Experience Scuba Diving Like Never Before At Niihau Island, Hawaii
Hawaii is a paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts. The aqua blue waters, untouched islands, and underwater flora and fauna will make your trip worth every penny. But with so many islands around, which one is the best? Which one should you select for the best scuba diving experience? Let’s find out.
The forbidden island
Most people spend a day in Kauai Island, which is one of the top three scuba diving spots in Hawaii. But if you want to spend time on an island that only has 200 residents and restricted access, you need to go 18 miles west from Kauai Island. This is the privately-owned island of Niihau. It is a small island with a maximum length of only 19 miles. The locals call it The Forbidden Island because of the restricted access policy.
Scuba diving at Niihau Island
It is a challenge to convince the residents and get permission to stay at Niihau Island. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot scuba dive. For this, you need to hire a boat from the Kauai Island. Boats are readily available in different places. Make sure you take a guide along. And take all the scuba diving gear. You will not get anything once you reach Niihau Island. Most people wear their scuba diving gear before getting on the boat.
Journey to the Niihau Island
Although Niihau Island is only 19 miles from Kauai Island, the boating distance is 33 miles. You will have to start the boat from the south shore of Kauai Island and reach Lehua Rock, which is on the northern side of Niihau Island. The journey from Kauai Island to Lehua Rock is heavenly. It is almost as if you are sandwiched between two shades of blue. The clear blue sky and the serene, light blue water is a spectacle.
Scuba diving experience at Niihau Island
You will feel like entering a different world altogether once you jump off your boat into the water. Everything around you will turn blue within the blink of an eye. You may see a variety of dolphins, big tuna, various types of whales, thousands of colorful fishes, starfishes, jellyfish, and many more. Make sure you don’t touch a jellyfish. They might sting.
Apart from the densely populated fauna in the waters of Niihau Island, the flora is another area that attracts the attention of scuba divers. The corals and underwater plants look different from the ones you usually see.
Some divers are lucky to see Hawaiian monk seals while diving near the Niihau Island. Apart from the fishes, dolphins, and whales, you may also come across gray reef sharks, manta rays, and white tips. If you don’t know which type of shark you see at a distance, stay away from it. You shouldn’t go close to sharks because one of them may also be a killer whale.
Scuba diving in Niihau Island is a dream come true for many divers. If you want to experience heaven underwater, visit Niihau Island now.
