How to swim with sharks in Hawaii (and why you should!)

Swim with sharks in Hawaii? Are you crazy? Whenever my husband and I tell people we went swimming with sharks in Hawaii, they immediately give us a look that says, “What got into you?” I grew up in Hawaii, and sharks were one of those things that you knew swam in the ocean, but, if you didn’t bother them or do anything stupid, like splashing/flopping around, or swimming at dawn or dusk, then you were good. 

I never thought I’d pay to swim with sharks though, and cage-less at that! But I started following Ocean Ramsey, a marine biologist and conservation activist, about a year ago. If you don’t follow her, I highly recommend it! She swims with sharks everyday, and the pictures and videos that she and her husband, Juan, take are absolutely beautiful. 

You will see sharks in a whole new light. 

Because I was also in the process of writing an epic fantasy that included sharks in it, I thought it would be wise to actually see sharks in the wild. For too long sharks have been demonized in the media. My mom never let me and siblings watch Jaws or other scary shark movies, and probably for good reason! Even just seeing images or clips from Jaws, I’m glad we didn’t watch it. There is so much more to sharks than meets the eye or what is portrayed in the media, and seeing them in the wild gave me that connection I really needed. I think it will for you too. Read on to find out where you can swim with sharks in Hawaii, why you should go cage-less, and why you should swim with sharks, as opposed to other wildlife animals! 

Where can you swim with sharks in Oahu? 

We went with One Ocean Diving, as it’s owned by Ocean and employees that she and her husband personally trained. The company offers a two hour shark snorkel three miles outside of Haleiwa harbor. There’s plenty of parking in the harbor, so it’s really not stressful. Just give yourself plenty of time to drive, especially if you’re coming from Waikiki. 

There was such a stark difference of the look and vibe of One Ocean Diving versus the caged tour kiosks nearby. The caged tours showed “Jaws” -like pictures, quite an intimidating image. But One Ocean had such a different vibe: chill, not stressful, and respectful of sharks. 

What can I expect on the tour?

The One Ocean Diving boat pulls up to this white framed-looking thing. Wait there and the workers will come talk to you. They’ll give you a waiver to sign, then you’re basically ready to go!

It didn’t take too long to get to the spot outside of the harbor, but it was a little choppy so if you get sea-sick easily, you might want to have taken something to help with that beforehand. As you ride out to sea, the guide will go over everything you need to know: what you’re allowed and not allowed to do, a little more information about sharks and their behavior, and some safety stuff.

Once at the spot, you’ll be told when you can go in. Enjoy seeing the sharks swim around the boat! The nerves and excitement are real! 😀

Don’t flop or splash as you go into the water. Enter calmly and enjoy watching the sharks swim below! If you feel confident enough, and want to get some cool footage with the sharks, you can ask the guide if you can dive down. Have someone else hold your GoPro so you dive down a little get some footage of you and the sharks. 🙂

The guides will tell you when it’s time to exit the water. Do so calmly. Once you’re back on the boat, take some deep breaths because that was AMAZING.

So why swim with sharks in Hawaii cageless? 

There’s something about being in the ocean, not surrounded by a cage and watching the sharks beneath your fins. For lack of better words, it’s magical. I know there are people reading this and thinking, “There’s absolutely no way I’m getting in the water without the cage.” But with One Ocean Diving, there’s a guide with you. These guides have experience with sharks and they keep an eye out for every member on the tour. And let’s not forget to mention that these tours are small, maybe ten people max. 

As the boat pulls up to the spot and you see the sharks swimming around, it’s nerve-wracking. 

“I’m going in there?!” you ask, but then it’s absolutely exciting. 

When you get into the water and actually see the sharks, you can connect with them on such a deep level. For me, I realized that the sharks really don’t want to bother you. They’re curious, and they have personalities, just like any other species, but it they minded their own business. It was incredible. 

One Ocean Diving also has a 100% safe track record to date. Nobody has been hurt by sharks while on the shark snorkel tours with them! 

Why swim with sharks in Hawaii? I would rather see dolphins, turtles, or whales.  

There’s a Hawaiian value, mālama, which means to “care for and protect.” Sharks are a huge player in the ocean’s eco-system. Unfortunately, sharks are being slaughtered at an outrageous and unsustainable rate of 100 million a year—yes, 100 million. Sharks are apex predators and at the top of the marine eco-system. Not only do they keep things balanced as the species goes down the food chain, but they also feed on dead fish and trash, curbing sickness in marine wildlife.

This article explains more than I’m able to about why we need sharks!

When we seek understanding and actually go out and experience nature and wildlife, we’re more likely to mālama them. We understand their role, our role, and how we can help. 

So yes, it’s totally cool if you want to find the dolphins, turtles, or whales, because I also believe that seeing and being around these creatures fosters the spirit of mālama. But if you have an irrational fear of sharks, or are haunted by images of Jaws, or simply want to understand sharks a little better, I think it’s totally worth it to take this tour. It’s safe, fun, and just an overall incredible and unforgettable experience.

How much does it cost? 

When my husband and I went (December 2021), we got a discount code from the One Ocean Diving website, so it cost $120 per person. Follow One Ocean Diving or Ocean Ramsey on social media, or check the One Ocean Diving website to see if there are any promo codes! 

What do I need to bring to swim with sharks in Hawaii? 

We brought a little bag with water, a towel, our own snorkel gear, and a GoPro. If your snorkel and mask are white or yellow, you’ll have you use the black snorkel and mask they provide. They also provide black fins, as well as rash guards if you’d like to borrow. I did. 🙂

How do I get to Haleiwa harbor? 

We stayed in Waikiki so we actually didn’t have a rental car for the week. However, we rented a Hui car for the day. This is such an easy and affordable way to get around the island, and I highly recommend! 

How do I book? 

Book your shark snorkel tour on the One Ocean Diving website here. 

Final Thoughts 

By now I hope you’re convinced that swimming with sharks in Hawaii, on a little tour with One Ocean Diving, is totally worth the experience. Personally, I’ve grown up knowing that there are sharks throughout Hawaii, but it’s good to respect them, give them their space, and not provoke them. Hawaiians also have a cultural tradition of ‘aumakua, an ancestor who took the form of an animal. The ‘aumakua would serve their descendants by warning or protecting them. They might even offer comfort. On my mom’s side, the ‘aumakua is a manō, a shark, so I guess I never really worried about bumping into sharks. I later learned that ‘aumakua doesn’t mean that all sharks are your ancestors, but only one specific shark. And that’s ok too haha. 😛

As I stated earlier, I wrote a book that has the manō as a heavily featured character. My new book, Rise of the Manō, comes out in January 2022. Sign up for my newsletter and/or follow me on instagram to keep updated on the book! 

Want to support conservation efforts? 

Going on tours like this one, with One Ocean Diving, supports not only the One Ocean conservation effort, but a small and local business! 

And if you love sharks, or become a shark lover, there’s another company, Fahlo, where you can buy bracelets and track your very own shark! I am an ambassador for their company and absolutely love their bracelets. They’re cute to wear or make great gifts for loved ones. I did a little more research into how “Save the Blue” (the conservation effort that Fahlo donates to) tracks the sharks, and the tags they use are small. The tags are inserted into the dorsal fin of the shark and, as far as they can tell, do not cause any harm to the sharks. 

Use this link here or code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order at check out! Get your Fahlo bracelet and track your very own shark today! 🙂

Watch our experience here!

Do you want to see mine and my husband’s shark experience? Check out this instagram post! Would you swim with sharks in Hawaii? Let me know in the comments below. Or if you got to experience this in Hawaii, let us know your thoughts! 🙂

P.S. 🦈🦈🦈

If you loved this article, you will love 5 Life Lessons from a Shark

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