Oahu scuba diving- Hawaii frequently asked questions about Oahu Diving, scuba courses and diving charters.

questions and faqs for Oahu Diving

Oahu Diving FAQs

Oahu scuba diving is a fascinating adventure. Diving in Hawaii has many cool things to see so I know you all have many questions you want to ask. We have put together a bunch of regular questions we usually get on a weekly if not daily basis. Scuba diving in Oahu will leave you with thousands of more questions afterwards. We try to keep it simple and up front for you so scroll down to see if you were thinking the same thing.

Oahu Diving Questions

How big is Oahu Diving ?

We are a small dive charter company, you won't be forgotten with us. We run small and have no ambitions to get bigger. Customer service is guaranteed right from the start. In all we have 3 full time dive instructors with an extra 3 dive instructors that help us out on those busy summer weekends.

Does Oahu Diving operate a store ?

Yes and no. Yes we have a small office that we use for course training and dive gear storage. There was a time when we sold gear. This was something that is as fun as watching water boil. Not thanks. However we do sell t-shirts, decals and hats. Our primary commitment is to focus our time on our customers, teaching of scuba diving courses and showing our customers Oahu's best dives- not selling a $45 mask. Selling gear is a time consuming effort that will affect our dive operation, increase the price of our dives and not allow us to focus more on you.

How do I make a reservation ?

Simply, call us right away. Let us know;

Date you want to go diving? How many people are in your party? Each person's height, weight and shoe size?

What is your cancelation policy ?

Our cancellation policy is very generous. All we ask is for you to let us know at least 24 hours in advance if you can not make the scuba dive tour. Due to the fact we only take no more than 10 people the sooner you let us know the better we can fill those seats.

Can I bring a guest ?

Sure you bet, there is a very small fee due to the fact that we are using that "seat" in place of a scuba diver. This would be considered a snorkeler therefore we will provide snorkel gear if needed at no additional charge.

Does Oahu Diving provide transportation ?

Yes we do. If you are staying in the Waikiki or surrounding areas this shouldn't be a problem. Call us, we can always work something out. If you don't need transportation we will gladly go over directions to where we will be diving from.

Can I cancel a scheduled dive course ?

Sure you bet, but please let us know one week in advanced. Courses are always a little bit difficult to schedule so please be respectful and let us know right away. We keep our numbers down low for customer service so we can't always fill a seat if you decide to just not show or cancel too late.

Hawaii Scuba Diving Questions

Where will we dive ?

At Oahu Diving we are the only company who actually dives all over Oahu. We choose our scuba dive locations very carefully. Using the internet, we can first check the ocean buoys to see what part of the island will get swells and surf. We also use our close friends who work on the waters of Oahu, this seems to be the best source of information believe it or not.

What is the water temperature ?

Wow, I hear this one all the time. Water temperature various according to the seasons. Winter temps range from 71 to 74 and will require a full wetsuit- say 3mil to 5mil should be ok. The summer months range from 75 to 79. 3mil shorties and smaller mil suits are ok.

How long are the dives ?

This question varies according to the person in question. Usually we average about 40 minutes per dive. Again, body size, health habits and movement under water play into this.

Is scuba diving safe ?

Does a bear sh...ok , you get the idea. Yes it is, extremely safe. The most dangerous part of your stay in Oahu will be driving to meet us. Did I mention Oahu Diving has the best incident-free record on island. We are the safest and will continue to be the safest.

Are there any sharks ?

I get this a lot with first time scuba divers. Yes, sharks are out there. You have to understand, we are going to play in their "yard" so the chances of seeing sharks are always there. Do we see them everyday ? No we do not. What kind of sharks will we see ? I am sure you were thinking of that question. We typically see the white tip reef sharks then followed by the grey reef shark, the Galapagos shark, tiger shark and hammerhead shark. Encounters are fast, usually 30-40 seconds. Really, sharks are more scared of you underwater, the noise of scuba and our awkward movements make us look like a cheese and ham sandwich that was left in the sun for 3 days in your car. No too appetizing huh ?

What kinds of animals/ fish will we see ?

Another good question I get all the time. We see plenty of reef fish such as the yellow tangs, beautiful Moorish idols, sting rays, eagle rays, turtles, monk seals, butterfly fish and octopuses. You know what the more I think of it, I could fill this whole website up with the types of fish you will see.

Courses

Which agencies do you certify under ?

We typically use PADI, however we are qualified to teach NAUI and SSI courses to their proper specifications and standards.

Is certifications for life ?

Yes it is, BUT, it is a great idea to stay fresh and up to date with diving. This may mean even heading down to your local pool to get a refresher dive with a qualified instructor before heading out for your dive vacation.

PADI Scuba Diving Courses in Hawaii

Oahu Diving Frequently Asked Question