The most Adventurous Hammerhead Shark Dive on Maui
Dive with large schools of scalloped hammerheads on our most adventurous and advanced charter.
Due to ongoing challenges following the devastating wildfires in August 2023, we have had to extend the suspension of our Hammerhead drift dive trip until May 2026.
Mahalo for your understanding—we look forward to getting back on the water with you soon.
Why choose Dive Maui for your Shark Dive
Safety is our priority
Every diver is equipped with an SMB AND Nautilus rescue GPS. In the unlikely event of any separation, with a simple click of a button you can let the boat know you are up and where you are.
Small Group
Our dive groups are a maximum of 7 people and all dive guides are PADI Instructors.
80 Cubic Tanks
We provide all our divers with 80 cubic feet tanks. We don’t want your tank size to limit your bottom time! (Smaller tanks available upon request).
No rush
We don’t schedule afternoon charters — we provide a relaxed environment, no rush to get back to shore!
Food & Snacks
Food, snacks and complimentary reusable water bottles are available on the boat.
iPad briefings
We use iPads for our briefings to more easily identify what you are likely to see on your dive sites.
Best Hammerhead Shark Dive on Maui
Diver $255
Thursday (seasonal – May-October)
6:45am
Minimum age 16 years old
Most Adventurous Shark Dive in Maui County
A short boat ride from Mala Ramp, across the Pailolo Channel from Maui, is the neighboring island of Molokai. Molokai is famous for its high sea cliffs, fresh waterfalls, untouched nature, and its resident hammerhead shark population. Dive with large schools of scalloped hammerheads on our most adventurous and advanced charter.
This is a seasonal dive that we offer from May to October when there are more hammerheads and the channel crossing is calm. Due to more extreme conditions, our Hammerhead charter is for divers with an Advanced Certification and 25 logged dives who have been on a boat dive in the last 6 months. Guests must be physically able to enter the water via backroll and quickly exit the water via a dive ladder while carrying their own equipment. This dive requires a moderate physical fitness level.
Hammerhead Shark Dive
You don your dive gear and situate yourself on the pontoon so you’re ready to back roll into the crystal clear water. Your anticipation builds until the captain shouts “dive, dive, dive!” You plunge in and descend.
As your ears equalize, the current carries you along the section of pristine reef we affectionately call “fish rain” because the thousands of fish in the water column really do look like raindrops. You shift your vision from the fish above to the reef below and spot a baby shark hidden under a small rock, next to it is a rare blue dragon nudibranch, and just a little further is a massive moray eel.
As you kick off the reef into the bright blue five shining barracuda catch your eye and you take a double look because they are so big you think they might be sharks. Floating through the blue your guide gives the hammerhead signal and points to a lone hammerhead shark who swims past and disappears. Your adrenaline is pumping.
A few moments later that shark returns with all of their friends and a massive school of one hundred plus hammerheads gracefully swims past you as you drift through the current! You shallow up to do a safety stop and start to hear clicking noises, everyone in the group searches for the source, a curious pod of spinner dolphins circle around you as you wrap up the best dive of your life.
Best company for shark diving on Maui
- We’ve been diving all around Maui County for 30 years.
- Our experienced team are experts at navigating Molokai’s currents and spotting the best wildlife.
- While we always have fun, safety is our number one priority.
- We keep our group sizes small so you’ll receive personalized attention from your instructor who will guide you on two exceptional dives.
Location: Molokai, Maui County
Depth: 40 – 100 feet
Visibility: 100 feet +
Who it’s for: Certified Advanced Open Water Diver or higher aged 16 and up who have 25 logged dives and have been boat diving within the last 6 months. Divers must be physically capable of quickly entering and exiting the water wearing their equipment with ease.
What makes it special: Molokai is one of the few places in the world where you can see huge schools of hammerheads. In addition to the mindblowing shark action, Molokai’s reefs are full of healthy coral and plentiful fish with a backdrop of the clearest water you’ll find anywhere in the world.
Where:
1223 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761
Our guests love our Hammerhead Shark Dive
Over the years, we’ve shared the passion for the ocean with countless adventurers and wildlife enthusiasts like you. And, thanks to all the feedback and reviews, the good and the bad, we can keep on the right track and provide you with the best Molokai Hammerhead Shark dive on Maui.
I had a great time diving with Dive Maui last week. I did a 2 tank dive just south of Lanai. Our guide Dom made sure to point out cool things, including lobsters, a reef shark and a large snail eating a sea anemone.
Best dive ever. Nine divers, 4 staff, two in the water, means better service than a 5 star restuarant. Courteous, competent, friendly. They know their stuff, love to pass on their knowledge, and just care while still having fun. Oh, and a hundred dolphins frolicked through our dive group at Cathedral!
Great operation for divers.
No cattle boat feel, wonderfully personal and no setting of 40 minute bottom times. If you love to boat dive, this is your place while diving the west side of Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
We did 2 tank lanai cathedral dive in Feb 2020. Professional staff and good quality equipment. Dives were adjusted to the level of divers, their experience and physiological capabilities. Great atmosphere and tasty snacks on ship!
What is included in the tour
Snacks during the surface interval (Lunch available for an additional fee)
SMB (Signal Marker Buoy) For each diver as safety measure
Nautilus Rescue GPS for safety measure
What makes this tour special
Maximized bottom time, your air and your deco rule your dives.
Scuba dive Molokai’s untouched reefs
If you’re looking for rare wildlife this is your dive!
Hammerheads, reef fish, barracuda, and nudibranchs abound, but we also get the occasional visit from eagle rays, manta rays, dolphins, and other pelagic sharks. This drift dive is a must do for the diver and nature lover searching searching for an adventure that is off the beaten path.
What species of hammerhead shark do we see in Maui County?
Experts believe scalloped hammerheads form large schools for a few purposes:
- To feed
- For reproduction
- And for group protection — though this last reason is questionable since the animals have practically no natural predators once they reach maturity.
Regardless, it is thrilling to witness a school of hammerheads swimming effortlessly through the current in Maui’s crystal blue water.
Is shark diving safe?
The scalloped hammerheads we see on Molokai are not at all aggressive. In fact it’s quite the opposite — we need to be careful not to scare the sharks.
The sharks have every reason to fear us, sharks kill less than 7 humans a year and humans kill more than 100 million sharks. Now ask yourself, who is the real predator?
With us, you’ll learn to love and respect the Ocean even more
Conscious of human impact on wildlife, we’ve sworn to do everything we can to protect what we call our second home – the ocean – by implementing the best possible practices in all of our Molokai Hammerhead Shark Dive trips.
That’s why you won’t find any single-use plastic bottles on our boat. Instead, we’ll provide you with a reusable bottle made of recycled plastic, for you to use during our trip and keep as a souvenir once the excursion is over.
It’s guaranteed. With Dive Maui, you’ll have the best Molokai Hammerhead Shark Dive while causing minimum disturbance to the beautiful nature of Hawaii.
Frequently Asked Questions on our Hammerhead Shark Dive
What is the best time of day to shark dive near Maui?
How far is it from Maui to Molokai?
Do I need special dive gear for the hammerhead trip?
You will need all the regular dive equipment (BCD, regulator, fins, mask, wetsuit) which you can buy or rent from us. In addition, we require every diver to carry an SMB and a snorkel. We have SMBs and snorkels for sale or rent at our shop.
What is the best time of year to shark dive near Maui?
Though it is possible to see hammerheads year round, we have greater success in seeing large schools of sharks in the summer months and we want you to see them! Spring and summer are also the time when the channel crossing to the dive site is calmest, and believe us the Pailolo “Crazy” channel gets its name for a reason – winter weather can be rough. For these reasons, we offer our Hammerhead Drift charter from May through October.
Can you shark dive on your period?
Yes, it is a myth that sharks are attracted to human blood. Humans are not on a shark’s menu and they have no interest in us. In fact, the scalloped hammerheads are a skittish shark and we have to be careful not to scare them!
Are there any restrictions on this trip?
This is our most adventurous trip and we only take advanced divers who are in good physical condition. You must have an advanced certification, 25 dives, and have been on a boat dive in the last 6 months in order to dive Molokai with us. We do make exceptions for people who have done a check out dive with us prior, call us today to ask about that. In addition to an advanced certification, divers must be able to quickly enter and exit the water carrying their own scuba gear with ease and minimal assistance.
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Contact
Dive Maui / Whale Watching Maui
1223 Front Street
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 96761
Tel: (808) 661-7333
dive@goscubadivemaui.com