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Cathedral II

We’ve done a lot of lava tubes and swim-throughs, but Cathedral II on Lanai really stands out. The hour boat ride across the channel from Maui sets the tone, a bit of an adventure before you even splash. Once you drop, you’re looking for the entrance to this massive lava tube system, and it’s pretty humbling inside. You’re definitely going to want a strong dive light here; it gets dark, but that’s part of the appeal. We love the way the light filters in through cracks in the ceiling, creating these natural stained-glass effects – exactly why it’s called a cathedral. Inside, the scale is impressive. We’ve seen good-sized schools of Threadfin and Unicornfish hanging out, and the Black Coral is everywhere, ancient and gnarled. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, like the Ambon Pufferfish tucked into crevices. Exiting the main cathedral into the brighter water, we often spot a Gray Reef Shark patrolling the edge or a Giant Trevally cruising by. Our pick for timing is usually mid-morning, when the sun is high enough to really make those light shafts pop. This is a site for divers who appreciate dramatic topography and a bit of cave-like exploration without any real overhead environment. It’s not a drift dive, but those strong currents in the channel mean you should be comfortable with your buoyancy. Come prepared for an hour-long boat ride and a dive where a good light makes all the difference.