Airplane Canyon - Hawaii

Airplane Canyon in Hawaii is a surprisingly easy dive for a cavern, making it a good choice if you're keen to explore overhead environments without the stress. We drop down to about 27 meters, where you’ll find the entrance to a large, open-ended tube. Light streams in from both sides, so it never feels truly dark inside, which is reassuring. Look for the resident white-tip reef sharks often napping on the sandy bottom, and keep an eye on the ceiling for schooling squirrelfish. It’s a pretty mellow dive, great for beginners wanting to get a feel for cavern diving.

Location
Hawaii, United States, North America
Coordinates
21.441700, -158.208000
Type
cave
Maximum Depth
27m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Kaena Point

Best Time to Dive in Hawaii

The warmest water temperatures in Hawaii occur in September, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 25.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 26.2°C
  • February: 25.7°C
  • March: 25.6°C
  • April: 26.0°C
  • May: 26.8°C
  • June: 27.6°C
  • July: 27.9°C
  • August: 28.5°C
  • September: 29.0°C
  • October: 28.6°C
  • November: 27.9°C
  • December: 27.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Hawaii

Nearest Dive Centres to Airplane Canyon

Marine Life in Hawaii

Home to 23 recorded species including 17 reef fish, 3 other, 2 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Airplane Canyon

Based on average water temperature of 27.2°C, currents 9 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories