Hawaiian monk seal confirmed 2 months agoPeak season now

Niihau

Kauai · United States

The Forbidden Island sits 17 miles southwest of Kauai and is privately owned by the Robinson family, which strictly controls access — but the surrounding reef is accessible by permitted dive charter and represents some of the least disturbed reef habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands. Scalloped hammerhead sharks school in the blue water off the island's western wall, joined by Galapagos sharks and the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Zero fishing pressure and minimal dive traffic have allowed fish populations to reach densities rarely seen in the main islands.

Conditions

Depth

10 to 40 m

Advanced depths

Current

Usually still

Can pick up on the edge

Visibility

30 to 50 m

Clearest in the calm season

Water

22 to 28°C

shorty

Month by month

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Water (°C)	22	22	22	23	24	25	26	26	26	25	24	23
Vis (m)	20	20	20	25	25	30	30	30	25	20	20	20
Current	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Gentle	Gentle	Still	Still	Still	Still	Gentle	Moderate	Moderate