Cage-Free Shark Diving in Hawaii

I’ve done a lot of things in Hawaii at this point, but swimming cage-free with tiger sharks a few miles off the North Shore of Oahu is easily one of the coolest. Yes, cage-free. As in, you get off the boat, get into the open ocean, and the sharks are just…well there.

We went out with One Ocean Diving, which is owned by Ocean Ramsey. She’s a marine conservationist, professional diver, and, fun fact, a fellow stunt girl. She also has a Netflix documentary, called Shark Whisperer, so if you want to go down that rabbit hole before your trip, highly recommend it.

The funny part is that I had already been looking at One Ocean before I actually knew any of this. I was at dinner with a friend in Hawaii and mentioned that I wanted to go shark diving. He told me he knew exactly who I should dive with, but didn’t want to mess up my plans if I had already booked somewhere. I hadn’t officially booked yet, so I told him to give me the recommendation. He goes, “Dive with this girl named Ocean.” Turns out…same company I was already looking at booking!

That pretty much sealed the deal for me. I had also done my research beforehand and One Ocean had an incredible safety record, which was obviously important considering we were voluntarily getting into the Pacific Ocean with sharks.

The Experience

We went a few miles offshore from the North Shore, where the water gets incredibly deep and blue. This isn’t a cage-diving situation where sharks are being viewed from behind bars. You’re actually snorkeling and freediving in their environment with the One Ocean team guiding you through the entire experience.

On our dive, we saw tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, sandbar sharks, and blacktip sharks. Seeing a tiger shark underwater for the first time was WILD. Not necessarily scary, honestly, being down there felt much calmer than I expected, but there is something very humbling about watching an animal that large casually swim underneath you in completely open water. You are very aware that you’re visiting their home.

The crew also spends time educating you about shark behavior, body language, and conservation, which I really liked. It makes the experience feel like more than getting a cool GoPro video for Instagram. Although, obviously, get the GoPro video too.

Going After a Major Storm

Our timing was slightly chaotic because we went two days after Hurricane Lala, so the ocean conditions around Oahu had obviously been affected by the storm.

One thing I learned is that after significant rain and storms, you have to be careful about getting into the water near shore. Runoff can cause the water around the beaches to turn brown and potentially introduce bacteria and other contaminants that can cause skin infections, including cellulitis. Since our shark dive took us miles offshore, we were able to safely do the excursion.

If you’re visiting after a major storm, though, don’t assume every beach is automatically safe because the rain stopped. Pay attention to local advisories and ask the people who actually work in the water every day.

What I Wore & What I’d Bring Next Time

I wore my Whale Shark Waterlust suit, which ended up being perfect. The water honestly wasn’t very cold, though. If you run warm or don’t mind cooler ocean water, you could easily do this in a bikini. 

One Ocean provided a mask, snorkel and fins, so you absolutely do NOT need to travel with your own gear. That said…I regret not bringing mine. I especially wish I had brought my long fins. I’m comfortable swimming and diving in them, and when you’re trying to dive down and actually spend a little time underwater, having gear you already know and love makes such a difference. I also wish I had brought a weight belt.

So, if you’re already a strong swimmer/freediver and own equipment you’re comfortable using, I’d bring it. If you’re doing something like this for the first time, using the provided equipment makes packing much easier.

If You Are Stationed in Hawaii

This is also one of those experiences I think is SO worth doing if the military brings you to Oahu. Pearl Harbor and several other military installations are on the island, so if you’re stationed there, PCSing there or visiting someone who is, put cage-free shark diving on your Hawaii list.

One Ocean also offers a military discount, which I obviously love. Oahu itself is relatively easy to explore, too. You can cover a surprising amount of the island in a day, so even if you’re staying closer to Honolulu or the military bases, getting up to the North Shore is completely doable. I’d actually make an entire North Shore day out of it. Do the shark dive in the morning and then spend the rest of the day exploring that side of the island.

Would I do it again?

Absolutely, I would do it again! I actually think I would enjoy it even more the second time because I’d know exactly what to expect and I’d show up with my own long fins and weight belt.

If you’re nervous around sharks, I also think experiences like this can completely change the way you look at them. Seeing them underwater, watching their behavior and learning from people who spend their lives around them is very different from the version of sharks we grow up seeing in movies.

They’re still wild animals and should absolutely be respected as such, but that’s part of what makes the experience so incredible. There’s something about floating in deep blue water, looking down and seeing a tiger shark peacefully swimming underneath you that puts into perspective just how small you are out there. Those are my favorite kinds of travel experiences.

The ones that make you slightly nervous beforehand, feel completely surreal while they’re happening, and immediately have you thinking, when can I do this again? If you’re visiting or lucky enough to be stationed on Oahu add cage-free shark diving on the North Shore to the list. Just maybe bring your long fins. I’m still annoyed at myself for that one.

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