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Diving the Sea Tiger Wreck in Honolulu, Hawaii

Diving the Sea Tiger Wreck in Honolulu, Hawaii

Written by Charly Stringer
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Published on October 12, 2023
Sea Tiger Wreck in Hawaii

Oahu’s Sea Tiger wreck has an interesting history and offers fantastic diving opportunities for almost every diver. If you are an advanced scuba diver or a technical diver, head to Hawaii’s Sea Tiger wreck to explore easy and more challenging swim-throughs, and spot beautiful marine life including sharks and turtles.

Let’s take a look at why scuba divers from around the world flock to see Honolulu’s most famous wreck. Here is everything you need to know about diving the Sea Tiger wreck.

Sea Tiger Wreck in Hawaii
Image via Adobe Stock

What is the Sea Tiger wreck?

The Sea Tiger wreck is found in Honolulu, Hawaii and sits at a maximum of 121ft deep. The shipwreck is 168ft long and has been an exciting scuba diving location since it was sunk in 1999 to be an artificial reef and dive tourist attraction.

History and Background of the Sea Tiger

The Sea Tiger was originally a Chinese fishing vessel, and in 1992, the ship was seized by the US Justice Department. Later in 1997 it was bought by Voyager Submarines and later sunk to become a dive site for scuba divers to explore. To this day, the artificial reef that the Sea Tiger’s sinking created is considered by many to be the best dive site in Honolulu. The wreck brings dive tourists from all over the world, and year round.

Sea Tiger Wreck in Hawaii
Image via Adobe Stock

The Dive Site

Learn more about how to get to the dive site, and the layout of the wreck for scuba diving:

Location

The Sea Tiger wreck is located off the south shore of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is the closest wreck to Waikiki Beach, and it takes only 10 minutes by boat to reach the dive site from there. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu has international flights daily, so getting to the island is easy. Once you are there you can rent a car, take a bus, or go by taxi to Oahu.

Exploring the wreck

There is so much to explore both inside and outside the Sea Tiger wreck. There is plenty of opportunity to penetrate the wreck at various depths. The deepest penetrations are below 100ft deep and recommended only for technical divers. However, the main deck is at around 85 to 100ft deep and there are various corridors on both sides of the wreck that act as perfect swim-throughs for recreational divers who want to stay shallower. There is also a cargo hold in front of the midship house which is lots of fun to explore. The engine room is easy to access but does have some tight areas so a dive guide is essential.

Sea Tiger Wreck in Hawaii
Image via Adobe Stock

Diving the Sea Tiger

Let’s take a look at everything you will need to know before diving at the Sea Tiger wreck dive site:

Equipment

For limited penetration recreational wreck diving you don’t need much equipment besides your regular gear. However it can be a good idea to bring a flashlight so you can look in all the nooks and crannies, and perhaps a dive knife on the rare chance you might get caught on some debris or similar.

Certifications

For a wreck of this depth, the minimum certification level should be Advanced Open Water diver, which certifies you to dive to a maximum of 98ft deep. However, taking a wreck specialty would be hugely beneficial in exploring the wreck a little further. You should also have excellent buoyancy control when diving wrecks, so a buoyancy specialty should also be on the list before you head to dive the Sea Tiger.

Safety Considerations

As mentioned above, there are some tight areas in the wreck and this is why buoyancy control is so important. Take care not to hit your head or catch your skin on something sharp.

Marine Life at the Sea Tiger Wreck

The Sea Tiger is rich with various marine life and coral growth around the wreck. Schools of blue-line snapper are frequently spotted around the wreck, as well as mackerel. You are also likely to see reef sharks, rays, and turtles while scuba diving here. The wreck has famously good visibility and being able to see up to 100ft away while diving is not uncommon.

Sea Tiger Wreck in Hawaii
Image via Adobe Stock

Preservation and Conservation Efforts

As with any wreck. it is important for divers to realize the importance of responsible diving practices in order to maintain the wreck’s integrity. This is both to help marine life thrive there, and to keep the wreck safe for scuba divers. The best way to do this is to remember not to touch or grab the wreck and practice good buoyancy when diving inside the Sea Tiger.

Best time to dive the Sea Tiger wreck

The wreck can be dived year round and the water stays at a comfortable 75-80°F.

Conclusion

The Sea Tiger wreck offers an incredible wreck diving experience for recreational and technical divers alike. You will see a variety of marine life on this artificial reef, and explore the inside of the ship safely while following safe diving practices.

Charly Stringer

Charly Stringer

Charly Stringer is a scuba diver based in Dahab, Egypt. She is a scuba diving and freediving instructor, as well as a digital creator,