Sink about 100 feet under Waikiki in a real passenger submarine, past sunken ships and
airplane wreckage, without getting wet. What the ticket covers, what you really see, and the best alternatives.
What's in, what's notPickup, parking and time underwater spelled out
Real guest ratingsAs shown on Viator & Tripadvisor
Free cancellation24 hours before on most tours here, 3 days for the scooter
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tickets
Choose your Waikiki submarine dive
The Atlantis submarine in the centre: the only way to reach 100 feet without scuba gear. Beside it, the
two trips people weigh it against: the cheaper glass-bottom boat that stays on the surface, and the submarine
scooter that puts you in the water.
A one-hour cruise along Waikiki toward Diamond Head on a boat with viewing panels in the hull. You look down at the reef from the surface instead of diving, so you see less of the deep water but pay a third of the price, and the crew points out turtles, dolphins and, in winter, whales. It leaves from Kewalo Basin, just west of Waikiki.
What's included
60-minute cruise with captain and crew
Glass viewing panels in the hull
Bottled water, restroom on board and complimentary photos
Dives to about 100 ft45 min underwaterLive narration
Oahu's only passenger submarine tour. A shuttle boat takes you from the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier to the dive site, where Atlantis XIV, a 64-seat submarine, sinks to about 100 feet past two sunken ships, airplane wreckage and the fish and turtles living on them. Around 45 minutes underwater, completely dry, with a guide narrating the whole dive.
What's included
Shuttle boat from the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier and back
About 45 minutes underwater aboard the 64-passenger Atlantis XIV
Live English narration; recorded audio in Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese
Local taxes; free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Not included: hotel pickup, gratuities, food and drinks
Not a submarine but a one-person underwater scooter: your head sits in an air dome while you steer along the reef in Maunalua Bay, east of Diamond Head. You get wet and come face to face with turtles and reef fish, and non-swimmers can take part. A catamaran takes you out from Koko Marina, with snacks and drinks after the ride.
What's included
Catamaran ride out into Maunalua Bay
Guided underwater scooter ride with all equipment
Wetsuit top and snorkel gear
Snacks and soft drinks
Not included: hotel pickup (parking at Koko Marina Center is free)
Several tours are sold as ways to "see underwater" in Waikiki, but only one of them is a submarine.
The real differences are how deep you go, whether you get wet, and where the trip actually leaves from.
Trip
Where it really happens
How you see it
Length
Rating
From
Atlantis Submarine Adventure, Waikiki
Hilton Hawaiian Village pier; dive site off Waikiki
Prices are Viator from-prices in USD per adult at the last update; the Atlantis dives are
currently on sale (Waikiki regularly $168). Children 12 and under pay less than half the adult rate on the Atlantis
submarines, and must be at least 36 inches tall. None of these trips includes hotel pickup. Every tour here cancels
free: most up to 24 hours ahead, the submarine scooter up to 3 days ahead.
What you actually get
A real submarine, a man-made reef: know what you are booking.
Atlantis XIV is a true passenger submarine, not a semi-submersible or a boat with windows: the hatch closes,
the tanks flood and it sinks to about 100 feet off Waikiki, with 64 seats facing big round viewports. The cabin
stays at surface pressure, so you feel no change as the depth gauge climbs past 100.
What it visits is an artificial reef on a sandy seabed that Atlantis built on purpose: the YO-257, a
Navy yard oiler sunk in 1989, the San Pedro fishing boat beside it, and airplane wreckage, all colonised by reef
fish. Expect turtles, tangs, big trevally and, on lucky days, whitetip reef sharks or eagle rays. Do not expect
a vivid coral garden: the light at 100 feet is blue, marine life varies, and the dive itself lasts about 45
minutes of a two-hour outing.
~100 ft
How deep the Waikiki dive goes. Guests' photos of the
depth gauge read 103 to 107 feet.
YO-257San PedroAirplane wreckageGreen turtles
Illustration: the view you hope for through a viewport. Real dives are bluer; see the guest photos below.
01
Is hotel pickup included?
No. Check in at the kiosk on the Hilton Hawaiian Village beachfront, 20 minutes before your dive.
02
Can kids come?
Yes, if they are at least 36 inches tall and can climb the near-vertical ladder by themselves.
03
How long underwater?
About 45 minutes. The rest of the two hours is check-in and the shuttle boat ride.
04
Who might skip it?
Confident snorkellers and anyone hoping for bright coral: a snorkel or scooter trip gets you closer for less.
How it works
How the submarine tour unfolds
About two hours from check-in to return, with roughly 45 minutes of that at the bottom.
01
Check in at the Hilton
Find the Atlantis kiosk on the Hilton Hawaiian Village beachfront by the Ali'i Tower and collect your boarding pass.
20 min before
02
Shuttle boat out
A short cruise off Waikiki with Diamond Head behind you, and the safety briefing on the way.
About 10 minutes
03
Climb in and dive
Transfer to the sub at the surface, climb down the 11-step ladder, take your window seat and descend.
To about 100 ft
04
Wrecks and reef fish
The pilot circles the sunken ships and airplane wreckage while the guide names what swims past.
Photos: guest and operator images from the Viator listing for the Waikiki dive, shown as taken, so you see the real colour at depth.
Plan your dive
Plan your Atlantis submarine dive
Getting there, tickets and ages, the rules and what to bring: one tab each.
Check-in is at the Atlantis kiosk on the beachfront of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Road, next to the Ali'i Tower and across from Tropics Bar & Grill.
Arrive 20 minutes before your dive time; allow extra time to park and find the kiosk.
Hotel pickup is not included. From central Waikiki it is a walk along the beach path or a short ride.
Driving? Use the Hilton Hawaiian Village self-park garage: Atlantis validates $4 for four hours (self-parking only, not valet).
Questions on the day: Atlantis Waikiki, 808-973-9811.
From $151 per adult on Viator (sale; regularly $168). Adults are 13 and over.
Children 12 and under pay less than half, about $68 on the current sale.
Departures run roughly hourly from 9 or 10 AM to 2 PM; the times offered change by day.
Hawaii residents: ask Atlantis about kama'aina rates, which are only sold direct.
Minimum height 36 inches (91 cm) for children.
Every guest must climb a near-vertical ladder of about 11 steps in and out, unaided.
Not wheelchair accessible. No restroom on the submarine.
The operator can cancel for ocean conditions or poor visibility; you are refunded or rebooked.
A light layer: you sit still for the dive.
Your phone or camera with the flash off; video often captures the blue better than photos.
Motion-sickness remedy if you need one for the shuttle boat.
Sunglasses and sunscreen for the open deck.
Your booking confirmation and your parking ticket for validation.
IncludedShuttle boatThe ride from the Hilton pier out to the dive site and back.
IncludedLive narrationAn English-speaking guide on board names the wrecks and the fish.
IncludedAudio in four languagesRecorded commentary in Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
Not includedHotel pickupMake your own way to the Hilton Hawaiian Village kiosk.
Extra costParking$4 for four hours with validation in the Hilton self-park garage.
Extra costPhotos and gratuitiesSouvenir photos are sold separately; tips for the crew are optional.
Where it starts
Atlantis Submarine check-in
Atlantis kiosk, Hilton Hawaiian Village
2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815 (beachfront, by the Ali'i Tower)
The dive starts on the beach at the west end of Waikiki. Walk through the Hilton Hawaiian Village toward the
ocean and look for the Atlantis ticket kiosk by the Ali'i Tower, across from Tropics Bar & Grill. After
check-in, you board the shuttle boat at the Hilton pier. The tour ends back at the same pier.
4.4★★★★★ 1,347 reviews · Atlantis Submarine Waikiki as shown on Viator & Tripadvisor, September 2026
★★★★★
Such a cool experience! Nothing like I've ever done before. We saw multiple sea turtles and tons of different fish throughout the adventure. Would absolutely do it again.
★★★★★
Worth it! The staff and crew were well organized and very friendly. I get motion sickness snorkeling, even with sea bands. I had no trouble on the submarine.
★★★★★
We were concerned about the size of the sub and how close we would be, but booking the 9am spot provided us with plenty of room. We enjoyed a short 10 minute boat ride to the sub. Both the sub and the boat were very clean.
★★★★★
Shuttle boat takes you to the sub. The actual trip on the sub is only about 45 minutes long. Overall this was an excellent experience.
★★★★★
We are a family of 5. My daughters are 7 and two 4 year old twins; while they were a bit nervous they loved this experience. We in fact did see a shark and so many beautiful fish. Would recommend with kids.
★★★★★
Great experience, would do again! Saw white tip reef sharks, a manta ray and lots of colorful smaller fish.
★★★★★
This was amazing. iPhone cameras can't see much, but the video works ok. Now I can say I've been in a submarine. The sites we visited were cool with SO MANY fish.
★★★★★
Great trip; fun and informative! Enjoyed seeing the sunken artifacts and all the fish surrounding them! Interesting seeing the bottom of the ocean and sea urchins!
★★★★★
What a fantastic experience. We saw so many fish, we also saw a couple of reef sharks. The guide was informative and explained everything that was going on and what you were going to see.
Quotes from verified Viator bookings of the Waikiki submarine dive, lightly trimmed for length.
Island hopping?
Dive the Maui submarine instead
Same operator, same idea, different reef: if Maui is on your itinerary, its submarine rates higher
than the Waikiki dive. See Oahu vs Maui vs Kona.
Atlantis Submarine Maui, Lahaina
★ 4.8 · 823 reviews · 2 hours
Atlantis runs a second submarine off Lahaina on Maui. A 46-passenger sub dives past the Carthaginian, an old sailing ship scuttled in 2005 as an artificial reef, and over natural reef. It rates higher than the Waikiki dive on Viator, and guests often photograph the depth gauge well past 100 feet.
For most people it is the only chance they will ever have to ride in a submarine. Here is what the
Waikiki dive really involves, what it costs once you add everything up, and who would be happier with a
different way to see the ocean.
A real submarine, not a semi-sub
Plenty of "submarine" tours around the world are semi-submersibles: boats with a sunken viewing deck that never
leave the surface. The Atlantis dive off Waikiki is the real thing. After a short shuttle ride from the Hilton
Hawaiian Village pier, you climb down a ladder into Atlantis XIV, a 64-passenger submarine, the hatch closes and
it descends to about 100 feet. Everyone sits on a bench facing a large round viewport, and a guide narrates from
the front while the pilot steers. The cabin is kept at surface pressure, so there is no ear popping and nothing
to learn: you just sit and look.
Illustration: every guest gets a window, and kids tend to press their noses to the glass.
What is down there
Waikiki's seabed is mostly sand, so Atlantis built its own reef. In 1989 it sank the YO-257, a 174-foot
Navy yard oiler from the Second World War era, and in 1996 it added the San Pedro, a fishing boat that now sits
beside it. Airplane wreckage lies nearby. Decades on, these structures are covered in growth and shelter reef
fish, turtles and the occasional whitetip reef shark or eagle ray. It is fascinating in its own way, a sunken
ship seen from a few feet away is hard to forget, but it is not the rainbow coral of a snorkelling brochure, and
everything looks blue at that depth.
Illustration of an artificial-reef wreck at about 100 feet, the kind of scene the dive circles.
What it really costs
On Viator the dive is currently from $151 per adult, down from a regular $168, and children 12 and under pay
less than half. A family of two adults and two children will spend roughly $440 to $490 depending on the sale,
plus $4 for validated parking. Hotel pickup is not part of the ticket, and there is no food on board. The
price is the most common complaint in reviews, so it helps to know exactly what you are buying: about two hours
in total, of which around 45 minutes is underwater.
The honest small print: Atlantis rates 4.4 from 1,347 reviews. The happy guests talk about
turtles, sharks and a friendly, funny guide; the disappointed ones mention fewer fish than they hoped, seats that
are not very comfortable, and dives cancelled at short notice for poor visibility. Book early in your trip so a
cancellation still leaves time to rebook.
Submarine or something else?
Choose the submarine if you want the experience of being at the bottom of the ocean without getting wet, if
you are travelling with non-swimmers or young children who meet the height rule, or if snorkelling makes you
seasick. If you mainly want turtles and colour, the glass-bottom boat is a third of the price, and the
submarine scooter or a beginner scuba dive puts you in the water with the fish. Visiting Maui as
well? Its Atlantis submarine rates higher and dives past a shipwreck reef off Lahaina.
A light layer, sunglasses, sunscreen and a phone with the flash off: all you need.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about the Atlantis Submarine in Waikiki.
How deep does the Atlantis Submarine go in Waikiki?
About 100 feet (30 metres). The depth gauge in guests' photos reads between 103 and 107 feet at the deepest point of the Waikiki dive. The cabin stays at surface pressure, so there is nothing to equalise and you stay completely dry. See what you see down there.
How long is the Atlantis Submarine tour?
Plan on about two hours from check-in to return. That covers the 20-minute check-in, a shuttle boat ride of about 10 minutes each way, boarding, and roughly 45 minutes underwater. Guests often point out that the dive itself is the shorter part of the morning.
How much does the Atlantis Submarine cost?
On Viator the dive is from $151 per adult at the moment (the regular price is $168), and children 12 and under pay less than half, about $68 on the current sale. Hawaii residents get kama'aina rates when booking direct with Atlantis. Budget $4 for validated parking. Full breakdown in the ticket guide.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. You make your own way to the Atlantis kiosk on the beachfront of the Hilton Hawaiian Village (2005 Kalia Road) and check in 20 minutes before your dive time. Most Waikiki hotels are a walk or short ride away, and the Hilton self-park garage validates parking at $4 for four hours.
What will I see from the submarine?
An artificial reef on a sandy bottom off Waikiki: the YO-257, a former Navy yard oiler Atlantis sank in 1989, the San Pedro fishing boat sunk beside it in 1996, and airplane wreckage, all now home to reef fish. Green turtles are common; whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays show up on some dives. It is not a bright coral garden, and what swims past changes every trip.
Is there an age or height requirement?
Children must be at least 36 inches (91 cm) tall, and every passenger has to climb a near-vertical ladder of about 11 steps into and out of the submarine on their own. Children 12 and under pay the child rate. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. See the Atlantis Submarine with kids.
Will I get seasick or feel claustrophobic?
The submarine itself moves smoothly; the rocking, if any, comes on the shuttle boat and during the transfer at the surface. The cabin is a long tube lined with big viewports, and each guest sits by a window. Guests prone to motion sickness report no trouble underwater, but take your usual remedy for the boat ride if you need one.
Is the Atlantis Submarine worth it?
It rates 4.4 from 1,347 reviews. Guests love doing something they could never do otherwise, the guides and the turtles; the complaints are the price, some days with fewer fish than hoped, only about 45 minutes underwater, and dives cancelled for poor visibility. Read the honest review before you book.
What is the best time of day to go?
Morning. Departures run hourly from about 9 or 10 AM until 2 PM, and the early dives tend to be less crowded: one guest found the 9 AM sub had plenty of room. A morning dive also leaves the afternoon free for the beach.
What happens if the weather or visibility is bad?
Atlantis can cancel for ocean conditions or poor underwater visibility, sometimes at short notice, and you are offered a refund or a new time. Separately, you can cancel a Viator booking for a full refund up to 24 hours before. Keep your phone on the morning of your dive.
Is there a bathroom on the submarine?
No. There is no restroom on the submarine itself, so use the facilities before you board. Food and drinks are not provided on the tour either.
Submarine or glass-bottom boat: which should I choose?
The submarine takes you down to about 100 feet and gives each guest a window on the wrecks; the glass-bottom boat stays on the surface for an hour at a third of the price. For turtles and a view of Waikiki from the water, the boat is enough; for the feeling of being at the bottom of the ocean, only the sub does it. Compare them in submarine vs glass-bottom boat.
Ready to book
Pick your way to see under the waves.
Instant confirmation, and free cancellation on every tour below (24 hours ahead; 3 days for the scooter).
Budget pick
★ 4.61 hour2,371 reviewsFree cancellation
