Waikiki Two Tank Guided Scuba Diving Adventure: Certified Diver

The best feature here is the six-diver limit. Instead of being one person in a large crowd, you get a more personal outing along Oahu’s southern coast, with a PADI Dive Master or instructor able to match the pace to your skill level. The sites may include reefs and historic shipwrecks, and Hawaiian green sea turtles are among the wildlife you might see.

I like the easy Waikiki location and the fact that gear, tanks, weights, drinks, and snacks are included. I also like the personal attention promised by such a small group. The main consideration is simple: at $249 per person, this is not a casual add-on for a first-time snorkeler. You must already hold a scuba certification and provide your certification details before going.

Key Points at a Glance

• Maximum of six certified divers: A small group gives the guide more time to adjust the outing to your pace and experience.
• Two tank, four-hour format: You get a substantial underwater session rather than a short introductory swim.
• Reefs and shipwrecks near Waikiki: The southern shores of Oahu offer a mix of natural and historic underwater scenery.
• Wildlife can include green sea turtles: Octopus, tropical fish, dolphins, and reef sharks are also possible sightings, but no encounter is guaranteed.
• Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor meeting point: The marina sits at 1651 Ala Moana Boulevard, close to Waikiki hotels and resorts.
• Certified divers only: You need your certification agency, level, and certification number, plus height, weight, and shoe size for equipment fitting.

What the Four-Hour Outing Is Like

This is a focused scuba trip for people who already know the basics and want time underwater with a professional guide. The experience lasts about four hours and includes two tanks, so you should expect more than a quick look around the harbor.

You meet Ocean Therapy Charters at Front Row Slip 65 in Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. The address is 1651 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815. The activity returns to this same location, which makes the logistics easy if you are staying in Waikiki.

The exact underwater sites depend on conditions and the day’s plan. The advertised setting includes reefs and historic shipwrecks along Oahu’s southern shores. That combination gives the trip some variety. A reef can offer fish, coral formations, turtles, and smaller sea life, while a wreck provides a different kind of scenery, with structure for marine life and a sense of local maritime history.

Because the itinerary does not promise one fixed site, you should not book this expecting a particular wreck or a guaranteed animal encounter. The flexibility is useful in a marine setting, where weather and water conditions matter. It also means the crew can choose a site that suits the group’s ability and the day’s conditions.

Between the two underwater sessions, you can expect a pause as the crew handles the tanks and the group resets. Exact surface intervals and site order are not specified, so treat the published four hours as the full outing rather than four hours underwater.

Why Six People Makes a Difference

A six-person maximum is a real advantage for certified scuba guests. Small groups allow the guide to keep a closer eye on everyone, notice differences in comfort and experience, and avoid making the strongest or newest certified diver set the pace for the whole boat.

The guide is described as tailoring the outing to your pace and skill level. That matters if you have certification but limited recent experience. It also helps if you are more practiced and want a smoother, more efficient session without being held back by a very large group.

The small size can also make communication easier. You have fewer people to organize before entering the water, fewer fins and masks to sort out, and less chance of feeling anonymous once you are below the surface. The guide can spend more attention on the actual group instead of managing a crowd.

There is one point to keep in mind. A small group does not mean the outing is private. Up to six divers may be booked, and the group’s combined abilities still influence the pace. If you want a completely private charter, confirm that option directly before booking.

Reefs, Wrecks, and Oahu’s Southern Shore

The advertised sites combine two of the most appealing types of underwater scenery around Honolulu. Reefs offer the chance to see living marine habitat, while shipwrecks add a man-made element and a sense of place.

The wildlife list is broad. You might swim near Hawaiian green sea turtles, watch an octopus move through the reef, or see tropical fish in the shallower formations. Dolphins and reef sharks are also possible. These are wildlife possibilities, not promises, so book for the overall underwater setting rather than for one specific animal.

Green sea turtles are especially meaningful in Hawaii, where they are a familiar part of coastal waters. If you see one, give it space and follow the guide’s instructions. The same goes for every other animal. A good encounter is one where the creature can carry on undisturbed.

The wrecks may appeal to you if you enjoy underwater structure and historical atmosphere. Still, the available information does not give the names, depths, or exact access details for particular wrecks. Certified scuba guests should be comfortable with that uncertainty. The crew chooses the sites, and the final plan can be shaped by conditions.

The Guide’s Role Underwater

Your outing is led by a PADI Dive Master or instructor. The guide’s job is not only to point out marine life. It also includes helping the group stay organized, keeping the pace manageable, and directing the experience toward sites suitable for the people on board.

One booking received a particularly strong personal response after a solo guest went out with Mike on Easter. The trip continued even though that person was the only diver booked, and Mike was praised for his professional approach and personal attention. That detail is useful because it suggests the operator is willing to provide a one-on-one outing when the booking situation allows, rather than automatically canceling a holiday trip.

You should not assume Mike will be your guide on every departure. He is the named guide connected with that individual outing, while the general experience promises a PADI Dive Master or instructor. If having a particular guide matters to you, ask Ocean Therapy Charters before booking.

The guide’s ability to adjust the pace is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip over a larger boat operation. You are paying not just for tank time, but also for someone to lead the group through unfamiliar sites and help make the session orderly.

Equipment and What You Need to Provide

The price includes dive gear, tanks, and weights. You are asked to provide your height, weight, and shoe size so the crew can prepare a wetsuit, BCD, and fins. Giving accurate information at booking helps avoid a poor equipment fit on the day.

You also need to submit your scuba certification agency, certification level, and certification number. This is a certified-diver outing, not a lesson or a first-time introduction. If you do not hold certification, the operator offers a separate Discovery SCUBA experience in Waikiki that includes instruction and does not require certification.

The equipment is included, but you should still think about personal comfort items. The supplied information does not specify whether prescription masks, cameras, or other specialty equipment are available, so ask before booking if you need something beyond the standard gear.

The trip also includes bottled water, sparkling water, juice, pineapple, and snacks during the cruise. That is a small but practical touch. Four hours around the water can make refreshments useful, especially after the second session.

Is $249 a Fair Price?

At $249 per person, this is a significant purchase, but the value is easier to see if you plan to use the full format. You are getting about four hours, two tanks, equipment, tanks, weights, a guide, refreshments, and a group capped at six people.

The small group is the key price factor. A cheaper, larger operation may offer similar tank access but less personal attention. Here, the guide has fewer people to manage and more room to adapt the experience to your pace. If that matters to you, the premium can be reasonable.

The cost is less compelling if you are uncertain about your certification, have not been in the water for a long time, or mainly want a quick look at tropical fish. In those cases, a discovery or introductory experience may suit you better. This trip is designed for certified scuba guests who want a proper two-tank outing.

Parking is not included and is listed at $1 per hour. Since the meeting point is near Waikiki and public transportation, you may be able to avoid driving. If you do bring a car, add the parking cost to your budget and arrive with enough time to find the correct slip.

Practical Details Before You Book

Confirmation is provided at booking, and mobile tickets are accepted. The experience is offered in English.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. Scuba requires more than simply sitting on a boat, and the outing includes handling equipment and spending time in the water. The data does not give a minimum age, maximum weight, medical clearance rule, or exact water conditions, so ask the operator directly if any of those points affect you.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity begins and ends at the marina, not at your hotel, so plan your own way to Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.

Weather can affect the trip. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, and if that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time in Honolulu.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

This trip is a good match for a certified scuba guest who wants a small, guided outing close to Waikiki. It suits you especially well if you value a lower head count, want two tanks, and like the idea of visiting both reef and wreck sites.

It may also suit a certified diver traveling alone. The experience can still operate with one diver, as shown by the Easter outing with Mike, though minimum booking rules can apply. Solo guests should confirm the departure before making firm plans.

This is less suitable if you are looking for a first underwater experience, a snorkeling tour, or a large social boat trip. It is also not ideal if you need a guaranteed turtle, dolphin, shark, or wreck encounter. Marine wildlife and site choices depend on the conditions and the crew’s plan.

Should You Book the Waikiki Two-Tank Trip?

Book it if you are already certified, want a serious half-day underwater outing, and place a high value on personal attention. The six-person limit, included equipment, two tanks, and professional guide make the $249 price easier to justify than it would be for a short, crowded session.

Think twice if you are not certified, have only a few hours available, or mainly want guaranteed wildlife. For the right scuba guest, Ocean Therapy Charters offers a practical Waikiki departure, a manageable group size, and access to the reefs and wrecks of Oahu’s southern shore without a long transfer from the resort area.

FAQ

Is this experience for certified scuba divers only?

Yes. You must already hold a scuba certification. You need to provide the certification agency, certification level, and certification number when booking.

How long does the experience last?

The outing lasts approximately four hours and includes two tanks.

Where does the trip begin and end?

It begins and ends at Ocean Therapy Charters, Front Row Slip 65, Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, 1651 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815.

What is included in the price?

The $249 price includes dive gear, tanks, weights, a guided scuba tour with a Dive Master, bottled water, sparkling water, juice, pineapple, and snacks.

How many people can join the trip?

The maximum group size is six travelers.

What happens if the weather cancels the outing?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.