Ko' Olina Resort

Parking is ample. From the picture, you can tell how well the grounds are kept. Here is the entrance to the 4th cove (the first being the Ko'olina Resort). This has more beach access parking than the others. The 4th cove. Note the difficult exit to deeper water. The last three coves, with the 4th to the right. The resort is to the left.

Ok snorkeling inside the reefs. Visibility goes from not bad to horrible due to all the sediment kicked up by swimmers, it's better on the left and right hand channels of each lagoon. There is a decent variety of fish and turtles are known to come inside the break, I saw one today eating algae off the rocks. There are a few types of coral starting to take hold on the rocks and I've seen urchin as well. I have to question a security guard's authority to prevent a shore entry, does Koolina own the water? Part of their original agreement to be allowed to response the land from agriculture to resort required them to permit public access to the lagoons. A right not exercised is a right lost.

You are no longer allowed to wear scuba gear in the lagoons. Also, no exit or entry to the outside waters from the lagoons are allowed. A security guard put a quick end to our lagoon entry, directed us to a shore entry at one of the points from the lagoons. Shore entry turned out to be very, VERY, sharp volcanic rock, barnacles, and urchin burrowed coral/rock. Got out by careful walking and floating on my back early. Deepest we encountered was about 20 ft. Some interesting coral, standard reef fish. Exit was extremely difficult as waves throw you back into those sharp edges. Took a couple minor cuts (wore a shorty). Much better spots to dive. Would take China wall with 4-6 foot waves over this with 1-2 footers if you can't use the lagoons for entry and exit.

I dove this site today with three friends. Entry and exit can be rough, but wasn't bad today. Found an aircraft engine 300-400 yds directly due West from entry in 30' of water. Also found landing gear about 100' inshore from engine. I don't know if this is the same engine listed in Frank DeCarvalho's shore diving book since it's not near the location he mentions. Plenty of sea life and some great swim throughs to the right of entry.

Was very difficult getting in and out, as the reef is very rough. Once out about 200 yards it was not bad. Lots of small fish near the breakers but finding bigger fish was a challenge. A few crabs and some eels still made for a pleasant yet tiring time.

I hate to be negative but...I gotta agree with previous reviews. This is not a good dive spot. Free diving yes, spear fishing yes, but not scuba it just doesn't get deep enough. I saw the usual reef fish but not many and not a whole lot more.

This site is well worth exploring, mainly for scuba divers. Snorkelers will find the poor visibility close to shore frustrating. Divers must swim out 200 yards before finding clear water worth exploring. Max depth is around 25 feet. One good thing about this site is the health of the reef. There are many reef fish, eels, lobsters, and shells, especially the rare Tiger Cowry. I haven't found any over five inches, but plenty of 4.5s. Please Leave the live ones behind. There is also an airplane engine near the shoreline in about 15 feet of water. Its propellers are bent backward to suggest an impact with the water...1941 perhaps. See if you can find it. I like this site because its a good work out (swimming far offshore) and the sea life is great. I caught a 5 pound spiny here one day in the daytime. Watch out for waves as the rocky shoreline makes it difficult to enter and exit. Best time to dive is during periods of calmness, usually during the winter when swells are predominantly from the north. Check out the many depressions, trenches, and large coral heads, some are five feet tall and 10 feet wide.

This site is definitely not the number one choice on Oahu, however, there does exist some enjoyment for those seeking to practice their spear fishing skills. An abundance of regal & star-eyed parrotfish, manybar goatfish, sleek unicorn fish, blue fin trevally, and octopus make it a good spot for capturing a quick meal. In agreement with other evaluations, most of the good diving is done by boat 2-3 miles off shore from here near a barge docking station. Average depth is 15ft. Enter and exit through the man made cove adjacent to the Paradise Cove Luau.

Don't bother. While it's easy enough to get out of the man made lagoons, it's extremely difficult to get back in! The reef outside is relatively shallow, in poor health, and without many fish. Once was way more than enough!