Aquarium - Hawaii

★★★★☆ (95)

This site is known as the Aquarium and for good reason. It is so full of active marine life that it looks like you’re diving inside of an actual aquarium.

Lots of turtles and typical Hawaiian reef fish as well as occasional manta rays and eagle rays. Also, look for eels in the reef.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
20 Sightings
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2
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2
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3
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2
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3
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2
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1
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5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
18 Sightings
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3
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4
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1
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1
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1
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1
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0
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0
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3
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4
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
13 Sightings
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2
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1
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3
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0
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1
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1
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0
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1
N
2
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
11 Sightings
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1
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3
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2
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1
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1
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3
iStock-crisod

Reef Manta Ray
6 Sightings
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4
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1
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0
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0
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
5 Sightings
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0
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0
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2
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1
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2
Alamy/BIOSPHOTO

Ocean Sunfish
2 Sightings
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1
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0
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1
iStock-stephnea

Spinner Dolphin
1 Sightings
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1
Alamy/Fiona Ayerst

Tiger Shark
1 Sightings
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1
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Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
1 Sightings
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1
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
1 Sightings
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1
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Show More
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
16 Sightings
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2
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2
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4
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0
J
1
A
1
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1
O
2
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
16 Sightings
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2
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1
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3
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2
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0
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1
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1
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2
N
1
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
15 Sightings
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2
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2
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1
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2
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1
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1
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0
O
2
N
1
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
14 Sightings
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3
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2
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1
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0
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1
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0
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1
N
2
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
13 Sightings
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1
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2
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2
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1
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0
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1
O
3
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
12 Sightings
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1
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2
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0
A
1
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2
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0
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0
A
1
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0
O
1
N
1
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
11 Sightings
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1
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1
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0
A
1
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2
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1
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0
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1
O
1
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
10 Sightings
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1
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1
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0
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1
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2
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0
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1
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1
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1
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1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 50

istock-atese

Frogfish
8 Sightings
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2
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1
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2
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1
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1
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
8 Sightings
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1
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1
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0
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1
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2
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1
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2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
8 Sightings
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1
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1
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0
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2
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2
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2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
7 Sightings
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1
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0
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1
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0
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1
N
1
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
6 Sightings
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1
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1
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0
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1
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2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
6 Sightings
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2
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1
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1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
5 Sightings
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1
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
4 Sightings
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2
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0
O
1
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1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
4 Sightings
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1
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2
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1
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

iStock-deraugenzeuge

Snake Eel
3 Sightings
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1
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1
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1
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
3 Sightings
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1
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0
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0
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0
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1
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1
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0
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
3 Sightings
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1
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2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock-bearacreative

Emperor
3 Sightings
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2
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1
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0
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0
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
3 Sightings
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1
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2
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
2 Sightings
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2
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Shutterstock-s_a_j

Sand Eel
2 Sightings
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1
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1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 190

Alamy-Water Frame

Conger Eel
2 Sightings
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2
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
2 Sightings
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2
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0
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
2 Sightings
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1
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1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder

Garfish
2 Sightings
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1
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1
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
2 Sightings
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0
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0
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1
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0
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0
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1
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
2 Sightings
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1
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0
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0
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1
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AdobeStock-Richard Carey

Banded Sea Krait
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
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0
A
0
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0
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0
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D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

iStock-Christian von Mach

Pipefish
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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1
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0
Shutterstock-Greg Amptman

Wolf Eel
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
A
0
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0
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0
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0
A
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0
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
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0
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1
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0
A
0
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0
O
0
N
0
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan

Tuna
1 Sightings
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
N
0
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
1 Sightings
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock_cherylvb

Garibaldi Damselfish
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
O
1
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0
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
1 Sightings
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1
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0
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0
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N
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D
0
iStock-atese

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
A
1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
N
0
D
0
Alamy-Water Frame

Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
A
1
M
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
N
0
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0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
1 Sightings
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
D
1
SSI-Peter-Schinck

Leaf Scorpionfish
1 Sightings
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1
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0
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0
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0

Dive Sites Nearby

Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Keauhou Bay (★4.6)

This is a nice, clear water dive and not too deep- max. 30 feet. An easy entry beach dive right off the Keauhou Sheraton Hotel. Watch out for boat traffic in the middle of the bay, however.
Aqualung

Pyramid Pinnacle (★4.4)

This is a beautiful, intermediate reef dive off the Kona coast of Hawaii. It gets its name from the pyramid butterflyfish that school around the reef. The submerged lava arches, caverns, pinnacles, and finger corals peppering this site offer plenty to explore.
Aqualung

Kona (★4.6)

Kona, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, has truly world-class diving, with vibrant reefs, cavernous lava tubes, majestic manta rays, fish and inverts galore, and the occasional “big animal” encounter. Kona is located on the more popular, drier, western side of the island and offers diving to suit every level.
Mares

Golden Arches (★4.4)

Golden Arches is your typical Hawaiian reef dive off the Kona coast. Visibility gets better the deeper and further away from the surf zone you get. Check conditions as the current can get strong here at times.
Jordan L. (#277891)

Garden Eel Cove (★4.5)

This is THE place to night dive with manta rays. One of the most famous dives in Kona allows you to kneel on the bottom in about 35 feet of water in the dark of night while a huge light is set in the middle of all the divers that attract phytoplankton and krill so the mantas swoop in right over you to feed.
Mares

Manta Ray Heaven, Garden Eel Cove (★4.7)

Manta Heaven is one of three typical spots where dive operators out of Kona take divers for the famous manta ray night dives. Get ready for the show of a lifetime as huge manta rays swoop right over head at these cleaning stations while you circle around a single light source that attracts them.
Mares

Puako (★4.4)

This is a favorite dive site of locals due to its easy beach entry and the fact that it’s not a popular place among tourists. Get here early as the winds start to pick up around 11 am, making the water rougher and visibility not as good.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Turtle Pinnacle (★4.4)

Turtle Pinnacle is located just offshore on the northern part of the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii and is one of the best dive sites in all of the Hawaiian islands for its turtle cleaning station. Here, surgeonfish clean the turtles attracting lots of other marine life as well.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Molokini Crater (★4.5)

Sitting just off the Hawaiian island of Maui, Molokini Crater is probably one of the most famous places to dive in all of Hawaii. This former crater is accessible by boat dive departing from Maui. This is a very busy dive site but there are several different areas to dive.
Scubapro

Turtle Town Maui (★4.3)

This is one of the best spots on Maui to see sea turtles. Just off Makena Beach off the southwest coast of Maui, this site offers a shallow dive perfect for beginners and also snorkelers. This is a turtle cleaning station so activity is high.
Ranata W. (#4302472)

Makena Landing (★4.2)

Makena Landing offers divers access to one of the best and most unique dive sites on the island of Maui. This area is home to numerous ledges and grottos, and actually encompasses a few different individual dive sites known as 5 caves/5 graves, turtle town, and turtle arch.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Wailea (★4.3)

A great spot for intro dives as the water is calm. This dive site has multiple fingered shallow reefs with depths averaging around 15 feet. If you continue out father to the outer reef you can dive to 40 feet and beyond.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Ulua Beach Park (★3.9)

Ulua Beach is a well-groomed family beach, perfect for beginning snorkelers and divers. This beach as lots of parking, easy access and great amenities like freshwater, showers, and restrooms. An easy shore dive.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

St. Anthony (Wreck) (★4.3)

The St. Anthony’s Wreck was intentionally sunk in 1997 as an artificial reef. The wreck is 65 feet long and has a cargo area you can swim into. Several turtles and frogfish reside on the wreck.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Cathedral II (★4.5)

Cathedral #2, located off the coast of Lanai. It is a charter available on Monday and Saturday. This site is one of the most desired dive sites. It is about an hour boat ride across the channel. You will want to have a flashlight for this dive.
Mares

First Cathedral (★4.6)

Just off of Maui sits the small island of Lanai. You can stay on this island but most people opt for staying on Maui and then taking a dive charter over to Lanai just for the day. First Cathedral is Lanai’s most popular dive site featuring a two-story underwater cavern that will take your breath away.
Joshua J. (#1836373)

Maui (★4.2)

The island of Maui offers excellent diving opportunities, mostly on the north and western side of the island where the water is calmer. Maui’s neighbors, Lanai and Molokai also offer pristine, excellent diving.
Aqualung

Olowalu Reef (★4.0)

Olowalu / Mile Marker 14 The easiest shore entry on Maui! Canyons of coral extend from the shore, inviting divers to explore this turtle haven.Best Dive Seasons: Spring, Fall, Winter.
Aqualung

Mala Wharf (★4.7)

Mala Wharf is one of Maui’s best dives and easy to get to! It’s a shore dive just off of Lahaina. Watch out for boat traffic and rough sea conditions.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Black Rock - Hawaii (★4.4)

Right off the beach of the Black Rock Sheraton Resort sits one of the best turtle dives on the island of Maui. You are guaranteed to see at least 5-10 green sea turtles on this dive. Max depth is only around 35 feet.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Kahekili Beach Park (★4.4)

A massive coral reef stretches out for miles and farther out, coral islands wait to be explored.This beautiful, easy dive site is popular with all levels, with a highly customizable dive experience and depths ranging from 20 - 80ft.Best Dive Seasons: Year round.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Airport Beach (★4.1)

Off the coast of Ka’anapali, Airport Beach is located right next to the Westin Resort Villas and is great intro and beginner shore diving. An easy 2-minute walk from the parking lot makes getting to this site a breeze. The actual dive is along a gently sloping sandy bottom going from 8 to 25 feet deep.
Mares

Kapalua Beach (★4.4)

With a large coral reef lining the bay, there is a lot of marine life in the bay. This is a picturesque dive site with rocky overhangs & valleys further out to adventure in. Best Dive Seasons: Late Spring, Summer, Early Fall
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Kahala Barge (★4.2)

Kahala Barge is an advanced dive site at 80 - 90 feet deep, with the possibility of strong currents hitting the wreck. Kahala Barge is a very dilapidated wreck. It is not safe to penetrate the wreck due to the condition.