FAQ

No! You only need to be able to climb down a short ladder and hang onto a handrail. We get many people who don’t even know how to swim!

Absolutely! There is not a bad seat in the house. From the boat, you can see the sharks swimming near or on the surface with their fins slicing through the water. Of course, the best view is from inside the cage.

No way! You would probably be fine, but these are big sharks with lots of teeth, so we don’t want to risk a guest getting bit.

Yes! We don’t think this tour is appropriate for children younger than 5 years old.

The hardest part of the tour is the entry into the cage. It will be pulled close and tightly attached to the side of the boat to make stepping over the side easy. You must be strong enough to climb on the ladder and into the cage, and to pull your own body weight up the ladder.

We have taken many people with physical disabilities or who had particular requirements and needs. We will try our best to accommodate anyone who is keen to go. Most importantly, we need to have prior notice for special arrangements, and it is absolutely necessary to pick an early tour to assure the best possible ocean conditions.

It’s a 2-hour tour, including a 15-min. boat ride to and from the site.

All you need in the cage is a mask and snorkel, and we provide that. A towel and sunscreen will definitely make you more comfortable. If you prefer to use your own snorkeling equipment, feel free. Maybe a sweater or a windbreaker to keep you warm once you get out of the water. Feel free to bring your own drinks/snacks.

About 3 miles. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on ocean conditions.

A little over 500 feet.

Not really. Most people are comfortable wearing their normal bathing suits. It is a little cool at first, but you get used to it. Some people wear a rash guard, but most do not. The water temp is the same as at the beach. A sweatshirt can also be nice when you get out of the water.

The weather is nicer! The wind on the North Shore usually builds later in the day. Usually, the earlier in the day, the nicer the sea conditions.

If you are prone to motion sickness, yes, you will. During the shark encounter, the boat is drifting with the engine off. Even on the calmest days, the boat never stops rocking. If you plan on taking something like Dramamine, read the instructions. It must be taken in advance. Fortunately, if you get sick, the tour is only 2 hours, and land is an instant cure. Even those who get sick have a tremendous time.

Galapagos sharks and Sandbar sharks are our most common visitors.

No! The sharks will come very close to the cage to investigate, but they do not charge at the cage or try to bite the people inside. Human beings are not on the natural menu for these sharks, or most sharks in general.

No! We have a perfect safety record. Your biggest concern will be keeping your excited friends off your back while you are inside the cage.

No problem. We have had many people on board who were terrified. Within a few minutes of being inside the cage, you will be completely comfortable. We have seen it many times before. Seeing these magnificent creatures and how they behave will change your attitude and ease your fears forever.

The North Shore has always had a large resident group of Galapagos and sandbar sharks. So does the Westside of Oahu. This may be a lesser known fact to visitors and even residents of Oahu as they are hardly ever seen along the coastline and beaches or even at the surface. Fishing boats are more familiar with them. Because these sharks are bottom-feeding sharks that look for crabs, crustaceans, and octopuses, they prefer the areas of the ocean where the bottom has a sandy or muddy consistency, which is found at the 150 to 200-foot depth. They also cruise to scavenge for sick, weak, or dying fish, which is why they are so important in keeping our oceans clean.

They will also check out anything that floats in the water column, such as logs and debris and, in our case, our boat and cage, as fish life in the open blue ocean will often congregate under and around such floating objects. We visit a site where the sharks naturally occur and observe them as they go about their business.

We ask for both so we have another way to contact you in the event the tour needs to be canceled due to severe sea conditions. We also want to make sure you get the proper driving directions.

We are located on the North Shore at the Haleiwa Boat Harbor 66-105 Haleiwa Rd Haleiwa, HI 96712.

See our directions page for a map and driving directions. Most people rent a car for the day and explore the North Shore and Haleiwa after the shark tour. You can also reach us by public transportation.

The Surf Bus: https://northshoresurfbus.com/ (808)-226-7299 Wildlife Hawaii Sustainable tourism: https://wildlifehawaii.com/shuttle/ (808)-398-0742 Big John’s Tours- (808)-924-4444 www.bigjohnstours.com || Tyler Green “Driving With Aloha”- (808)-499-4272 || Alpha Taxi & Tours- (808)-923-1111

Yes, no cancellations or changes within 48 hours of scheduled tour. You must check in at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour. All reservations are subject to non-refundable cancellation if you have not checked in at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour.

Yes, but please let us know when you make reservations that you would like the personalized video.

We also have GoPro video cameras on board for rent with preloaded images and clips to add into your own video edit, giving it a professional finish.

Yes, if you don’t see sharks, you don’t pay!

We provide regular masks and snorkels in small, medium, and large sizes on the boat. We do not provide wetsuits.

We have GoPro video cameras on board for rent with preloaded images and clips to add into your own video edit, giving it a professional finish.