Before we start writing about this experience ( Diving with sharks in Hawaii ), we want to say that this was, for sure, one of the most amazing things we’ve ever done!
That being said, let’s get started! 🙂
INTRO
I want to start this post by telling you guys a short story. My mom, living in Vancouver with us when we first moved to Canada, loves Hawaii. She was a big Elvis Presley fan when she was a teenager, so she used to tell me told me about his movies in Hawaii and how she dreamed about going there one day.
Maybe being influenced by her, I’m not sure; I also always wanted to go to Hawaii. I thought about getting married there.
As I just mentioned, my mom was living in Vancouver with my sister (same building but different floors from us), and that year; we thought it would be a great opportunity to finally make this dream come true, as Vancouver is kind of ‘close’ to Hawaii. At least closer than Brazil is for sure.
Getting done
As soon as we bought our plane tickets, I came up with the diving with sharks in Hawaii idea. I told Fred that I’ve heard that in Hawaii, you could dive with sharks in the middle of the ocean and with no cages and that I would love to do that!
Fred freaked out a little at first, but after a while, he was totally on board with my idea, and we started searching more about this on the internet.
I then found out about the company called One Ocean Diving, and after searching a lot about it, I chose them to let me explain why.
One Ocean Diving is a company founded by Ocean Ramsey (a marine scientist) and Juan Oliphant (a photographer and conservationist) that focuses on research, conservation, and education about sharks, sea turtles, and whales – among many other initiatives. They are passionate about ‘helping people understand these animals and the negative misconception that can go along with them- ESPECIALLY SHARKS!’ They use the tour as a research opportunity to document shark populations in the area.
OUR EXPERIENCE Diving with sharks in Hawaii
I booked our tour for 7 am, the first one of the day. We were staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, and it would take us one hour to get to the One Ocean Diving Boat in Haleiwa.
When we arrived in Haleiwa, a boat was waiting for us. We hopped aboard and sailed for around 20 minutes through the open ocean to find where the sharks usually are. It’s important to remember that they don’t control the number of species of sharks you are going to find. We are in the middle of the ocean!
On our way there
Kay, our instructor, taught us a lot about sharks and what we could expect from our experience diving with sharks. We also saw some dolphins swimming just beside our boat on our way there. It was amazing!
After we found out where the sharks were, we could see them swimming from the boat. Now it’s time for me to be completely honest with you guys; yes, I FREAKED OUT a little when I saw the sharks! hah hah
They are seeing their fins made me think about all those sharks movies and that classic shark song. We decided to hire a photographer that the company offers so you can take underwater pictures with the sharks, and they want me to be the first one to get in the water. I remember thinking, ‘ Well, if they are hungry, that means bye-bye, Luana!’ haha.
The real thing
Jokes aside, the moment I got into the water felt like magic. Seeing the sharks in their natural habitat swimming by my side was something I could never imagine happening! And after all, I wasn’t that scared anymore. Guys, we were diving with sharks in Hawaii!!
The funny thing is that Fred, who didn’t want to go diving in the first place, went completely nuts when he saw the sharks! He loved them so much and couldn’t get enough of them. We think his adrenaline got him high and kept him too excited about the sharks. It was funny and a bit scary at the same time to see Fred like that.
The video of us diving with sharks in Hawaii.
There is a video on our GoPro where he and the shark get SO close, and he kept under the water for so long! It was weird.
We spent around 40 minutes in the water, snorkeling with the sharks. Sometimes they stay far away from you and get closer, but nothing scary. The company will explain everything about those situations and how to react. For example, you should always make eye contact with them. If they come a little closer, use your fin to keep them distant from youUse your fin to keep them far away from you if they reach a little closer—some things like that. And if you are scared, you can stay closer to the boat and observe them from a distance. It’s all up to you!
So yes, my experience diving with sharks in Oahu, Hawaii.
I want to say that this was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my life, and I would recommend it to anyone.
On their website, One Ocean Diving explains everything you need about sharks and their experiences. I searched a lot about the company before going with them. I’m not that crazy, and I don’t think I could trust anyone to do that. They prepare you for everything on your way there, and you feel ready to do it. This isn’t just a ‘tour’ company to get you close to wild animals, but a science-backed educational organization, so you will always feel safe, know you’re in good hands, and come away with knowledge about the species.
Final Thoughts on our experience of diving with sharks in Hawaii
One Ocean has done incredible work for the ‘re-education’ of people regarding sharks, and their conservation is remarkable. I highly recommend supporting a company like this!
Let me know if you guys have any questions. I’ll be more than happy to answer them. 🙂
Love,
L&F.
