dlnr.hawaii.gov · Official
Official sanctuary status and public-landing restriction for Mānana/Rabbit Island.
Manana Island
Manana Island is a boat-accessed drift wall with coral, sharks, and macro life.
Scuba DivingBoatAdvanced6m - 27.4m
ReefWall
Plan this as an advanced boat dive with strong current, surge, and no landing on the sanctuary; low-wave windows matter.
About Manana Island
Manana Island is an advanced boat dive on Oahu's windward side, wrapped around a protected seabird sanctuary. The east face drops sharply into a drift route with live coral on the wall, shell and rubble below, and plenty of cracks where frogfish and nudibranchs show up. It is the kind of dive you plan around current, surge, and a clean return line rather than around easy shore access.
Safety & Access
Site Conditions
Restricted accessStrong currentSurgeWaves
Safety Notes
Strong current and surge are part of the site; stay off the island, keep your spacing, and plan a clean drift exit.
Access Restrictions
Manana Island is a closed seabird sanctuary; landing or walking on the islet is not allowed without authorization.
Legal Notes
The islet is closed to the public, so only offshore diving and boating use are appropriate here.
Where Is Manana Island?
Featured Operators
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Local Intel For Manana Island
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A wall dive reaching roughly 27 m (90 ft) with a rubble-and-shell field at the base.
Freediving
Not a freedive target; the wall, current, and return-line demands are better handled with scuba and surface support.
Snorkeling
Not a casual snorkel site; the strong current and surge make it a scuba-focused drift dive.
Wildlife at Manana Island
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Research Estimate At Manana Island
Access · 2/5Challenging entry effort
Research estimate
Coral · 3/5Mixed health
Research estimate
Aquatic Life · 4/5Great variety
Research estimate
Facilities · 2/5Limited facilities
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Current · 5/5Very strong current
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Surge · 4/5Strong surge
Research estimate
- VisibilityResearch estimate
- 16m
