Mala Wharf - Hawaii
Paradise Reef on St. Kitts is a good choice for an easy afternoon dive, particularly if you’re looking for a relaxed pace. We typically drop anchor in the sandy patch just off the main reef, where you can often spot a southern stingray cruising by. The reef itself forms a network of coral pinnacles, creating these neat slot canyons and small overhangs that are fun to navigate. Keep an eye on your depth here; while the average is around 16m, it can dip to 19m in spots. Look out for gold spotted eels peeking from crevices, and we’ve often seen nurse sharks resting under ledges. Spotted trunkfish are pretty common, and if you’re lucky, a turtle might glide past. It's a solid, straightforward dive without any major currents, good for knocking off some bottom time and enjoying the Caribbean quiet.
- Location
- Hawaii, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 20.885300, -156.687600
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Honolua-Mokuleia Bay Marine Life Conservation District
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
- Airplane Canyon - 27m (cave)
- Airport Beach
- Airport Beach (cave)
- Anahola Beach Park
- Aquarium - Hawaii (wreck)
- Aquarium - Hawaii (reef)
- Black Rock - Hawaii (reef)
- Black Rock - Hawaii (reef)
- Cathedral II (reef)
- Cathedrals (cave)
- Corsair Wreck (wreck)
- Edge of the World
- Enenue
- Ewa Pinnacles Reef - 26m (reef)
- Fantasy Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Mala Wharf
- Aaron's Dive Shop - ["PADI"]
- Affinity Freediving
- Aloha Scuba Diving Company - ["PADI"]
- Aquatic Life Divers - ["PADI"]
- Black Rock Scuba - ["PADI"]
- Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures Corp. - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Hawaii
Home to 23 recorded species including 17 reef fish, 3 other, 2 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Remora (Remora remora) - Reef Fish
- Flyingfish (Hirundichthys speculiger) - Reef Fish
- Albacore (Thunnus atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Flying Fish (Exocoetus volitans) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Fourwing Flyingfish (Hirundichthys affinis) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Mala Wharf
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