Duane Kiszak's Dive Log

Wameia Bay actually has two dive sites on the north and south reefs or each side of the bay. These are really good shore diving sites, but they are a long walk from the parking lot to the shoreline and the north reef is also a long swim out to the descent site. Parking is very hard to come by so you have to get there early, as usually by 9 am all the parking is gone. If there is any surf greater than 3 feet I would not dive this site as the waves break right on the beach. Usually the best times to dive here is between late April to early October. Turtles, lots of fish, nudi brancs, cleaner shrimp, eels, large Parrot Fish, large fish and other life are very abundant here. On occasion you can also hear Dolphins though I have never seen them here while diving. To dive the south reef walk over the beach to the far side of jumping rock (rock where mostly kids climb up the rock and jump into the ocean) and enter between jumping rock and the bay's wall. Swim out to sea and little towards the wall and you will start to see a collection of large rocks. You can drop here or continue to swim out to larger rocks toward the wall, and you will see the sand drop off and there is a little cove area. Check all the nooks and crannies in the wall and around all the rocks as there are generally lots of macro items to see here. When you hit the end of the cove come up over the rocks and rocky area. There are generally lots of tangs here feeding on the algae on the rocks. If there is any surf make your way past the large rock that is on your right and once past go right. There you will see a large arch that you can swim through. Explore the area on both sides of the arch. Once done exploring head out to sea and check out the rocky area as octopus and other fish are commonly seen here. As you continue to swim out to sea you will come to the first of the Wananapaoa Islands. Explore the entire area around the base of the island and look for the cave entrances. There are three caves that cross the island and meet in the middle. Explore this area as there is generally lots of shells (do not take them as the bay is wildlife preserve) and turtles can be found sleeping and resting here. Once done exploring go around to the bay side of the island and proceed out to sea. Eventually you will come to the second of the islands. Again explore the entire island's base as there is a lot to see. There is another cave that goes to the center of the island and then straight up to the middle of the island. When done exploring and you still have air you can head out to last rock or the last of the Wananapaoa Islands. Explore along the base of this island for much the same as the other to islands. When done head to where the rocky area meets the sandy area and take it all the way back in to where a half wall jets out in the sandy area. Explore along this wall if you have the air as Leaf Fish and Scorpion fish frequent here. Take this half wall to the main wall of the bay and take this all the way back in to the shore. To dive the north reef walk across the sand to the far side of the river and swim out to where the rocks meet the sand. Surface swim out to sea toward the end of the bay's wall. Stay together here as a group with a dive flag as boats frequent this area. As you swim out you will start to see the reef. Make your descent where you start to see large outcrops of rocks and the reef and canyons between the rocks and reefs. This is a long swim over 100 yards. Explore along these canyons and rock outcroppings as there is lots of overhangs and a couple of caves and arches to explore. Lots of shells and crab can be found here (do not take any as this is a wildlife preserve). Continue to swim along the reef and explore all the reef outcroppings and overhangs. There is one large cave here that goes inland quite a ways. Do not enter without proper training and equipment. Turn around and go back the way you came to make your return to the beach and exit. This site has excellent facilities including showers, changing rooms and restrooms. There are also picnic tables and BBQ areas.

This is usually considered by many to be a boat dive and many of the dive boats frequent this dive site. But this is also a good shore diving site, though a bit of a surface swim. Look at the ocean. If surf is large (as it can be from May to October) shore diving this site is not recommended. Also check for currents, at times there is strong east to west current. There is plenty of parking at the public parking for Ka'ako Waterfront Park. Parking is free and the park is open from 6am to 10pm. Gear up at your car and carry fins to the entry point. Be sure to lock up your car! There are two entry and exit points. The primary being the stairs that lead into the water just past the showers that are next to the boat channel. Go down the stairs and put on your fins just prior to entering the water. Ensure you stay on the edge of the boat channel and start swimming out. Swim toward the green buoy and, when you clear the surf zone, start swimming to the cylindrical white buoy. When you reach the white buoy continue to swim west about 50 yards and you will see the pipe (an old no longer in use drainage pipe). Drop down and tie off your dive flag. About halfway down from this point you will see the mooring buoy for the dive boats so use caution if you have to surface in this area. Dive boat and other boat traffic is very common here. Continue to follow the pipe toward the end. The tropical fish are very friendly and photogenic at this site!!! Others areas of interest are on the reefs located to the west where the drop down point is and also 3/4 of the way down the pipe. Eagle Rays, White Tip Reef Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Spinner Dolphins, and Barracudas can be scene here so some caution is advised. Turtles can also be seen here, but all sightings are very sporadic. Numerous tropical reef fish are very common, as well as various Nudi brancs. Viz can be as little as 20 feet to 100 feet depending on the surf and currents and the amount of rain as both the boat channel and Ali Wai deposit here. The alternate entry/exit is located at the second or middle pavilion. Just to the west, right after the showers, there are stairs that go into a small protected water area. Just before entering the water put your fins on and enter the way. Swim around the wall and start swimming toward the small white cylindrical buoy. If using this as an alternate exit, start swimming toward the second buoy. If conditions are good, this a good laid back dive and is convenient because it is located downtown. I would say this is an intermediate day dive and advanced night dive because of the surface swims and the boat traffic in the area and also because conditions can be rough.