Cage-Free Shark Snorkel Tour from Haleiwa, North Shore Oahu

Overview

Ocean Outfitters Hawaii's North Shore cage-free shark tour is a 2-hour trip from Haleiwa with 15–30 minutes of snorkeling beside Galapagos and sandbar sharks, safety divers in the water, $135 for ages 5+ or $99 to ride along. It suits confident swimmers wanting sharks without a cage. The drawback is short water time and unguaranteed sightings.

Highlights

• $135 per snorkeler aged 5+ and $99 for ride-alongs aged 3+ on the operator's site; a private charter is $1,200
• In-water time is about 15–30 minutes within a 1-hour session, depending on passenger count and conditions, per the HawaiiActivities listing
• Mask, fins and in-water safety divers are included; wetsuits and rash guards are not provided
• Boats carry up to 18 passengers; the tour may not run with fewer than 6, per HawaiiActivities
• Operator-wide Google rating of 4.9 from 826 reviews as of October 2026

What to Expect

1. Check in at Slip 19, Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor, 30 minutes before departure; HawaiiActivities shows a sample 6:30 am check-in for a 7:00 am trip.
2. Board the yellow boat Rambo II, give your shoe size for fins, and ride about 30 minutes offshore with a safety briefing on the way.
3. Enter the open water with the safety divers for a shark swim and snorkel of roughly 15–30 minutes in the water during a 1-hour session.
4. Watch for Galapagos and sandbar sharks, plus turtles and dolphins; reviewers on Greetwell report tiger sharks and barracuda, but nothing is guaranteed.
5. Ride about 30 minutes back to the harbor and, if you want, buy the staff-shot GoPro footage or a 10–15 photo package.

What to Bring

• Towel and swimsuit
• Sunscreen
• Motion-sickness medication and water
• GoPro on a stick (optional); phones are not allowed in the water

Restrictions and Requirements

• Minimum age 5 to snorkel; 3 to ride along on the boat
• Must be able to swim, be comfortable in deep ocean water, and get in and out of the boat unassisted
• Not permitted for guests with heart or cardiovascular conditions, pregnancy, or neck, back or joint problems, per HawaiiActivities
• Not wheelchair accessible; minors need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver
• Tour may not run with fewer than 6 participants; sightings not guaranteed

Cancellation Policy

Full refund with at least 24 hours' notice; later cancellations and no-shows are charged in full, per Greetwell. Booking through HawaiiActivities is stricter: changes or cancellations after 3:00 pm two business days before the activity are charged 100%. Full refund if the operator cancels for weather or an unmet 6-person minimum. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell and HawaiiActivities.

Location

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Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii

Meeting Point

Slip 19, Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor, Haleiwa, HI 96712; board Rambo II, the yellow boat

Check-In

30 minutes before departure

Parking and Getting There

Complimentary parking at the harbor, per HawaiiActivities

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact