Find ample sea life and large reefs just offshore at the Koloa Landing Dive Site. With easy shore entry and water that quickly deepens to allow for diving, this area is highly popular with scuba schools. However, you don’t have to have lessons if you’re already an experienced diver. Check out the marine life that makes this a draw for divers.
Koloa Landing has a rich history dating centuries before it became a well-known dive site. It was a popular deep-water port. During the decades, it served as a trading port for fur, sandalwood, whaling, and sugar cane. Over time, its use as a port fell out of favor due to the unpredictable winds. However, when the ships left, divers took over the area to take advantage of the deep waters that made it an excellent port.
Today, divers frequently see evidence of the Koloa Landing’s former life as a deep-water port. Anchor chains and other boating debris lie scattered on the floor with reefs where fish and other sea life make their homes.
The animals that you’ll see in this area depend on the time of year you visit. For instance, winter brings whales to the area. While they don’t enter the diving area, you can hear their whale song from the Koloa Landing Dive Site. Above water and along the water’s edge, you can get closer looks at other animals. Monk seals tend to lounge near the boat landing and sea turtles rest in the area, too.
Underwater, there are 20 species of fish that live naturally in the area. Common types of fish in the waters of this dive site include lagoon triggerfish, boxfish, Other marine animals you can see include several types of eels, octopus, hermit crabs, and dragon moray eels. Even regular visitors to this dive site report seeing new creatures they’d never encountered before with each dive.
The reef itself has a u-shape filled with a center that has a sandy bottom frequented by flounders. The two main diving areas are these raised sides of the u-shape, which include rocky areas and coral reefs. Both reefs have several varieties of fish and other marine life. Make sure to explore both sides of the sandy center to get the best experience possible during your dive.
While the wildlife brings in a variety of divers, the ease of entry and typically calm waters draw beginners to the area. This dive site has great conditions for kids and beginners, which is why many schools make this their instruction site. With shore entry, you don’t need a boat to reach the dive area. Just a few yards from shore, you will start to see the reefs and marine life, depending on conditions. The proximity to the shore of the reef also makes this a popular spot for snorkelers.
If your bucket list to Hawaii includes diving with tropical fish in a reef, stop by Koloa Landing Dive Site. Area outfitters will have equipment for rent, and you can take lessons at the numerous schools in the area if you don’t have your scuba certification. Snorkeling is another great sport for this shore diving site. Divers of all ages and abilities will enjoy a trip to the Koloa Landing Dive Site with easy access to the water where abundant marine life awaits.
Insider Tips:
-The parking area fills up in the mornings from scuba class students. Park on the street nearby if the lot is full.
-Watch weather conditions. Local storms can reduce visibility underwater or create rough seas that make diving difficult.
-Go to the west of the boat landing to explore a vast reef with more fish and old lava tubes. Dive to the east of the landing to see a greater variety of different animals.
-Arrive as early as possible to get a parking spot in the lot and to see still sleeping turtles in the dive area.