Honolulu SCUBA: Sea Tiger Wreck, Sharks & Manta

From Briefing to Descent on Sea Tiger

Planning a dive day in Honolulu or Waikiki? This Rainbow Scuba Hawaii vlog follows a real two-tank charter step-by-step, from dockside briefing to a smooth return to Kewalo Basin harbor. We open with an informative SCUBA briefing that covers the day’s conditions, hand signals, and the safety flow: weight checks at the surface, a controlled descent on the mooring line, no-decompression limits, and a three-minute safety stop at 15 ft. With gear stowed and cameras ready, the boat heads for the legendary Sea Tiger shipwreck just offshore from Honolulu. Eager divers jump in and descend through clear blue water toward the superstructure, where schooling bannerfish swirl like confetti over the decks. Moments later, a green sea turtle glides right across the wreck—an unforgettable sight that sets the tone for the dive. The highlight arrives when a graceful manta ray sweeps past the bow, followed by two white-tip reef sharks patrolling the sand near the hull. After the wreck circuit, the team ascends the mooring line, completes a calm safety stop, and enjoys a relaxed surface interval while the captain repositions for the second site: Horseshoe Reef.

Watch the Dive Adventure

Sea Tiger Wreck: Depths, Conditions & Wildlife

What to Expect on the Wreck

The Sea Tiger is one of Honolulu’s most photogenic wrecks and a favorite for visiting divers on Oahu. Typical depths run 85–100 ft (26–30 m), with the sand lying close to 120 ft (36 m), so most guided tours keep you outside the structure and on the upper decks to preserve no-decompression limits. Visibility commonly falls in the 60–100 ft (18–30 m) range; at these depths surge is minimal, though a gentle current is possible. Keep your buoyancy trimmed and your fin kicks compact when you pass the wheelhouse and companionways—look in, don’t go in, and maintain good buddy spacing. A compact dive light helps you bring out color on encrusting sponges and peek safely into openings. Wildlife picks on today’s dive included a tight school of bannerfish on the aft deck, the turtle cruising the starboard rail, and those two white-tip reef sharks circling just off the sand. It’s an underwater adventure that makes Honolulu marine life feel both dramatic and accessible.

Safety & Gear Tips

For this first tank, set your computer for air or nitrox as briefed; nitrox can extend your no-stop time if you’re certified and within partial-pressure limits. Stay outside the wreck, mind your SAC rate at depth, and leave enough gas to complete your safety stop with a comfortable reserve. An SMB and spool are smart to carry, and a 3 mm wetsuit or layered rashguard keeps most Hawaii dive vloggers comfortable year-round. Keep your camera rig streamlined—there’s plenty to film without scraping against the wreck.

Second Tank at Horseshoe Reef

Coral Garden Highlights

The mood shifts from steel to coral on Horseshoe Reef, a shallow site perfect for long, easy profiles. Depths average 30–45 ft (9–14 m), granting abundant bottom time to explore cauliflower and lobe coral heads separated by sandy lanes. This is a great place to spot cleaning stations where surgeonfish fuss over green sea turtles. Schooling bannerfish bunch along the horseshoe-shaped ledges while yellowtail goatfish sift the sand and chub drift by in loose packs. With brighter ambient light, videographers can slow down, perfect trim and frog kicks, and capture reef textures without stirring sediment.

Planning Advice for Visitors

If you’re weighing Honolulu scuba diving tours, a wreck-to-reef combo with Rainbow Scuba Hawaii offers the best of both worlds for mixed experience levels. Morning departures often bring calmer seas and clearer water. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a snug mask, and seasickness meds if you’re prone. Small groups mean easier descents, less crowding at points of interest, and more time with wildlife when turtles or sharks cruise through. After surfacing, divers debrief the day’s highlights on the ride back—today’s picks were the manta pass and the twin white-tips—before the crew returns safely to Kewalo Basin harbor.

Ready to Dive Oahu’s Wreck-to-Reef Route?

If you’re researching SCUBA diving in Honolulu, this Sea Tiger plus Horseshoe Reef itinerary delivers wreck drama, approachable depths, and charismatic wildlife in a single morning—reef sharks, a sea turtle, schooling bannerfish, and a manta cameo. Watch the vlog to see the exact flow from briefing and boat ride to descent, wreck circuit, surface interval, reef tour, and a smooth return to the dock. Enjoyed the Hawaii dive vlog? Like the video, share your favorite moment in the comments, subscribe for more underwater adventure around Oahu, and when you’re ready to splash, book a dive with Rainbow Scuba Hawaii.