Booking choice: The Atlantis Submarine, from $151 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Off Waikiki the seabed at 100 feet is mostly sand, which does not hold much life on its own. Starting in 1989 Atlantis sank ships and airplane wreckage there to create habitat, and those structures are what the submarine circles today.
The result is less a coral garden than an underwater museum of wrecks with fish living on them. Knowing that in advance is the difference between a wow and a shrug.
The quick answer
The submarine descends to about 100 feet and circles an artificial reef: the YO-257, a former Navy yard oiler sunk in 1989, the San Pedro fishing boat beside it, and airplane wreckage. You will usually see reef fish and often green turtles; whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays show up on some dives. Everything looks blue at that depth, and marine life varies from trip to trip.
How deep does the Atlantis Submarine go?
About 100 feet (30 metres): the depth gauge in guests' photos reads between 103 and 107 feet at the deepest point.
The cabin stays at surface pressure, so there is nothing to equalise and no pressure change to feel. You watch the numbers climb on a display at the front of the cabin while the light outside turns deeper blue.
What are the shipwrecks?
The two ships are the YO-257, a 174-foot US Navy yard oiler that Atlantis sank in 1989, and the San Pedro, a fishing vessel sunk right beside it in 1996.
The YO-257 sits upright on the sand with its top deck at about 85 feet, which makes it one of Oahu's best-known wreck dives for scuba divers too. From the submarine you pass along its hull and deck at close range.
Want to see the wrecks for yourself? Morning dives leave roughly every hour.
Check dates for the Atlantis SubmarineIs there really an airplane down there?
Yes: airplane wreckage lies on the sand near the ships as part of the same artificial reef, and it is one of the most photographed sights of the dive.
Guests regularly mention "the sunken ships and planes" in reviews. Like the ships, the airplane wreckage is now covered in growth and used as shelter by fish.
What marine life will you see?
Usually reef fish such as tangs, butterflyfish and big trevally (ulua), often green sea turtles, and sometimes whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays or moray eels.
Nothing is guaranteed: the animals are wild, and some guests see a shark and a ray while others see mostly small fish. Recent reviews mention turtles most often, followed by reef sharks.
Curious what swims past on your dive? Every seat has its own viewport and the guide names what you see.
Explore the Atlantis SubmarineIs there colourful coral?
Not much. The dive site is a sandy seabed with man-made structures, so expect growth on the wrecks rather than a bright coral reef.
If coral colour is what you are after, a snorkel trip or the submarine scooter in shallow water shows it much better, because sunlight still carries the reds and yellows there.
Why does everything look blue?
Water absorbs red and yellow light first, so at 100 feet most colour has faded and the view is blue and green.
That is also why guests' photos look very blue. It is normal and not a sign of poor visibility.
Can you take photos through the windows?
Yes, but turn off the flash and hold the lens close to the viewport to cut reflections; guests find video works better than stills.
As one guest put it, phone cameras "can't see much, but the video works ok." Souvenir photos are also sold separately.
How does it compare with what snorkellers see?
Snorkellers see brighter colour in shallow water; the submarine shows you deep wrecks and bigger fish that snorkellers never reach.
They are different experiences rather than better or worse. Compare the options in submarine vs glass-bottom boat vs scooter.
Rather be in the water with the turtles? The scooter needs no swimming skills.
Check dates for the submarine scooterFrequently asked questions
Do you always see turtles from the Atlantis Submarine?
Often but not always. Green turtles are the most mentioned animal in recent reviews, but no sighting is guaranteed.
Can you see sharks from the submarine?
Sometimes. Whitetip reef sharks are seen on some dives; they are small, calm reef sharks.
How long are you underwater?
About 45 minutes of the roughly two-hour tour.
Ready to book
Choose your dive
Free cancellation on every option, up to 24 hours before (3 days for the submarine scooter). Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Atlantis Submarine Adventure, Waikiki
- 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
Submarine Scooter Adventure, Maunalua Bay
- Catamaran ride out into Maunalua Bay
- Guided underwater scooter ride with all equipment
- Wetsuit top and snorkel gear
Beginner Scuba Dive with Video
A real first dive without a certificate, video included
