Holidays are relaxing but can be boring sometimes, especially if you don’t stimulate yourself! The best way to increase the level of excitement is by doing something that scares you! Not only will it makes you feel alive, but it will also boost your self-confidence! So if you seek a huge rush of adrenaline, look no further than an Oahu shark diving tour!
Cage Tour Overview
This tour takes place in a closed and safe cage with an experienced crew who makes you discover all sorts of beautiful sharks in the astounding blue Pacific of the Oahu’s scenic North Shore. Either way, you decide to stay on the deck or get in the cage, you will still have the chance to see the sharks swimming close up!
What to Expect From the Shark’s Cage Tour
Departure
First off, you have the possibility to choose six different scheduled times, giving you the opportunity to stroll in the lovely little historic town of Haleiwa located near the harbor before you get on the boat.
The hours are from 6 AM – 7 AM – 8 AM – 9 AM – 10 AM – 11 AM.
Getting There
The tour starts at the Haleiwa Boat Harbor. It is located on the North Shore of Oahu. You can either get there by yourself or with a private van that will take you from your hotel if you opt for the Viator pick-up service option when booking the tour.
From there, you and a dozen other like-minded participants will sail out for about 3 miles to the dive destination.
Sharks are not the only sea creatures you may see in the Oahu ocean; There are also surfers, dolphins, as well as all sorts of beautiful fishes that you’ll discover on the way. And even humpback whales if you do the tour in the winter.
In the Cage
As soon as you arrive, the professional crew makes a short demonstration on how to behave in the cage and also gives some explanations about safety. Snorkel gear is provided to you before you enter the water so that you can get ready.
Then the big moment comes to climb the ladder and get into the cage. Once you get inside, the cage is pushed away from the boat, and you suddenly find yourself surrounded by all sorts of sharks swimming close to you.
Many reviewers on Viator say that it is frightening in the beginning, but once you are in the water, you enjoy every moment!
Sounds too scary? Fine! You have the possibility to watch the impressive sharks swimming around from the deck and take some good photos from there!
About The Sharks
It sounds scary to swim with sharks because they are quite impressive. But contrarily to what many people think, they usually don’t hunt humans. They mainly eat small fishes. Let’s see below what these sharks are all about.
The Galapagos Sharks
The Galapagos is one of the larger sharks of its type. They usually live in isolated spots worldwide and can reach up to 12 feet in length. The Galapagos sharks often swim around rocky reefs, slopes, and walls.
They mostly catch fishes that live on the bottom such as flatfish, eel, triggerfish, and many others. They can be found around the world in tropical and semi-tropical water. The Galapagos are not aggressive, but if they are provoked they can become dangerous!
The Hammerhead Sharks
The Hammerhead has better vision than many other sharks thanks to its wide-set eyes. They have a mallet-shaped head, giving them more possibility to hunt for food.
The great hammerhead is larger than other sharks in the same species. It can reach up to 20 feet in length and can weigh up to 450 kilos.
But most of them are quite small and inoffensive to humans. These sharks usually cruise near shorelines as well as far offshore, and they are mostly found in tropical waters worldwide. If they feel threatened, they will become instinctively aggressive!
The Sandbar Sharks
The sandbar, mainly known under the name of Brown shark is one of the largest coastal sharks worldwide. Its pectoral fins are quite long, and he has a triangular dorsal fin. Also, he has rounded snouts and is pretty heavy.
They can reach up to 8 feet in length. These sharks usually cruise in temperate and tropical waters around the world.
The Sandbar is not aggressive to humans. In fact, it is one of the safest among other sharks in the same size and appearance.
Best Time of the Day For a Shark Tour?
The winds and the sea are quite calm early in the morning. The winds start to blow later in the afternoon. In one word, the earliest, the better it is to get the best sea conditions.
Also, the heat is more supportable in the morning than in the afternoon, making the trip more pleasant.
About the Cage
The cage has handlebars to hold on to and a step ladder to access easily to the cage and climb back to the boat. Also, the first two feet of the cage stay out of the water. So there is nothing to worry about if you have never snorkeled before. The cage can easily hold a group of 8 people while remaining comfortable during the dive.
What Should You Bring
- Towels
- Bio sunscreen lotion and hat
- Go Pro or waterproof camera to take pictures if you don’t want to purchase on the boat.
- Waterproof dry bag pack to store and protect your gear from the water.
- Bring your swimsuit and wear it underneath your clothing because there is no possibility to change outfits on the boat.
Who Is This Trip For?
This tour is for anyone who is comfortable in the water and wants to see sharks close up! Even young children can participate in this exciting excursion. Know that children less than 7 years old can not enter the cage. They will need to stay on board with their parents or close family. Otherwise, the cage is open to everybody!
5 Good Reasons To Do This Tour!
The reasons are quite obvious!
1. You will have the chance to see all sorts of sharks swimming around you from a safety cage.
2. Whether you stay on the boat or get into the cage, you will see the sharks anyway!
3. The professional crew will make your trip pleasant and safe from the beginning to the end of the voyage.
4. You have the Aviator pickup and drop-off service at your disposition if you opt for this option.
5. It is an exceptional trip!
How to Book the Tour
It’s simple. Choose a date and the hour that suits you best. And you are good to go! Know that prices vary according to the options. For example; If you want a Viator’s van to pick you up from the hotel, you will have to opt for this option in the reservation section. The same applies if you prefer only to enter the cage or admire the sharks from the deck. However, make sure to contact Viator company 48 hours to reconfirm the tour before departure.
Check Price For The Shark Cage Tour
Duration
- Sailing Back and forth from the Harbor to the dive spot: 40mn
- The demonstration and preparation: 10 mn
- Time spending in the cage: 20 mn
- From Waikiki hotel to Haleiwa Boat Harbor: 45 mn
- From Haleiwa Boat Harbor to Waikiki hotel: 45 mn
What’s Included
- 100% assistance from a professional crew
- Snorkel equipment
- Local taxes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off service with friendly drivers if you opt for this option.
What’s Excluded
- Snacks and beverages
- Comfort facilities such as sunscreen, towels, and swimsuits.
- Tip for the crew (optional)
Tips
- There is no bathroom on the boat, so make sure to go to the toilet if you need to before you get on board
- It is not unusual to see people getting sick during the trip on the boat. You may not experience the same, but you never know! (Sea-bands are the best for adults and children because they don’t contain drugs and have no side effect)
- You can bring some snacks and natural drinks if you want as these are not provided on the boat.
- Protect your children’s skin and yours by wearing a t-shirt with a long sleeve during the tour.
Pros
- Exciting experience of a lifetime
- Support from the knowledgeable and friendly crew
- Possibility to buy Go-Pro video and souvenir t-shirt on the boat
- Comfortable and large boat
- You overcome fears of sharks
- Safety Cage
Cons
- Chances are you’ll get sick on the boat, but you can avoid this by using sea bands or pills.
- There is no bathroom on the boat.
In Conclusion
Swimming with sharks is an activity that you don’t do every day unless you often dive in these areas. So if you plan to stay on Oahu, take this opportunity! I don’t want to rush you but bear in mind that this trip is extremely popular and therefore is filling up quickly. You better book well in advance before there isn’t any place left for you!
Enjoy!
What about you? Have you already made this tour? If so, how was it? Share your experience in the comment below.
Daniella has been passionate about travel, the sea, and nature for many years. As a child, she frequently traveled throughout the Mediterranean and continued with her journeys throughout her adult life.
Her experiences have created the desire within her to share her love for traveling with other passionate and adventurers who want to discover beautiful horizons and new cultures.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not for me. Sharks scare the living piss out of me. I wish I were brave enough to try this out, but I’d just be to paranoid that something would go wrong and I’d turn into breakfast for them, despite the odds being against it.
Does it not frighten you that the top is wide open? It seems to me that it wouldn’t take much for a shark to jump over into it.
Kudos to you for having the guts to do this.
Hi Dustin,
Don’t worry. You are not the only one who is afraid of sharks, thanks to the movie Jaws! Sharks don’t attack people unless they feel threatened. And if they do so, they only attack individuals and not groups of people. Fishes are what sharks seek the most:)
To answer your question about the cage, honestly, yes, it is frightening. But that is the whole point of this tour:)
However, as I’ve mentioned in the article, you have the possibility to watch sharks from the boat, which is also exciting!
Thank you for the comment and wish you a fantastic day!
Wow, how exciting! This really does sound like the best thrilling activity. I have never been diving or even interested until landing on your activity page.
You really managed to get my curiosity up … I am not a “water” person but this is one activity I would like to take part in.
Hi there,
Indeed, it is without a doubt one of the most thrilling activities to do in Hawaii. I am glad this article has inspired you, and if you do this tour, it would be very sweet of you if you could share your experience. Readers and I will be more than happy to know how it goes:)
Thank you very much for the comment and wish you a lovely day!
This looks like a lot of fun. It is astonishing how close
you can get to the sharks. The way you describe
it makes it sound more and more amazing!
Glad to see that kids and parents can participate together. I can see now why people are interested in shark diving.
Hi Jo,
Yep, it is certainly an exciting activity to do while on vacation! Just need some courage to get into this cage:)
Children can definitely participate in this activity if they feel comfortable in the water. The professional crew knows what they do, and they will never put people’s lives in danger. Besides this, you can stay on the deck if you decide not to go down and watch the sharks from there.
If you go to Oahu, you should consider doing this tour!
Thank you for the comment and wish you a fantastic day!