Tako Flats - Hawaii

Tako Flats is one of those sites we always recommend for a relaxed afternoon dive, especially if you’ve spent the morning battling a bit of current elsewhere. It’s a shallow, sprawling area, mostly sand with scattered coral heads, which makes for fantastic light play. You’ll often spot massive schools of fusiliers here, swirling like liquid silver as they try to avoid the resident trevally. The real stars, though, are the smaller, shyer creatures. We always spend ages trying to spot the Dwarf Morays peeking out from under rocks, or watching the Leopard Blennies flit between the stony corals. Keep an eye out for Big Long-nosed Butterflyfish; they’re often in pairs, gently picking at the reef. For macro enthusiasts, there's always something to find. You might even catch a Wedge-tailed Shearwater diving from above if you’re lucky. It's a perfect spot for photographers or anyone who just wants to take their time and really observe the smaller details of the reef.

Location
Hawaii, United States, North America
Coordinates
20.632504, -156.498030

Marine Protected Area: Molokini Shoal 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

Nearest Dive Centres to Tako Flats

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 Tako Flats

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