I Swam with Tiger Sharks in Hawaii (Without a Cage!)
Swimming with tiger sharks is one of the craziest things I’ve ever done in my life. Being face-to-face with a shark that size, out in the open water, simply trusting the guide’s words and instructions… can you imagine?! The adrenaline rush is absolutely insane.
Would you dare to swim with sharks on your Hawaii vacation? I have to admit I was absolutely terrified, but there was no way I was backing out. I was in one of the best places in the world to do it!
WHERE CAN YOU FIND SHARKS IN HAWAII?
The sharks you’re most likely to encounter around the coast of Hawaii are tiger sharks and Galápagos sharks. You’ll mainly find them along the North Shore of Oahu (where Honolulu and the main airport are located) and off the southwest coast of Maui, where many female tiger sharks live.
Although there are sharks around Hawaii all year round, the best time to see tiger sharks is from late July to October. That said, remember that sharks are wild animals, so there’s never a 100% guarantee that you’ll get a good sighting. Luck plays a part too!
A LITTLE TIP: If you’re worried there might not be any sharks around when you visit (because you’re travelling outside the season, for example), follow some of the companies that offer shark tours on Instagram and keep an eye on their stories. They’ll usually post when they’ve had successful encounters.
WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SNORKEL WITH TIGER SHARKS
While planning our trip to Hawaii, my friend Tamara — my faithful partner in crime when it comes to crazy adventures — suggested snorkelling with tiger sharks. She was really excited about it and the activity was very reasonably priced, so I quickly said yes without giving it too much thought (because some things just shouldn’t be overthought).
And so, on our second day in Oahu, we found ourselves at Haleiwa Harbor at 7 in the morning, having only just arrived in Hawaii and still far too sleepy to fully process what we were about to do.
Most tours depart from Haleiwa Harbor
The coast of Oahu from the boat was beautiful
Welcome & Safety Briefing
Swimming with sharks isn’t something you get to do every day, and these creatures don’t exactly have the best reputation. So it’s no surprise that the first part of the activity, once we’d all met at the harbour, was a thorough safety briefing.
They explained exactly what was going to happen, how we should behave in different situations in the water, and what the guides would do. There were just 6 of us in the group, accompanied by 3 guides: one stayed on the boat, another would interact with the sharks and act as a barrier between them and us, and the third was a photographer who would also be there to help us if needed.
The tour would last 2 hours in total, with around 40 minutes actually spent in the water. On the way to the diving spot, you can also spot dolphins, whales, turtles…
Our First Encounter
When we reached the area where we were going to swim, we were reminded that seeing sharks wasn’t guaranteed, as they are wild animals. On this tour, the animals are not fed or influenced in any way to make sure they show up.
But as soon as we looked into the water, there it was: a gigantic tiger shark, coming up towards the surface to say hello. It was incredible to be standing on the boat watching the shark approach, knowing that in just a few minutes I was going to jump into the water with it. If I dared!
The Jump
I don’t remember the actual moment I jumped in. All I know is that suddenly I was in the water, and there was the first of the three sharks we saw waiting for us.
We had to stay more or less together so that the guide could keep an eye on everyone and step in if necessary. After all, let’s remember that we were swimming with animals that can be dangerous!
When there are only Galápagos sharks around, the rules aren’t quite as strict and you have more freedom to swim away from the group and get in the water with the sharks on your own. But when tiger sharks are around, you need to be much more careful.
And, as in every group, there was one idiot who kept swimming away and splashing around — basically doing everything we’d been told not to do. Please, don’t be that person.
An Underwater Dance
Watching the guide swim and interact with the sharks was fascinating. Whenever they got too close, driven by curiosity, he would move alongside them and naturally redirect their path. It was like a dance between the guide and the sharks.
At first, everything was going well. I felt strangely calm in the water, simply enjoying the spectacle unfolding in front of me. But after a while, something changed.
The Tension Builds
The sharks started behaving a little differently. Their movements became quicker, and they began circling around us, as if they were teaming up to stalk us. Whenever one moved away, another would approach from the opposite side. I started to get nervous.
The guides still had everything under control, but the photographer stopped taking photos to pay closer attention to the animals. You could definitely feel the tension building.
When there wasn’t much time left, I decided I’d had enough. As soon as the sharks moved a bit away, I took the opportunity and quickly climbed back onto the boat.
Tamara, who stayed in the water until the very end, said that the sharks were actually at their most restless during those last few minutes.
That’s me, very close to a tiger shark
IS IT SAFE TO SWIM WITH SHARKS?
Tiger sharks are considered one of the most dangerous shark species in the world, and they are second only to great white sharks when it comes to recorded attacks on humans. However, the reality is that many of these attacks happen because the shark mistakes a human for another animal that it would normally prey on.
In an encounter like the one we had, if you follow the guides’ instructions, the risk is very low (although, obviously, no one can guarantee 100% that nothing will happen). The guides are incredibly professional and know the sharks we encountered, which means they can anticipate their behaviour and react accordingly.
RULES WHEN SWIMMING WITH SHARKS
Tiger sharks are curious creatures and they will want to come closer to you, so it’s important to know what to do when one approaches you and avoid panicking.
The most important thing is to look them in the eye and maintain eye contact until they move away from you. This lets them know that you’re also a predator, not prey.
The second rule is to avoid splashing or making sudden movements. Stay calm and let them see that you’re not a threat.
As a last resort, if a shark gets too close, it can be redirected by gently touching the top of its snout. But when you’re with professionals, you shouldn’t have to worry about doing this yourself.
And of course, don’t swim towards them or try to touch their fins. They’re not toys, and they’re not there to entertain you. You’re the intruder in their world, remember that.
IS IT ETHICAL TO SWIM WITH SHARKS?
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m extremely selective when it comes to animal tourism. I thoroughly research any activity that involves seeing or interacting with animals before I do it, and I’ll walk away at the first red flag. If I have doubts, I don’t do it (although, obviously, I can still get things wrong).
In this case, I believe that swimming with sharks in small groups, without cages and without feeding them to guarantee encounters, doesn’t have a negative impact on the animals or their habitat. And in return, it can help reduce the stigma surrounding these incredible creatures.
Besides, who would choose to work for a company where you swim with sharks? You’re not going to find people who are in it purely for the money — the risk simply wouldn’t be worth it. Your guides are going to be people who love, admire and deeply respect these creatures. They don’t want to hurt them. So, in my opinion, a big yes from me!
Sunset in Haleiwa
THE BENEFITS OF SHARK TOURISM
You probably already know this, but the biggest threat to sharks isn’t tourists — it’s fishing. Shark fins have long been highly prized, particularly in East Asia, where they’re used to make shark fin soup, a dish traditionally associated with wealth and prestige. And the saddest part? After their fins are cut off, the sharks are thrown back into the ocean to die.
Between shark finning and trawling, it’s estimated that around 100 million sharks are killed every year.
One of the goals of shark tourism is to make these animals “more valuable alive than dead”, and therefore encourage greater protection. By taking part in this kind of activity, you’re contributing to that mission. An ocean with less fishing and more sharks is a healthier ocean!
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SWIMMING WITH SHARKS
Swimming with tiger sharks in Hawaii was an incredible experience and one of the craziest things I’ve ever done in my life. I absolutely loved it. I was nervous and a little scared while I was in the water, but it was the good kind of fear — the kind that gives you an adrenaline rush.
I think having this kind of encounter with wild animals in their natural environment is what makes you rethink animal tourism. It’s a powerful, thrilling experience where you learn so much and truly understand the difference between seeing an animal in its natural habitat and seeing it somewhere it simply doesn’t belong.
After an adventure like this, you’ll be wanting more!
The company we went shark swimming with was Hawaii Adventure Diving, a local company that gets a solid 10/10 from us. The service, the professionalism, the super clear explanations… we felt safe at all times because it was obvious that the guides had everything under control.
I’d absolutely recommend them!
MORE ANIMAL EXPERIENCES IN HAWAII: If swimming with sharks hasn’t convinced you, you can also swim with dolphins in Oahu or go night snorkelling with manta rays on Big Island.
CAR RENTAL IN OAHU: We rented a private vehicle with Turo to get around the island.
WHERE TO STAY ON THE NORTH SHORE: We spent a few days in a private room at Backpackers Plantation Village. It was really close to Haleiwa and just a few steps from the beach! The room shared a large living room and kitchen with just two other rooms, and the views were beautiful. We absolutely loved it.
Las vistas desde Backpackers Plantation Village y la playa de enfrente
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