Shark diving on Oʻahu with Nick Loewenstine. Photo courtesy of Nick Loewenstein.
This story contains affiliate links.
While most visitors to Oʻahu stick close to the sand, there’s a whole other world waiting just three miles offshore—a place where Galapagos sharks glide silently beneath the surface, tiger sharks appear like spirits in the deep and the rules of the land no longer apply. This is where you’ll find Nick Loewenstine, a shark diver, wildlife photographer and founder of one of Hawaiʻi’s most respected ocean adventure operations: Shark Diving on Oʻahu.
Loewenstine’s not here for the tourist hustle. He’s not offering sunset cruises or snorkeling-with-sea-turtle packages. He and his crew specialize in one thing: sharks. And he’s been doing it long before it became a bucket-list Instagram post.
“We’re shark people. That’s our operation 98% of the time,” Loewenstine said. “If you’re going to do this, you have to love it.”
Loewenstine’s story starts far from the islands. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, life took him to Sydney, Australia, and eventually Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu’s North Shore, where he’s lived for more than a decade. His connection to sharks began at age 14, during a shark feed in the Caribbean. “I kind of got addicted from that,” Loewenstine said. “By 17, I was diving with great whites in Mexico.”
The path since has been global: Fiji, the Bahamas, Australia, the Arctic Circle. But Hawaiʻi’s waters—and its community of ocean lovers—called him here. After working as a dive instructor and partnering in one of the first shark dive businesses in Hawaii, Loewenstine took the reins and shaped something new: a company rooted in respect for sharks, experience and intimidate encounters.
Each tour includes a chance to meet some of the ocean’s most iconic residents—from tiger sharks to Galapagos sharks. Photo courtesy of Nick Loewenstein.
A Dive with Nick Isn’t Just a Tour—It’s a Perspective Shift
Forget the movie myths. Forget the adrenaline-fueled “Jaws” soundtrack. Diving with sharks is not what you think.
“What surprises most people is how peaceful it is,” Loewenstine explained. “You’re swimming in open water with an apex predator, and it’s calm. It’s surreal. These animals—these creatures of myth—are curious, but not aggressive. They’re not the monsters people think they are.”
Loewenstine and his team take safety seriously, running dives with groups no larger than six guests, guided by a captain, a safety diver and often a professional photographer who doubles as backup safety.
“The more we understand sharks, the more respectful we can be. And the more freedom we can give our guests,” he said. “We read the sharks’ behavior in real time. That allows us to make small adjustments and stay in the water longer, safely.”
Guests frequently show up nervous—but many come back again and again.
Not Just Any Shark Tour
There are now seven full-time shark tour operations off Oʻahu’s North Shore, with even more offering sharks alongside snorkeling, whale watching and fishing. But Loewenstine is clear: specialization matters.
“It’s not to knock other operators, but when you’re doing a little bit of everything, it’s hard to have the level of expertise you really need with sharks,” he said. “We’re all in, every day.”
And this isn’t a zoo. Sharks aren’t guaranteed to appear, though they often do. The team works in deep water, about three miles offshore, where the ocean drops away into hundreds of feet of blue. When the sharks arrive, it’s on their terms.
“That’s part of what makes it so powerful. This is real nature,” Loewenstine said. “We’re just guests in their home.”
Beyond the Dive: Life as an Ocean Explorer
When he’s not leading shark dives, Loewenstine’s still in the water—or far from it. He’s also a passionate wildlife photographer, traveling the globe from the plains of Africa to the tundra of the Arctic in search of wild moments to capture. But he always returns to Haleʻiwa, where the ocean is never far and community runs deep.
“Here, whether you’re a fisherman, surfer, sailor or diver—there’s this shared love for the sea,” he said. “It connects us.”
Shark Diving on Oʻahu
Loewenstine’s company runs multiple dives daily, with morning trips offering the best conditions. Each tour includes a dive briefing and a chance to meet some of the ocean’s most iconic residents—from tiger sharks to Galapagos sharks.
Insider Tip: Book the 7:00 or 9:00 a.m. tour. North Shore winds can pick up by midday.
And if you’re lucky enough to dive with Loewenstine himself—know that you’re learning from someone with two decades of experience, a global shark résumé and a crew that genuinely lives for this.
“We’re not out here for the photo ops,” Loewenstine said. “We’re out here because we love it.”
Shark Dive Essentials
- Location: North Shore, Oʻahu
- Trip Duration: ~2 hours
- Group Size: Max 6 people
- What to Bring: Reef-safe sunscreen, towel, waterproof camera if desired
Experience Needed: None! You’ll be guided every step of the way
