Exclusive Private Niʻihau (Forbidden Island) Charter

A Tailored 2 or 3 Tank Ocean Excursion for You and Your Group

Experience Hawaiʻi’s premier dive trip in total privacy. Reserve our entire vessel exclusively for your inner circle, whether that is your family, close friends, or private dive group. Dive into 100+ foot clarity along sheer volcanic drop offs surrounding Lehua Crater. Explore dramatic lava formations while watching for spotted eagle rays, sandbar sharks, and endemic Hawaiian monk seals (ʻIlioholoikauaua) in their natural habitat, completely away from the crowds.

Overview

• Exclusivity: 100% Private Charter Experience. The entire boat is reserved solely for your group.

• Capacity: Up to 6 passengers maximum (Divers, Snorkelers, or Riders).

• Option Options: Choose between a 2 Tank Dive (8 hours | 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM) or a 3 Tank Dive (10 hours | 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM).

• Included: Tailored dive guiding, full top tier rental gear, personalized surface interval tour of Lehua Crater, morning fruit & banana bread with cold brew & juice, delicious catered lunch, and snacks.

Why Book a Private Charter with Us

When you reserve a private trip with Explore Kauai Scuba, you get the whole boat to yourselves, led directly by owners and lead captains Nick & Jessie.

• The Fastest Crossing on Kauaʻi: Departing directly from Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor, the closest harbor to Niʻihau, our 26 mile route cuts channel transit time down to just 1 hour, compared to 2+ hour trips from south side ports.

• Your Pace & Profile: No waiting on strangers or compromising dive plans. Your itinerary, dive site selections, and bottom times are tailored to match your group’s exact experience levels and goals.

• Direct Owner Guidance: As an owner operated charter, Nick and Jessie handle every detail personally, from custom gear fitting on the dock to guiding you underwater.

The Vessel & Onboard Comfort Features

You will ride aboard our 28 foot Parker dive boat, custom outfitted specifically for navigating Hawaiian waters!

• Smooth Ride: The heavy Deep V hull slices effortlessly through ocean chop to deliver ultimate stability and comfort during channel crossings.

• Enclosed Cabin: Enjoy total shelter from wind, sun, and sea spray. Windows can be opened to let in the cool breeze or closed to keep warm on chilly morning runs.

• Twin 300 HP Engines: High powered reliability ensures swift, smooth, and safe transits to remote dive locations.

• Onboard Head: Private restroom facilities are available on board for your convenience.

• Fresh Water Rinse: Clean, fresh water is available on board to rinse off salt water after your dives.

World-Class Dive Sites & Surface Interval Tour

When we reach Niʻihau, most of our diving takes place around Lehua Crater—an extinct tuff cone volcano and seabird sanctuary home to at least 16 different species of seabirds.

• Vertical Awareness: We always try to dive Vertical Awareness first because it is one of the single best sites in Hawaii! This offshore pinnacle rises from 300 feet deep up to 45 feet at the top. It is frequented by sandbar sharks, grey reef sharks, bait balls, and Hawaiian monk seals. Rare life here includes the bandit angelfish, Hawaiian longfin anthias, tinker’s butterflyfish, and blackstripe coris.

• Keyhole Drift to Lehua Gardens: An epic drift dive along dense walls of soft leather coral! Schools of 30+ grey reef sharks cruise the current alongside spotted eagle rays, with occasional passes by tiger sharks or whale sharks.

• Niʻihau Arches: Mind-blowing lava topography! We drift through dramatic sea caves and lava tubes, ending at “TV Cave.” Home to Hawaiian conger eels, red-striped pipefish, orange cup coral, ghost shrimp, juvenile dragon wrasse, indigo dartfish, longnose hawkfish, bicolor anthias, and tiger cowrie.

• Neon Cave: A massive sea cave with a breathtaking electric neon-blue glow shining from the mouth. A prime spot for manta rays, spotted eagle rays, Hawaiian monk seals, sandbar sharks, grey reef sharks, endemic psychedelic wrasse, and the rare black morph of the big longnose butterflyfish.

• Pyramid Point: Named for the massive schools of pyramid butterflyfish. Currents surge over a prominent ledge where spotted eagle rays and sharks love to gather and hover effortlessly in the moving water.

• Lehua Wall: A sheer vertical wall plunging straight into the deep blue, adorned with black coral trees, patrolling sharks, and frequent Hawaiian monk seal encounters.

(Note: Depending on current and swell, Neon Cave, Pyramid Point, and Lehua Wall are often combined into one continuous grand-slam drift dive!)

Surface Interval Tour

Between dives, we serve lunch and take you on a mini-tour around Lehua Crater! We’ll show off the famous “Keyhole,” point out nesting seabirds, and look for dolphins and manta rays cruising the crater edges.

Premium Amenities & Included Refreshments

• Complimentary Rental Gear: Full high end dive setups provided including BCD, regulator, wetsuit, tanks, weights, fins, mask, snorkel, and dive computer.

• Morning Refreshments: Fresh fruit, homemade banana bread, canned cold brew, and juice served in the morning to start your trip.

• Included Lunch & Snacks: Fresh sandwiches, string cheese, hummus, potato chips, and tortilla chips served during your surface interval.

• Dietary Accommodations: We accommodate dietary restrictions! Please answer the dietary restriction question during checkout on the booking page so we can prepare accordingly.

• Full Hydration & Extras: Chilled water, onboard mask defog, rain jackets for transit, and dockside fresh water rinse stations for personal gear upon return.

Schedule & Logistics

• Meeting Location & Times: Meets at 6:30 AM at Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor in Kekaha. The 2 Tank Dive returns around 2:30 PM, and the 3 Tank Dive returns around 4:30 PM.

• How to Find Us: Walk down to the dock area and look for us by our white F 5150 truck with wetsuits hanging off the door!

• Dockside Fitting: We meet you directly by the dock with gear prepared and waiting so you can head straight onto the boat without visiting an off site shop.

• Harbor Parking: Parking is located on the left hand side as soon as you enter the harbor. Please note that harbor parking is paid and requires scanning a QR code on site to pay from your phone!

• The Crossing Experience: Ocean channels involve open water swells. We recommend non drowsy seasickness medication taken the night before and the morning of the tour so your group stays relaxed and energized.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Nitrox Available for Private Charters?

  • Absolutely. Nitrox is available for certified divers or guests completing their Enriched Air / Nitrox certification during the trip.

• How do you approach wildlife encounters around Lehua Crater?

  • Lehua Crater is a protected sanctuary for native wildlife, including the endemic Hawaiian monk seal (ʻIlioholoikauaua). We practice strict passive observation at all times. We give all marine life ample space, allowing animals to move naturally through their home while we observe quietly from a respectful distance.

• Can Non Diving Family Members Join?

  • Yes! Because the vessel is exclusively yours, non diving family members or snorkelers can relax onboard, enjoy the sight seeing tour around Lehua Crater, and watch for dolphins, seabirds, and whales.

• Why Dive Niʻihau Year Round?

  • By launching from protected leeward waters at Kikiaola, we avoid the heavy windward swells that force other operators to suspend winter operations. Winter trips offer exceptional opportunities for humpback whale encounters!

• What Happens in Bad Weather?

  • Safety and comfort always guide our decisions. If channel conditions prevent a Niʻihau crossing, your private charter can be rerouted to Mana Crack or shifted to local west or south side dive sites with appropriate price adjustments.