Hawaiian Diving Adventures, LLC

These guys run a very good operation. My husband and I went on the snorkeling tour to Turtle Canyon. I tried to register online, but it was only accepting groups of 4. I called, and the phone guy explained that they had to have 4 people minimum to take a trip. He signed us up for 2, and promised to call if the trip didn’t get enough registrations. As promised, he contacted us the day before and let us know that the trip was a go. Good service and good follow-​through.
The trip itself was run by a diver and the boat captain, who obviously are good friends. Lots of joking. The snorkel equipment was professional quality, meaning no leaky masks. They also provided socks with the flippers. They also gave us information about how close we could get to the turtles.
We were lucky and saw 3 turtles. The diver frequently borrowed our camera to dive down and get closer pictures. He also took pictures of each of us. At one point, I swam away from the group (another boat was there, and it was very crowded), and he came after me pretty quick, obviously keeping tabs on me and everyone he was responsible for.
My only complaint was getting off the boat. Instead of using the ladder, we had to jump off the side of the boat. As a less than fair swimmer, this was pretty intimidating for me. I held onto a rail going down and ended up with some ugly bruises.

Booked a snorkeling trip with Hawaiian Diving Adventures for me and my boyfriend. Upon trying to book I had some questions and when I called the guy who answered was very helpful and ended up helping me book my trip over the phone.
So upon arriving I asked my boyfriend, «Hey so are you going to bring your phone? He said no I’m going to leave mine in the car. And I think you should too.» Of course I said no I wanted to take pictures going on the boat and snapchat. Lol. He said alrighhhtt…
So we only brought our towels and I put my phone in my pocket. We signed the waiver and were given swimming shoes to put on.
I sat down on the little yellow ledge right next to the boat and then immediately heard… Boom. Then ploop! I looked down and my phone had hit the deck and then just fell right down into the bottom of the ocean. FML!!!
Anyway! They happened to have tanks nearby (thank god) and one of the instructors actually dove down to the bottom of the ocean and retrieved my phone for me! My hero!!!
I felt so bad that I had to be that retard and make the other couple snorkeling with us wait but I was just so happy and appreciative!!! Too bad I didn’t have a waterproof case so my phone was ruined but with actually having the phone with me they saved me a lot of money! I just got a new phone and just had to write them an amazing review!
Snorkeling was super fun for me, I don’t know how much fun my boyfriend had lol! But while snorkeling we got to see two big turtles and a baby turtle that was being cleaned by little fishies. There were also a lot of black fishes that surrounded us all around. I brought a waterproof camera lol and the instructor dove down to the bottom where the turtles were at that moment and took pictures for me! How nice! They also give you noodles to swim with if you’re having a hard time. (Lol)
I would definitely definitely recommend this company if you would like to go diving or snorkeling!!! :)

I would not recommend this company if you have your certification already. I initially decided on this company based on good reviews in Oahu Revealed. Unfortunately we were paired up with first time divers so had to wait around an hour for them to get orientated and basic instruction. Then for the dive itself we all had to surface at the same time with the non-​certified divers and I had used less than half my tank for a total bottom time close to 35 minutes. We also did both dives at the same location. It would have been nice to have some more variety. Overall there seem to be a lot of other dive companies out there and I would recommend calling around before booking with these guys. I’m here for a month and planning a lot of dives. I will be looking elsewhere.

I did my open water certification dives for two days with HDA early June this year. I had a problem with my open water referral and HDA was one of the shops that really tried to work with me to get it resolved. I’m not going to get into too much detail, but I felt Andrew, one of the owners/​guides, dealt with somewhat difficult problems very well when many others probably would have handled things differently.
Since I was doing training with them, I also brought my sister along for a discovery dive. She was too scared to jump in for the first dive, and everyone was really supportive of that. After getting comfortable in the water while the rest of us were doing the first dive, she joined us for the second dive and had a fantastic time. Andrew was a big part of her having a positive experience. He’s a great teacher that can inspire confidence and help new overwhelmed divers focus on key skills.
The rest of the HDA crew were good guys too. We also had Josh as another one of our divemasters, who was new at the time, but he had a positive attitude and was technically competent.
I would recommend people to go with HDA if they’re interested in diving with a good group of people that will really work with you to get the experience that you want.

My husband and I did the 2-​tank scuba diving with Andrew in the end of May, and our instructor was amazing the whole time — very patient, zero pressure on us (we were first-​timers), very articulate with instructions, etc. Overall, we felt Andrew was someone very easy to trust and dive with, so our first two dives went perfect. We saw a variety of fishes, sea urchins, sea stars, turtle, and baby sharks, and we actually got a little souvenir from the sea. In addition, I felt that Andrew and his crew were really conscious about ocean environment, they reminded us about not touching the coral and turtles, and I actually saw Andrew pulled out a white plastic trash bag out from the sand with him when we got up.
We really enjoyed our time on the boat and especially under water, and would very much like to come back. If we ever pull that off, we will do the training for diving license with Andrew!

I was visiting Oahu for a wedding and wanted to do a little diving while I was there. I had a great time diving with HDA. I hadn’t dove in two years, so I first signed up for the 10:30am dive to reacclimate. I ended up being the only diver that day, so after the first dive went well and I felt comfortable again, we ended up doing a wreck dive instead of a second shallow dive, which was great! I came back later in the week for the early morning diving and saw two different sites as well. Susanna was the dive master each time, and she was very knowledgeable and helpful. She pointed out lots of cool undersea critters, and she took some great photos, which she emailed me after my trip. Beautiful diving. Lots of sea turtles and eels!
The boat was easy to get to/​find. There is parking at Kewalo Basin, which was about $ 1 per hour. They provided some snacks and sodas in between dives, which was also a plus.
If I return to Oahu, I would definitely dive with Hawaiian Diving Adventures again. Mahalo!

Andy and Ian were great today. I had the best time. They brought us to turtle canyon and we were able to see many great fish and turtles. I’d recommend these guys to everyone. They are very entertaining. I loved when Ian would let us know when and where the turtles were coming up. Andy is a great captain too :). They supplied everything also

I am relatively new to diving. Only been certified since September 2014. As a new diver, I was very apprehensive about my first boat dive. From the moment I boarded the Kilikina, I felt very comfortable with the level of knowledge the crew exhibited. I was made to feel safe and comfortable the whole time! They were friendly, knowledgeable about the site, the creatures and a lot of fun as well! Since that first boat dive, I have gone out on the Kilikina many times and have never been disappointed!

A friend recommended HDA to me and it’s no wonder why. The whole crew is professional, experienced, and fun! I initially went on a DSD as an entry back into diving after a few years out of the loop. Jonathan was a great boat captain and I had Ian as my instructor. Ian not only taught me all the basics to make me feel safe but he showed me how to have fun. I loved it so much I started my open water cert the next day and completed it shortly after. I plan to pursue Dive Master cert with this shop in the near future. I would and will recommend them to anyone whether you’re diving for the first time or you’re an experienced diver. They can show you a hawaii you’ve never seen!

I was in Hawaii celebrating my girlfriends birthday. I dropped her off at laka spa which was right across the street from the dock and I went diving. I scheduled the 10:30 shallow reef dive. There is plenty of parking at the dock, there is a prepay parking lot where you insert your money into slots corresponding to your spot number. I believe parking is $ 0.50 per 30 minutes. When I got to the ship Ian and Jon were there to greet me, right from the start they were super friendly and professional.
I was ecstatic to learn that I was the only diver scheduled so I pretty much got a private charter for the group rate! Ian took me diving and Jon took care of everything else, including chopping up fresh pineapple and providing refreshments. Ian was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the local sea life. We saw sharks, sea turtles, eels, and some amazing nudibranchs.
Since I was their only diver, we were back into dock around 1:15pm. Thanks again Ian and Jon for the amazing time, I’ll definitely be back when I get my advanced open water so I can hit one of your early morning dives!

Groupon had a deal going for a 2 tank dive and I was able to sneak in a morning dive while on vacation with my wife and kids. Hawaiian Diving Adventures is a great outfit to dive with. Our first dive was at the Sea Tiger and it was my first wreck dive. Ian was our DM and was really great. I found that I was underweighted after jumping in and he dropped a 3lb weight in one of my pockets on the BC to get me properly weighted. Normally I dive a 7 mm suit with a 3 mm hooded vest and a steel 80 in SoCal so I didn’t know how much weight I’d need with a ³⁄₂ suit and an alum 80. I also ran into some issues with my BC and Ian and Andrew were able to get me up and running so I could enjoy my 2^nd dive normally. Overall, I had a great experience despite the choppy conditions and my equipment issues. Kudos to the guys at HDA!

My husband and I booked a two dive morning with Hawaiian Diving Adventures while we were visiting over New Year’s week. Though certified, I hadn’t dove in four years and was feeling very nervous. Andrew and Scooter were very kind and encouraging, and put zero pressure on me. Scooter walked me through breathing again (my primary concern). We took our time when we got in the water, letting me reacclimate to the gear and breathing, only submerging when I was ready. Unfortunately I ended up being unable to clear my ears and had to come back up. BUT I was thrilled to have had the refresher to breathing even though I couldn’t dive that day. My husband had an awesome time on both dives and got to see all kinds of fish, coral, and plenty of turtles.
We found Scooter and Andrew to be great all around, and extremely professional. Other points of note: the boat is great, their gear is clean, and they provide you with a little snack between dives. We both really enjoyed our time out with Hawaiian Diving Adventures and would absolutely go back to them next time we’re in Hawaii.

So, I just finished 2 more days of diving with this company. Captain Andrew did another great job, DM Scooter & DM/​Instructor Suzanne was very knowledgeable and very easy going, perfect for relaxing dives. I did decide to do another Padi class and I would suggest that anyone debating on a class, go ahead, they follow the Padi guidelines and make it fun. can’t do much better than that!
I also highly recommend the transportation service they offer for a slight change, the driver was nice and always very flexible with the time.
My only downside is that I’m not scheduled to do anymore dives on this trip to Oahu. Mahalo

I went scuba diving with these guys this week.
As an uncertified diver, the professionalism exhibited by this company and its staff is excellent. They were so thorough with their explanations and calming at the same time as I was a little nervous at first.
I couldnt recommend this company enough, the dives were amazing! we seen sea turtles, sharks, eels, stonefish and heaps of these cool coloured wormy guys which each had beautiful vibrant different patterns and tones of different fish!
The staff are very knowledgeable about the reef and sealife and know all the right places to take you to get to see as much as you can see.
A big thank you to Ian, Susanna and our captain for making the day such a great experience! Couldnt have asked for more lovely people to take us out for the day: D

As an expecting mother I was a little nervous to get on a boat with just anyone, but the two guides (both cute men) were very friendly and inviting. They took us out to «the spot» (aka the best spot to see anything) and it was very sunny. Our guide showed us everything we needed to know to get our snorkel on, and he even swam really close to a shark and took pictures for us with my friends camera. They answered every ridiculous question we had and one guide even took the shirt off his back to make sure I was warm (the trade winds were a tad strong today). I’ve never seen such a caring company. They are more like a family if you ask me. Made one great snorkeling trip, many more to come. Don’t miss out on this adventure because you’ll never meet anyone as friendly or as awesome as the Hawaiian diving adventure team.

We Swam with huge sea turtles just minutes out from the marina. Ian and the captain were really great guys. They made sure everyone saw the turtles. When 1 guy lost his wallet Ian drove for it and even found it!

We take a family vacation to Oahu every year. This was out first snorkel trip with Hawaiian Adventures. It was a Great family outing and it was very safe for our 8 year old
Kelly was a very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly guide. She took great pictures of turtles and patrons on the trip. Pictures were posted on line and available for FREE!
Thanks Captain and Kelly!

I bought my husband the introductory one-​tank dive while honeymooning in Oahu. As someone who loves diving, I wanted him to experience it before begging him to get certified. So, to sweeten the deal a bit, I also signed up for the intro dive (hoping to make him comfortable).
After arriving to the site and filling out the necessary paperwork, the intro class began (with a total of 8 newbies). During class students learned important communication and skills about SCUBA in an intimidation free environment. The instructor shared info and answered questions without judgement. She was enthusiastic and friendly. After a quiz, we were taken to the boat to prepare for the intro dive.
Students were given all necessary equipment and instructed on the order to put it on. Then, after dressed and prepped, we were taken out to a close, shallow site. The instructors put all equipment on students and demonstrate several skills before the students are allowed in the water. Students must complete these three skills before they’re allowed to descend.
Once everyone is approved (or not, they won’t take you if you can’t complete the skills), then the dive begins. The instructors control students’ BCDs and watch closely as they go down to the site (no deeper than 40 feet for uncertified divers).
Once at the bottom the instructors guide students through the reef, noting worthy wildlife and checking gauges closely. While it wasn’t the best dive site I’ve seen, it was an excellent choice for a novice (open enough to feel secure/​enough species of fish/​animals to peak interest).
Our dive lasted about twenty minutes before we started back up the line toward the boat.
The best part? Instructors didn’t push anyone to get their certification. They weren’t «salesy» or pushy. It was clear they do this because they love the sport and want to share the experience.
Although I was unable to do another dive on this trip (we didn’t have enough time before flying out), I will certainly go back to the company next time I’m on Oahu.
Thanks, guys, for an awesome intro. My husband, Joe, plans to get his certification because of your trip. We will be back!

Okay here is my epic review… drum roll please…
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«Well, they aiight. *Shrug* «
:) Okay jk!
I happened upon Hawaiian Diving Adventures (hereinafter referred to as HDA) randomly through Meetup. I, being an open water certified diver at the time, AND being new to Honolulu, sadly didn’t have any dive buddies (cue the world’s tiniest violin). So I was on the hunt for fellow mermaids (mer-​MAN!) so to speak :) What I found was a bunch of really laid back (though super professional) crazy fun people that absolutely love the ocean and its creatures. and they haven’t been able to get rid of me since! *evil grin* It’s just that personally, I’ve dived about 50+ times with every which company in every which country, so I know a gem when I see it.
Soooo I’ve been diving with HDA at least a dozen times in the last couple months, got advanced certified through them (happy dance!), had a friend get certified through them (cue his happy dance!), and am looking to be like mario and continue on to the next level: rescue diver ooOOoO aaAAAAaaaA
Awesome things you should know about them:
–They are DIFFERENT. They don’t just do the same olé dives over and over and over again. I love that they arrange exciting dives like Friday night fireworks + night dive or ones dedicated to ship wrecks. So fun!
–They own their own boat, the Kilikina, which has shade, a dry area, and yes! A bathroom (a marine bathroom mind you. and no i’m not explaining what that means you’ll just have to google it…)
–They always offer fresh pineapple, cheese-​its, water, and soda on the boat. Most people are super polite and only take one piece of pineapple and I admit that I take full advantage of this by grabbing handfuls and stuffing my mouth til the pineapple acid burns my tongue (not kidding. it’s so delicious)
–The owners Randall and Andrew are super nice and easily reached by text/​email/​FB/​carrier pigeon
–Their dive masters/​captains (Sophie, Austin, Matt, Cici, and Blade that ive met so far) know their stuff and are friendly (imagine that!) not super rigid and intimidating like with some dive companies I’ve been with.
–They search for/​cultivate their own dive sites which means a lot to me because it gives me access to unique sites and possibly things I’ve never seen before. Last weekend I saw a pile of toilets with marine life growing on it. Yeah that happened.
–Their training is legit. Yes they make sure you actually know the material and practice the skills, which in the short term may seem like a drag to you but trust me, you want to know your stuff so you can be safe in the water. Safety first!
–Oh yeah and their prices are the lowest I’ve seen on the island. Score!
–They actually love the ocean and love diving. They put on a FREEEEE intro dive just so people could try it out and see if it suits them. How cool is that?
Crappy things you should know about them:
–They’ll give you severe life envy cuz they’re spending every awesome day on the ocean T_​_​_​_​_​T
Okay yes that was a whole lot of cheerleading for HDA but it’s so significantly changed my life here in Oahu that I had to give props where they’re due. Holla!

Kelly and the entire Hawaiian Diving Adventure crew were awesome! From
the start of our trip to finish, they hosted a fun snorkel day for 6 friends and I. They were thorough with explaining how to safely get around the boat and the proper way to wear their gear which, by the way, isn’t the greatest snorkel gear but it works. If you’re picky on having the good kine, bring your own! 3 in our party went diving and they had a great time with their host. All around friendly staff. They had all the gear needed for diving too.
On our way to the snorkel site we came across some dolphins! Captain Matt, swiftly turned the boat around so we can get a better view and it was just perfect to have a bunch or dolphins greeting us on our way to sea!
The snorkel site is called, Turtle Canyon, where the sea turtles go to get their shells cleaned by fish. The opportunity to swim with one is very likely! Each one of us had a close encounter. Kelly did an awesome job leading us to them and had her waterproof camera ready to take beautiful pictures.
As mentioned on other reviews, leave your camera. Kelly will take great shots for you. For $ 15 she will upload them to Dropbox. Full size files for your printing or social media posting pleasure.
For a beautiful snorkel day at sea with a down to earth, hang loose crew, go with Hawaiian Diving Adventures!
Quick tip — if you get sea sick, take something before hand. You will definitely feel the motion of the ocean! On and off the boat.