
Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island)
Pick your date
Highlighted days have spots open. Grey days are sold out or not running.
September 2026
Loading live availability
Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 43 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) worth booking?
Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) is a 8-hour experience in Kauai, United States, from $655 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 43 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (43)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $655 per person
Certified divers only. Ni’ihau is known for being the best scuba diving in the state of Hawai’i! The scuba diving sites have vertical walls with seemingly endless bottoms and crystal clear visibility. Large wildlife siti
What you get
About this experience
Certified divers only. Ni’ihau is known for being the best scuba diving in the state of Hawai’i! The scuba diving sites have vertical walls with seemingly endless bottoms and crystal clear visibility. Large wildlife sitings are common and include sandbar sharks, Hawaiian monk seals (found no where else on earth), walls of butterfly fishes, and manta rays. We do two dives. Jessie will be your dive guide underwater to keep you safe and point out wildlife! In between dives we serve lunch and do a tour of Lehua Crater pointing out all our favorite seabirds and showing off the beautiful “Keyhole”. We usually look for dolphins and manta rays as we do a mini tour around the Lehua crater. The boat ride to Ni’ihau is around one hour. The ride home is anywhere from one hour to an hour and 45 minutes depending on weather. The commuting time to Ni’ihau and back is almost half the time compared to other shops! Book with us if you want experienced crew, small groups and a shorter, faster boat ride!
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Use of SCUBA equipment
- Snacks
- Lunch
- Bathroom
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Kauai
Please arrive NO LATER THAN 6:30 am. When you pull in to the harbor park on the right hand side in the grassy field. Walk over to the dock and look for scuba tanks! We recommend wearing hat, sunglasses, and a sunshirt or jacket to cover your skin.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Please arrive NO LATER THAN 6:30 am. When you pull in to the harbor park on the right hand side in the grassy field. Walk over to the dock and look for scuba tanks! We recommend wearing hat, sunglasses, and a sunshirt or jacket to cover your skin.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 6 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Explore Kauai Scuba
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- If there is bad weather this tour may get rerouted to south side local diving. Prices will be adjusted
- October-April this tour becomes harder to get to due to weather. If we cant make it to Ni'ihau we will dive off Kaua'i. A 45% refund will be applied
- You must be certified to dive Ni'ihau
- 4 diver minimum to run this tour
- Kindly provide us arrival date/departure date
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 43 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
43 verified traveler reviews for Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Unforgettable
My wife and I had an unbelievable time diving in Ni’ihua. The Explore Kauai duo were super friendly, super experienced and provided some good food for the journey to the forbidden island. The diving at Ni’ihua was unmatched. We saw Monk Seals, over 15 sharks, eels, an octopus and even a manta ray. It was almost overwhelming to see so many cool things nonstop. I’ll be trying to get some family members out here.
via Tripadvisor
Bucket List Checked
Fantastic trip with awesome guide Jess and captain Nick. In our face monk seal, sharks, and big fish.
via Tripadvisor
Once in a lifetime
These people are incredible. Fun, laid back, but safe. No rush, but nothing wasted either. Diving was amazing! Knowledgeable teachers with a clear joy for the ocean and their jobs. They turned a once in a lifetime experience for us into a desire to dive here with them again over and over (whether we can is another topic). Dive site and sea life is epic.
via Tripadvisor
Masters of their Craft
I've gone diving recreationally many spots in the Caribbean, Greece,and Maine by far the best best dive trip ever. shark, monk seal.ray,octopus, dolphin,saw them all and as a bonus got to view some whales off the boat in-between dives Jessie & Nick are top notch with their craft Mahalo
via Tripadvisor
Nick and Jessie are so professional great pupu
Yesterdays dive at Niihau was one of the best dives I've ever done we seen monk seals eagle rays friendly sharks .
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 15
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kauai.
How much does Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) cost?
+
Prices start at $655 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kauai usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) take?
+
Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Kauai is not rushed.
Is Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 43 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Kauai, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island)?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island)?
+
Around 15 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Kauai can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Kauai and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island) start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Kauai within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Kauai?
+
Kauai sells Na Pali Coast boat and helicopter tours, Waimea Canyon drives, tubing through old plantation ditches and Hanalei kayak trips. Ocean conditions shut down the north shore boat runs in winter, so cancellation terms matter. On Outty we rank every Kauai experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Koloa Zipline in Kauai, Kauai: NaPali Boat Tour on the Amelia K, Kauai: Secret Falls Kayak and Hike. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Kauai?
+
April to June and September to October, with calmest seas in summer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Kauai?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Scuba Dive at Ni’ihau (Forbidden island).
Pick your date




