Lanai Ocean Experiences

Hawaii, United States

The team at Lanai Ocean Experiences are our pick if you’re heading to Lanai, especially if you’re keen to explore the island’s famous lava tubes and cathedrals. They’re a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, and they run a smooth operation. We’ve always found their boats comfortable, and the crew genuinely helpful, not just efficient. We love diving First Cathedral with them. Descending into that massive underwater cavern, shafts of sunlight pierce through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating clouds of schooling fish – it’s a proper light show. Keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting on the sandy bottom. Our favourite time to dive it is early morning, before the day boats from Maui arrive. Another standout is Menpachi Cave, sometimes called the Aquarium. It’s shallower, but the sheer volume of squirrelfish and soldierfish inside is wild. You can hear the crackling of snapping shrimp in there, a constant underwater chorus. They also know the quieter, less visited spots, which we always appreciate when the main sites get a bit busy. They cater well to divers of all levels, but we think they truly shine when guiding you through Lanai’s unique volcanic topography.