that could potentially cause damage to the environment. Once we arrive at our destination, we shut off our engines.

The sharks you’ll see are never baited or frightened into view. They’re just hanging out in their home. Because sharks are naturally very curious, they’ll come over to the cage to get a better look at you.  The design of the cage ensures that we all maintain a respectful distance.

Dispel Hollywood Myths with Education

Sharks are very important to Hawaiians who have incorporated them into their belief systems and cultural story.  During your journey, you’ll be accompanied and well-supervised by experienced members of our staff who will fill you in on the true story of sharks, their significance to Hawaiian culture, and their critical importance in a balanced ocean ecosystem.

We think you’ll find that your personal experience with sharks is much different than stories you’ve heard in Hollywood blockbusters or in fear-based headlines.

What is Sea Sickness?

Note: This is not professional medical advice. Please consult your physician for any questions on how to best treat your illness.

When setting sail on the open seas, it is important to be prepared in the event that you become seasick. The rocking of a boat as it glides across the ocean waves is enough to mess with the average person’s equilibrium. If the conditions are right, even the most experienced seamen can get sick. Those who have experienced it know that seasickness can quickly turn your pleasant trip into a miserable experience. Here is some helpful information on how to prevent and deal with seasickness.

Seasickness, or motion sickness experienced on the water, occurs when what you see visually conflicts with what your inner ear is sensing. So, when you are on the sea, the boat around you looks like it’s standing still, but your inner ear (vestibular) senses the movement of the boat on the water. As your body’s complex balance system reports to the brain, it becomes clear that something is not right. This conflict leads to a headache, dizziness, and nausea.

Tips to Prevent Sea Sickness:

  • Take medication. Several effective and popular over-the-counter medications include Bonine, Dramamine, and Meclizine. The scopolamine patch by Transderm Scop is reported to be very effective and is easily obtained with a doctor’s prescription. To be effective you should get this medication in your system 8 hours before you board the boat. If possible, take it prior to sleep and take more at least 1 hour before you board the boat. That way, it’s in your system and working when you wake up.
  • Ginger capsules are also considered effective in preventing motion sickness.
  • Some people find that wearing special wristbands helps stave off the condition.
  • Avoid eating greasy or acidic foods before going out on the water.
  • Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol the night before and the day of your boating experience.
  • Drink plenty of water. Even partial dehydration lowers your body’s resistance and leaves you susceptible to motion sickness.

Tips on Dealing with Sea Sickness:

The first step in dealing with any ailment is understanding what is wrong so that you can mentally deal with the problem. This is very important in dealing with seasickness.

If seasickness occurs, it is best to minimize your motion. To do so, go to the center of the boat, and get to the lowest level possible. The higher on the boat you are, the more you will feel the rocking motion.

If possible, stay standing and look at the horizon to get your bearings. Take some deep breaths. Rock your shoulders back and forth. Realize that your body is probably tight and stiff. Don’t fight the motion of the boat, try to relax and move with it. Soda crackers may help calm your stomach. Drinking Coke or Pepsi may also help calm your stomach. They contain phosphoric acid which is an ingredient in Emetrol, a drug to control vomiting.

Videos

Know Before You Book

Motion Sickness: if you are prone, take precautions the day before or at least an hour before the tour.
We travel 3 miles off shore (about 15 minutes).
You can bring your own mask and snorkel.
Check-In 30 minutes before departure

Getting There

Hawaii Shark Encounters, Haleiwa Boat Harbor Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712

Special Considerations

You cannot go outside the cage.
We accomodate people with physical handicaps. Please provide prior notice so we can give the best experience.
Total duration of tour is 2 hours with a 15 min boat ride to and from shark cage.
Water depth where we see sharks is a little over 500 feet.
Morning tours provide calmer sea conditions.
You'll mostly see Galapagos & Sandbar sharks. You may occassionally see Tiger or Hammerhead.
No one has been bitten. We have a perfect safety record.

If you don’t see a shark, you don’t pay!

Customers will receive a full refund with 48 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone or email to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price. We sometimes have to shuffle around to meet capacity requirements, you will be notified as such via email and text. Please respond to communication from us.

We will not sell, share, or in any way release your personal information to any unrelated third parties. Please check out our full Privacy Policy.

Hawaii Shark Encounters: Cage Dive

Adult: 13+
$125.00
Child: 5-12
$90.00
Boat Rider:
$100.00