A Guide to Freediving in Hawaii

Picture this: You’ve landed in the enchanting Aloha state and the allure of free diving beckons you. Whether you’re a seasoned free diver on the lookout for new underwater realms, a snorkeling novice eager to elevate your skills, or someone with dreams of becoming a real-life mermaid, I’m here to guide you into this incredible world. Having called Oahu, Hawaii my home during the pandemic and making it my annual retreat since 2015, I’ve unearthed the magic of freediving here, creating moments that stand as some of the most extraordinary in my life!

Freediving Course & Certification

The first action item is finding a reputable freediving shop or agency to take a course with and perhaps get certified. The reason for this is safety and accessibility. No certified freediver or freediving group worth their salt will take on an untrained diver and you need diving buddies to dive. Unlike scuba diving where you rely on the equipment and dive master for safety, in freediving you rely entirely on your own physical capabilities and skills of those around you.

During a freediving course, you can expect to learn different equalizing techniques, efficient entry & diving techniques, your static breath hold time, how to identify & react to safety issues (blackouts) and more. Even if you never participate in competitive freediving, these skills are required to dive safely, recreationally.

You can be confident in any FII (Freediving Instructors International) or PFI (Performance Freediving International) backed agencies. They focus solely on freediving.

Best Freediving Shops & Instructors in Hawaii

• Deep Freediving Instruction – I got my certification from this club and joined them on a few dives after the course. They are an amazing crew and I highly recommend them if you are on Oahu.
• Ocean Freediving – I’ve been on on one dive with this club and had a blast, located on Oahu.
• Amelia de Los Rios – Amelia is a complete badass and was a huge source of inspiration for me during my time on Oahu.
• Kurt Chambers – Hosts courses around Big Island, Maui & Oahu.
• Kona Freedivers – Located on Big Island.
• Freedive Ohana – Female dive club on Maui.

How to find dive buddies or groups to

Experienced freedivers who are already certified can skip the certification piece but I still highly recommend reaching out to dive clubs. When they are not teaching courses, they are out sharpening their skills and will charge a small boat fee for divers to join in on their outings. Newly certified divers can also follow this route. The freediving community in Hawaii is a tight knit community and you’ll likely be informed of their outings after your certification.

Another option is joining freediving groups on Facebook such as Oahu Freedivers , they are filled with seasoned divers and newly certified divers alike.

Shore Freediving locations

Technically you can “freedive” anywhere, even at Waikiki but some locations are better than others depending on several factors like depth, wildlife, facilities (parking and restroom), access, etc.

Here are the best shore freediving locations on Oahu.

Makua beach

Makua beach is located on the west side of Oahu, past Waianae and before Ka’ena Point State Park. it is my favorite beach in Hawaii. It is remote so there are no facilities and I hope there never will be as that feature inadvertently acts a crowd deterrent. 9 times out of 10 the visibility is great, there might be dolphins and during the winter months you can hear whales! Sunset at this beach is also phenomenal and the entire landscape is untouched and undisturbed, no mega resorts or hotels here.

• Depth: 20 – 50 ft
• Parking: yes.
• No amenities (showers or bathrooms)

Makaha beach

This is also located on the west side of Oahu and is my second favorite beach on the Island for the magical underwater world of sea caves that exist. I advise strong caution here as the surface swim to the caves is quite long, about 250 meters and can be exhausting for weaker swimmers. If you have a kayak or paddle board this would be a great combination activity for you to do. Remember to always have a dive flag or surface marker buoy.

• Depth: 20-50 ft.
• Parking: yes.
• Amenities: Showers and bathrooms.

Kewalo pipe from Point Panic

There is no “beach” here but rather literal concrete steps that lead right into the ocean. Parking is limited so be sure to arrive early! There are line fishermen, scuba divers, spearos and freedivers which makes parking on the weekends a challenge. The Kewalo pipe is an old storm drain pipe that runs from the shore far out into the ocean with a healthy reef, albeit not the most colorful, it does have a good amount of wildlife like eels, manta rays and sometimes dolphins pass through!

• Depth: 45 – 65 ft.
• Parking: yes but limited.
• Amenities: Showers and bathrooms.

Sharks Cove

Located on the north shore, there is also no real “beach” here but rocks, reef, caverns and wildlife! My favorite thing about sharks cove is the cool rock formations and caverns underneath. It’s also not a far swim out at all, just steps away from decent depth.

• Depth: 20 – 40 ft.
• Parking: yes but limited.
• Amenities: Showers, bathrooms & restaurants across the street

Kahe point aka Electric Beach

Electric beach got it’s name from the power plant next door that releases warm water into the ocean. It has a very small beach and not a lot of room to spread out but freedivers don’t mind because we spend more time in the water than on land. Be cautious of theft in this area and do not leave items visible in your car. The swim out is very short.

• Depth: 20 – 30 ft.
• Parking: Yes.
• Amenities: Showers and bathrooms.

Highlights and Tips for Freediving in Hawaii

• Always bring a dive flag and surface marker buoy on dives.
• Never dive alone.
• Always check the weather before heading out and educate yourself on tides, currents and waves.
• Lock your car and never leave your valuables inside. For less valuable items, keep out of sight. Oahu has a high rate of car theft and break-ins, so it pays to be cautious and attentive.
• Arrive early for decent parking and to beat the crowds.
• When in doubt, DON’T GO OUT.

Freediving Gear

• Mask
• Weight belt
• Wetsuit
• Fins
• Surface marker buoy
• Dive flag
• Dive watch

I’ve written a short guide to help you navigate through all of the freediving essentials here.

Freediving in Hawaii was an incredibly magical time of my life that changed me for the better. I felt more connected to myself, the planet and became an even more fierce environmentalist.