Dive· Lehua· Hawaii
Lehua Crater Dive
22° 1.4′ N · 160° 5.8′ W · approximate
Diving inside and around the drowned crater of Lehua off Niihau - visibility of 100 feet or more, arches, caves and swim-throughs, and a chance of monk seals - is the bucket-list dive of the Kauai area.
Practical
Seasport Divers: boat dive, advanced, 50-100 ft, visibility 100-150 ft; their full-day trips run late spring to early autumn (Tuesdays and Fridays), about 2.5 hours each way from Kauai with three dives; sites named include Vertical Awareness, Pyramid Point, Niihau Arches and Neon Cave in the channel between Niihau and Lehua, while the Keyhole and Lehua Crater itself are only dived when conditions allow, which is often not the case in northeast trades; experienced divers only (30+ logged dives or Advanced Open Water), nitrox recommended. From your own boat, dive only in flat calm with a surface watch; Lehua Channel current is about 1.5 knots both ways (Coast Pilot). Coordinate approximated inside the north-facing crescent from the Lehua island position.
Best for
Advanced wall and crater diving
Season
Late spring to early autumn, light trades
Nearby
- Lehua Island Seabird Sanctuary0.2 NM away
- Niihau Hawaiian Monk Seals1 NM away
- Puukole Point Anchorage (Niihau)1.2 NM away
- Niihau Leeward Anchorages3.9 NM away
- Kii Landing Anchorage (Niihau East)4 NM away
- Niihau Beachcombing and Glass Floats5.2 NM away
- Kaununui Anchorage (Niihau)6.6 NM away
- Niihau (Private Island, Public Waters)7.5 NM away