Makapu'u Beach Park

Parking is at the bottom of the hill, with Rabbit Island in the background. Enter at the far right of the beach, and kick out beyond the surf. You don't have to hug the shoreline to take in some fine sights. When the weather is not cooperating, sit up on the lookout and watch the huge breakers crash on the rocky shoreline, and be thankful you are high and dry at the moment!

Dove here yesterday afternoon for the first time, and was treated to ~100 feet horizontal visibility when the sun was shining. Beautiful and clear, with quite a few reef fish, especially uhu (parrotfish) and unicornfish. I actually dove the shallow (25ft) reef, not the wall on the other end. But I'm definitely going back for that. It seemed that the easy beach entry would make this a nice night dive IF you were already familiar with the site/underwater topography.

I NIGHT DIVE ONLY HERE FOR UHU GOOD SIZE ALWAYS FOUND NOT AN EASY DIVE LONG WALK DOWN BEACH ESPICALLY BACK UP WITH FISH ONE TANK ONLY NEEDED PARK NEAR SHOWERS ENTER WATER AS CLOSE TO CLIFF PAST LIFE GUARD TOWER SURFACE SWIM OUT AROUND ROCK AND OUT ALONG CLIFF DROP DOWN WHEN YOU GET AT LEAST 3/4 OF THE WAY OUT IF YOU GET OUT TO CLOSE TO POINT YOULL GET SUCKED AROUND BY CURRENT I ONCE HAD TO DROP MY SLING AND DIVE BAG TO SWIM OUT OF THE CURRENT WHEN I WAS FREE DIVING ANYWAY DROP DOWN AND WORK THE ROCKY BOTTOM BETWEEN THE CLIFF AND SAND CHANNEL YOULL SEE LOTS OF LARGE MORRAY ELLS FEW LOBSTER AND LOTS OF BIG UHU SLEEPING IN SMALL ROCK HOLES TUNNELS AND OVERHANGS YOU SHOULD STAY RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM WHEN YOU GET YOUR FISH YOU SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 5OR6 HUNDRED POUNDS LEFT GIVE OR TAKE START MAKING YOUR WAY BACK ALONG BOTTOM ITS EASIER THAN A LONG SURFACE SWIM YOU STILL WONT MAKE IT ALL THE WAY BACK BUT IT WILL HELP SURFACE SWIM BACK ALONG CLIFFS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AS YOU NEAR SHORE STAY CLEAR OF ROCK OUTCROPPINGS THAT CAN COME UP PRETTY FAST YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO CRAWL YOUR WAY AROUND THEM GET BACK ON YOUR FEET TAKE FINS OFF IN THREE OR FOUR FEET OF WATER WITH THE WAVES YOU WONT BE ABLE TO WALK UP TAKE THE LONG WALK STRAIGHT TO THE SHOWERS COOL OFF AND CLEAN YOUR FISH THROW SCRAPS IN ROCKS FOR CRABS /FISH PRETTY HANDY CLEANING AREA LONG ONE TANK DIVE WEAR FULL3/MIL WETSUIT NOT FOR PUSSIES GREAT FOR FISH OUT KEVIN

This is a spot that I've only been to once. The former Windward Dive Center sponsored a club dive here, and I was responsible for leading several others on a dive at a site I'd never been to. We headed out toward the northwest (towards Rabbit Island). One word could summarize what I remember most about the dive: CURRENT! There were few fish, little reef, and lots of sand....with a strong current! After asking Keoki (who went there somewhat regularly), it turns out that current is a commonplace occurrence. Given the difficulty of the entry and parking, I've never been back.

If you want a fantastic reef, don't come here. Actually, if you want anything except for seafood, don't come here. I dive here for food only. I don't use tanks, but free diving this spot means that you won't scare the fish. The best part about this spot is the Uhu. The only other place you will find this much Uhu is way up on the North Shore, and that's a long drive. Spineys are good here, too, in season and not. Check the surf report, but it's usually flat enough for a surface swimmer to have no probs if they don't mind swimming through some surf to get out. On another note, there have been reports of break-ins at this site. I'm there almost every day (sweet shore break if you're into bodysurfing) and I've never had anyone steal anything from me or my car. Petty theft occasionally happens, but don't let that ruin your dive; just keep important stuff at home or on you.

We have had strong Kona winds closing out every other shore dive on Oahu except for Blowhole. We have done this dive twice in the last few days and it has some good points. The entry is easy - start from the small beach north of the main beach. Humpbacks hang out off the point so their song is quite clear while diving. Reef life is not too bad, but the topography is a bit bland.

It should be noted that 1) landing Rabbit Island is strictly illegal... the coast guard will fine you big-time, and will come if you even wander close to the island. 2) Never drink in the time around a dive, as dehydration can occur with this and all diuretics, and exacerbate many dive-related problems. 3) The Molokai Express, a local powerful current, moves through this area Eastward, toward Molokai/Maui. If the current blows you past the point, you're in trouble… and currents here can sometimes be powerful. Asking locals about the Molokai Express will make their pupils dilate, whites of eyes show vividly, and cause locals to break out in a plethora of scary stories. I've lived through 2 of the moderately scary stories. 4) The other commenters do not exaggerate about lobster and crabs, along the right-hand wall here, in small clefts and overhangs. If I were looking for easy lobster, I'd look here first. Be warned that lobster are off-limits, legally, during their breeding season, when young cling to the mother in great numbers. These off-limit times are the summer months. If local divers refer to "Summer Crab", they're talking about taking lobster out-of-season. This is a popular wakeboarding & body boarding spot, with a 3' tall wave pattern that's short but powerful, on most days. It's cr*p for snorkeling, but with nice beaches and Sea Life Park across the street, you can bring the non-divers here with no fear that they'll be bored. Frequent hang gliders overhead, and a nice hike to the lighthouse on the point, make this a nice place to do other things...but this would be one of my last desperate choices for a dive, unless my buds have a hankering for lobster. A hundred or so yards/meters west from here, along the North Shore, is a place where many dive shops bring introductory (unlicensed) divers. Warning: It's totally worthless. Visibility in this slightly-west spot is rarely over 10 feet with a silty bottom and only occasional round coral heads with tiny, tiny fishes. Depths don't exceed 15'/5m. So, this slightly-west spot's a SAFE spot, but will bore even beginners.

I went to Makapu'u the other day because the conditions were favorable for it...almost no trade wind surf and a light south sea breeze (offshore at Makapu'u). I snorkeled along the wall, and was very impressed at the reef structures (some arches/caves along the wall) and marine life. I had a spear gun in hand, and saw LOTS of surgeonfish (of course), unicorn fish, porgies, and triggerfish. Saw quite a few good-sized parrotfish, some very large puffers, tea's (black tail snapper), and one peacock grouper (the one that got away). Plenty of tasty aweoweo (red bigeye) under the ledges. Overall, good and interesting dive, with lots of fish, and GREAT visibility (30+ ft). Only problem is that the place would usually have too much wave action, but not on the day I went.

Surf was very heavy, making entry and exit an adventure; fair number of large fish schools.

I did this dive in November when there was only 1-2 ft. waves. There is a restroom/shower facility there at the beach park, right next to the parking lot. The toughest part of the dive is getting from the parking lot over to the beach. It is not far, but very exhausting wearing cumbersome scuba gear. Easy shore entrance and exit. All of the sights here are along the Makapu'u cliff wall over to the right, but be cautious for rogue fishing hooks. Many fisherman sit on a ledge of the cliff and cast their lines off sporadically. I only got about 3/4 of the way out to the point, and the depth was no more than 40 ft. Lots of triggerfish, some milkfish, smaller parrotfish, and the ubiquitous wrasses were plentiful. I did not night dive here but the site didn't give me that option. I've heard that Rabbit Island (which is in Makapu'u Bay) is supposed to be pretty scenic on the Kai side, but must be reached by boat or kayak. If anyone has done it let me know. And remember, only drink Heineken AFTER you dive.…