7 Extraordinary Sea Animals to Observe While Scuba Diving in Hawaii

We are passionately in love with our environment, and feel privileged to be able to show off the natural riches that can be seen underwater. Offering you an unparalleled scuba diving experience, we never tire of the thrill clients experience after their first dive.

Diving is not just a job for us – it’s a way of life. It’s our work and our passion, and we know this area like the back of our hands. We are proud to live here and to show off all the natural riches of our islands and their wildlife inhabitants. It is in this spirit that we’d like to introduce you to some of the extraordinary sea creatures that you are most likely to spot while scuba diving in Hawaii.

Green Sea Turtles (Honu)

We can honestly say that these gentle guys are our favorites. Though they are a threatened species worldwide, they are fairly common here in Hawaii. With green fat between their organs and shell, a large body, and paddle flippers, you can see them in shallow lagoons minding their own business as they peacefully munch on a meal of sea grass.

Manta Rays (Hahalua)

One of largest fish in the ocean, these graceful pelagic fish can be intimidating with their wingspan of 20 feet or more. Manta Rays don’t have stingers – so fear not, intrepid diver! –  they won’t hurt you. You’ll find them near the water’s surface, feeding on zooplankton.

Heller’s Barracuda

These toothy-grinned babies can be quite daunting with their long bodies, smooth scales, fang-like teeth, and large pointed heads. They will usually have dark blue, green, or gray upper bodies, silvery sides, and white bellies, with variations like black spots or dark bars on their sides. Up to seven feet long and 12 inches wide, they are fast and furious and often found near the top of the water, around coral reefs and sea grasses, or in muddy shallows. Attracted to shiny things, they can sometimes mistake humans for food, but we’ve yet to see anyone in our orbit attacked, so despite their reputation, there’s no cause for alarm.

Blackspot Sergeant

This is a chic and sleek underwater beauty, with its sleek black body and white vertical stripes. You will observe them in small groups around the reef areas, feeding on algae, invertebrates, and crustaceans.

Hawaiian White Spotted Toby

Another fashionable fish with a brown body, white spots, and green eyes, the Toby are also called the Sharpnose Pufferfish thanks to their elongated snouts. Less than four inches long, they usually swim in pairs, looking for algae to eat. While not really dangerous, they can be quite annoying and rambunctious, nipping on other fish’s fins and biting the skin of turtles.

Yellowtail Coris

As adolescents, these fish have reddish-orange bodies dotted with three white spots outlined in black, two white spots on their heads, and white tails. As adults, their tails become a flashy yellow, their bodies change to a reddish or greenish brown color, and their heads become red with blue lines or other variations. They are very funny to watch when they use their heads and mouths to flip over rocks in their search for crabs and sea urchins to eat. At 2.5 to four inches long, they usually swim alone.

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin

Known for their acrobatics, these dolphins spin along their longitudinal axis as they leap into the air, which is quite a sight to see. They enjoy their rest in the shallow bays near deep water, going offshore at dusk to feed.

These are just a few of the wonders you’ll observe in our Hawaiian paradise. Drop us a line today to learn more about scheduling your amazing underwater dive experience!