| Oahu has a wealth of water sports opportunities, | | | | butterflyfish and ta'ape are so comfortable with |
| whether you're a professional surfer braving giant | | | | divers and photographers that they practically |
| winter waves on the North Shore, or a | | | | pose. Eagle rays, green sea turtles, manta rays, |
| recreational water-skier enjoying the calm waters | | | | and white-tipped sharks occasionally cruise by as |
| of Hawaii Kai. You can kayak from Lanikai Beach | | | | well, and eels peer out from the wreck. For |
| to the Mokulua Islands or float above Waikiki on a | | | | nonwreck diving, one of the best dive spots in |
| parasail as a speedboat tows you blissfully through | | | | summer is Kahuna Canyon. In Hawaiian, kahuna |
| the air. If you have something of an adventurous | | | | means priest, wise man, or sorcerer; this massive |
| spirit, you might scuba dive the walls of the | | | | amphitheater, near Mokuleia, is a perfect example |
| Kahuna Canyon, swim with clouds of ta'ape | | | | of something a sorcerer might conjure up. Walls |
| (bluestripe snapper), or view an occasional shark | | | | rising from the ocean floor create the illusion of an |
| from the comfort of a passenger submarine. No | | | | underwater Grand Canyon. Inside the |
| matter what your aquatic interests are, whether | | | | amphitheater, crabs, octopuses, slippers, and spiny |
| you're a beginner or an expert, you can find the | | | | lobsters abound (be aware that taking them in |
| right sport when you rent a house on Oahu. Most | | | | summer is illegal), and giant trevally, parrotfish, and |
| of our rentals are already supplied with beach | | | | unicorn fish congregate as well. Outside the |
| toys (like masks, snorkels and fins; boogie boards; | | | | amphitheater, you're likely to see an occasional |
| surfboards; kayaks; and more). Good places to | | | | shark in the distance. Since Oahu's best dives are |
| learn to bodyboard are in the small waves of | | | | offshore, your best bet is to book a two-tank |
| Waikiki Beach and Kailua Beach, and Bellows Field | | | | dive from a dive boat. Hawaii's oldest and largest |
| Beach Park, off Kalanianaole Highway (Hwy. 72) in | | | | outfitter is Aaron's Dive Shop, 307 Hahani St., |
| Waimanalo, which is open to the public on | | | | Kailua (tel. 808/262-2333; which offers boat and |
| weekends (from noon on Fri to midnight on Sun | | | | beach dive excursions off the coast. The boat |
| and holidays). To get here, turn toward the ocean | | | | dives cost from $125 per person, including two |
| on Hughs Road, then right on Tinker Road, which | | | | tanks and transportation from the Kailua shop. |
| takes you right to the park. | | | | The beach dive off the North Shore in summer |
| Your Oahu beach rental is a wonderful jumping | | | | or the Waianae Coast in winter is the same price |
| off point to scuba dive, especially for those | | | | as a boat dive, including all gear and transportation, |
| interested in wreck diving. One of the more | | | | so Aaron's recommends the boat dive. When it |
| famous wrecks in Hawaii is the Mahi, a 185-foot | | | | comes to diving, consult the experts. And when it |
| former minesweeper easily accessible just south | | | | comes to finding perfect Oahu condos for your |
| of Waianae. Abundant marine life makes this a | | | | needs and budget, come to the Oahu beach |
| great place to shoot photos -- schools of lemon | | | | rental experts - us! |