1.5 hours · From 7 am daily · All ages
Shark Dive
Twenty minutes in a surface cage with the sharks, three miles off Haleiwa.
| Adult diver | $140 |
|---|---|
| Child diver 3 to 13 | $90 |
| Boat rider | $90 |
Editorial spotlight · Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor, 66-105 Haleiwa Road, Oahu
2026 Golden Lei Awards nomineeBest Wildlife Encounter
North Shore Shark Adventures
The first shark cage tour in Hawaii and still the plainest: a twenty-minute boat ride three miles off Haleiwa, a floating aluminum cage that sits two feet out of the water, a mask and snorkel, and Galapagos sharks circling in water the company says often runs to 150 feet of visibility. No swimming required, no certification, up to seven months pregnant is fine.
- Cage diver
- $140
- Child or rider
- $90
- Tripadvisor
- 4.8
- Since
- 2001
Editorial spotlight. North Shore Shark Adventures is a nominee in the 2026 Golden Lei Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The company
Joe Pavsek's boat has been in Haleiwa Harbor since 1975
Joe Pavsek has kept a dive boat in Haleiwa Harbor since 1975 and surfed and dived the North Shore for longer than that. In 2001, at the urging of friends, he put a cage in the water where the sharks already were; the company calls itself the original and most established shark tour in Hawaii. Local telling has it that the sharks learned the sound of crab boats dropping pots on the shelf, and the company says plainly that its own motors are what bring them in.
Four boats run the trip: Kaiou and Isao at 36 feet, Abunai at 42, Anela at 32. The cage is custom aluminum, holds six to eight, and floats at the surface, so the top rail stands two feet out of the water and nobody goes below the bottom of it. Twenty minutes per group, one to three drops a trip depending on the headcount.
“The original and most established shark adventure tour in Hawaii.”
Founder
Joe Pavsek
Crew named in recent reviews: Titus, Marty, Maddie, Caleb, Dustin and Martin.
The one to book
The shark dive
An hour and a half all in. First boat at 7 am, 6 am in summer, and the early slot is the one reviews recommend for calm seas. Three to four miles out the crew drops the cage, hands out masks and snorkels, and the group goes in for about twenty minutes while Galapagos and sandbar sharks, five to fifteen feet, circle below. Tigers and hammerheads turn up now and then. Sightings are guaranteed.
Riders who stay on the boat pay $90. Cold water is aboard; there is no bathroom, so eat and go before. Motion-sickness medicine is recommended and not sold on site. A video of your dive is offered after the trip for a fee.
| Cage diver, 14+ | $140 |
|---|---|
| Cage diver, 3 to 13 | $90 |
| Boat rider, 3+ | $90 |
| Kamaaina, military or student diver | $105 |
Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026. Infants free on departures before 9 am.
Check AvailabilityThe boats
Kaiou, Abunai, Isao and Anela
Four boats out of Haleiwa, one cage design.
Abunai
- Length
- 42 ft
Kaiou and Isao
- Length
- 36 ft each
Anela
- Length
- 32 ft
The cage
- Build
- Custom aluminum
- Holds
- 6 to 8
- Position
- Floats at the surface; top rail 2 ft above water
- Gear
- Mask and snorkel provided; no fins, no wetsuit
Book it
The trip
One product, run all day. Per person. Checked against FareHarbor on September 30, 2026.
Questions and group bookings: (808) 228-5900. Open daily except Christmas.
Before you go
Know before you go
Where to check in
The Shark Shack in the Haleiwa Boat Harbor lot, 66-105 Haleiwa Road, 30 minutes before departure. Parking is free; ask at the shack.
Bring
Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, a camera. No bathroom on the boat, so plan for that. Eat at least an hour before.
Seasickness
The most common complaint in reviews. Take something before you board and book the earliest departure for the calmest water.
Who can go
All ages; divers from 3. Pregnant guests up to seven months. No swimming ability required; you hold the cage.
Cancellation
Full refund with 24 hours' notice, 72 hours for groups of ten or more. Missed departures reschedule for $43 per person.
Reviews
What guests say
- 4.8TripadvisorAbout 5,600 reviews as of September 30, 2026
- #4of 120Outdoor activities in Haleiwa, Tripadvisor
- 2001FoundedTravelers' Choice 2026
Reviewers count six to twelve Galapagos sharks a trip, name the crew, recommend the first departure and a seasickness pill, note that twenty minutes in the cage goes fast, and mention dolphins and, in season, whales on the ride out.
Questions
Good to know
Do you need to know how to swim?
No. The cage floats at the surface and you hold on; masks and snorkels are provided.
What sharks will we see?
Mostly Galapagos and sandbar sharks, five to fifteen feet. Tigers and hammerheads on occasion. Sightings are guaranteed.
How long is it?
About an hour and a half, including the twenty-minute boat ride each way and roughly twenty minutes in the cage.
What does it cost?
$140 for divers 14 and up, $90 for children 3 to 13 and for riders who stay on the boat. Checked September 30, 2026.
Which departure is best?
The first one. Reviews and the company both point to the early slot for the calmest seas.
Get in the cage
Hawaii's original shark tour, every day from Haleiwa.
Check Availability