Beneath the Floor: Shark Diving on Oʻahu

Shark diving on Oʻahu with Nick Loewenstine. Photograph courtesy of Nick Loewenstein.

Whereas most guests to Oʻahu stick near the sand, there’s an entire different world ready simply three miles offshore—a spot the place Galapagos sharks glide silently beneath the floor, tiger sharks seem like spirits within the deep and the foundations of the land now not apply. That is the place you’ll discover Nick Loewenstine, a shark diver, wildlife photographer and founding father of one in all Hawaiʻi’s most revered ocean journey operations: Shark Diving on Oʻahu.

Loewenstine’s not right here for the vacationer hustle. He’s not providing sundown cruises or snorkeling-with-sea-turtle packages. He and his crew concentrate on one factor: sharks. And he’s been doing it lengthy earlier than it turned a bucket-list Instagram submit.

“We’re shark folks. That’s our operation 98% of the time,” Loewenstine mentioned. “Should you’re going to do that, it’s a must to find it irresistible.”

Loewenstine’s story begins removed from the islands. Initially from Cincinnati, Ohio, life took him to Sydney, Australia, and finally Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu’s North Shore, the place he’s lived for greater than a decade. His connection to sharks started at age 14, throughout a shark feed within the Caribbean. “I type of received addicted from that,” Loewenstine mentioned. “By 17, I used to be diving with nice whites in Mexico.”

The trail since has been international: Fiji, the Bahamas, Australia, the Arctic Circle. However Hawaiʻi’s waters—and its group of ocean lovers—known as him right here. After working as a dive teacher and partnering in one of many first shark dive companies in Hawaii, Loewenstine took the reins and formed one thing new: an organization rooted in respect for sharks, expertise and intimidate encounters.

Every tour contains an opportunity to fulfill a few of the ocean’s most iconic residents—from tiger sharks to Galapagos sharks. Photograph courtesy of Nick Loewenstein.

A Dive with Nick Isn’t Only a Tour—It’s a Perspective Shift

Neglect the film myths. Neglect the adrenaline-fueled “Jaws” soundtrack. Diving with sharks will not be what you suppose.

“What surprises most individuals is how peaceable it’s,” Loewenstine defined. “You’re swimming in open water with an apex predator, and it’s calm. It’s surreal. These animals—these creatures of fantasy—are curious, however not aggressive. They’re not the monsters folks suppose they’re.”

Loewenstine and his group take security severely, operating dives with teams no bigger than six visitors, guided by a captain, a security diver and infrequently an expert photographer who doubles as backup security. 

“The extra we perceive sharks, the extra respectful we could be. And the extra freedom we may give our visitors,” he mentioned. “We learn the sharks’ habits in actual time. That permits us to make small changes and keep within the water longer, safely.”

Visitors continuously present up nervous—however many come again repeatedly.

Not Simply Any Shark Tour

There are actually seven full-time shark tour operations off Oʻahu’s North Shore, with much more providing sharks alongside snorkeling, whale watching and fishing. However Loewenstine is evident: specialization issues.

“It’s to not knock different operators, however while you’re doing just a little little bit of every thing, it’s laborious to have the extent of experience you really want with sharks,” he mentioned. “We’re all in, each day.”

And this isn’t a zoo. Sharks aren’t assured to look, although they typically do. The group works in deep water, about three miles offshore, the place the ocean drops away into lots of of toes of blue. When the sharks arrive, it’s on their phrases.

“That’s a part of what makes it so highly effective. That is actual nature,” Loewenstine mentioned. “We’re simply visitors of their house.”

Past the Dive: Life as an Ocean Explorer

When he’s not main shark dives, Loewenstine’s nonetheless within the water—or removed from it. He’s additionally a passionate wildlife photographer, touring the globe from the plains of Africa to the tundra of the Arctic in quest of wild moments to seize. However he at all times returns to Haleʻiwa, the place the ocean is rarely far and group runs deep.

“Right here, whether or not you’re a fisherman, surfer, sailor or diver—there’s this shared love for the ocean,” he mentioned. “It connects us.”

Shark Diving on Oʻahu

Loewenstine’s firm runs a number of dives every day, with morning journeys providing one of the best circumstances. Every tour features a dive briefing and an opportunity to fulfill a few of the ocean’s most iconic residents—from tiger sharks to Galapagos sharks.

BOOK NOW

Insider Tip: Guide the 7:00 or 9:00 a.m. tour. North Shore winds can choose up by noon.

And in the event you’re fortunate sufficient to dive with Loewenstine himself—know that you just’re studying from somebody with 20 years of expertise, a world shark résumé and a crew that genuinely lives for this.

“We’re not out right here for the photograph ops,” Loewenstine mentioned. “We’re out right here as a result of we find it irresistible.”

Shark Dive Necessities

• Location: North Shore, Oʻahu
• Journey Length: ~2 hours
• Group Measurement: Max 6 folks
• What to Deliver: Reef-safe sunscreen, towel, waterproof digicam if desired

Expertise Wanted: None! You’ll be guided each step of the best way

BOOK NOW

The submit Beneath the Surface: Shark Diving on Oʻahu appeared first on Hawaii.com.