Are you looking for the best things to do in Oahu with kids? Keep scrolling to read my honest review of the Waikiki Atlantis Submarine tour near the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
This Waikiki Atlantis Submarine Tour Review was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
When my oldest was a toddler, we did the Atlantis Submarine ride on Maui. It was a cool way to explore under the sea without going snorkeling. We even got some fantastic Atlantis Submarines Waikiki photos from that trip.
So, when I started planning our Oahu itinerary, I was excited to see that there was a Waikiki Atlantis Submarine tour. I read several Atlantis Submarines Waikiki reviews and was eager to compare it with our Maui experience.
It’s definitely different than the one we did on Maui, even though it was the same company.
This Atlantis Submarine Oahu tour promised a fresh adventure with stunning views of marine life, including the chance to spot Hawaiian green sea turtles and explore sunken ships. That’s cool because it was a new experience and one of the most popular Hawaii activities for kids.
I ended up booking this Oahu activity first thing on a Saturday morning so we’d have the rest of the day to do whatever we wanted.
The scheduled submarine tour time fits perfectly into our plans. Plus, my kids are usually in better moods in the morning vs afternoon.
Keep scrolling to find out what to expect on this Oahu submarine dive tour and whether or not I think it’s worth it for your next trip to Hawaii with kids.
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Oahu Submarine Tour FAQs
If you are looking for a kid-friendly Oahu boat ride that doesn’t involve snorkeling, this Waikiki submarine ride is a great option. It’s a unique opportunity to go on an underwater adventure for one of the coolest tours on Oahu. Plus, it’s one of the easiest things to do at Waikiki Beach with younger kids.
While a lot of people think of Waikiki as a place with tons of restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment, there’s actually a lot of Waikiki activities for families. A few ideas of what to do in Waikiki with kids include watching the free hula shows at the Royal Hawaiian Center, riding the Waikiki Trolley, and exploring the Honolulu Zoo.
Children must be a minimum of 36 inches tall to ride the Oahu submarine. Typically, kids who are 3-4 years old are that height.
History of the Atlantis Submarine
Atlantis Submarine Adventures has been operating in Hawaii since 1988. Its fleet includes some of the largest and most technically advanced passenger submarines in the world.
They are pretty passionate about sustainable tourism. Their Hawaii submarines are battery-powered and don’t pollute the water. In an effort to not disturb the real marine life, they are also really quiet.
Atlantis Submarines have dive sites in Waikiki, Oahu; Lahaina, Maui; and Kona, Big Island. These are popular activities for a Hawaii vacation with kids.
What to Know about the Waikiki Atlantis Submarine Before You Go:
Arrival
The Oahu Atlantis Submarine tour is located at the Hilton Pier in the Hilton Hawaiian Village at the edge of Waikiki.
You’ll either need to park at the hotel or get dropped off there. Your parking will be validated if you purchase the $4 discount card. They will not validate valet parking.
When you enter the resort, you’ll return to the beach area. You’ll either see the Atlantis boat bobbing in the water or you’ll see the check-in station.
After you’re checked in, you can take a photo with their photographer (which they will sell to you later) or snap some selfies.
Then, you’ll hang out on the dock until it’s time to leave. There are lots of seats, and they are all under cover. Plus, you can see all sorts of Waikiki beach activities.
There’s also a trash can in case you need to throw out any food or beverage before your Waikiki Atlantis Submarine ride.
Short Boat Ride to Submarine
Since Waikiki Beach is pretty shallow, the only way to enter the submarine is to take a boat about a mile from shore.
Think of it as a short Oahu boat tour. It takes about 10-15 minutes, and you’ll get some incredible views of Waikiki and Diamond Head.
There’s an upstairs open-air section, or you can stay downstairs. Both areas have plenty of seats.
During this boat ride, you will watch a brief safety video, have the option to use the restroom (there are NO restrooms on the sub), and grab a cup of water to stay hydrated.
Once you reach the submarine, they will direct you to a line where you can climb down with the rest of your group.
You will need to turn around and climb down a steep 11-step ladder. My 4-year-old was scared, and my husband held him as they climbed down together.
Submarine Tour in Waikiki
Once you enter the submarine, you’ll see giant circular windows right in front of you. Two people share one large window.
You’ll start off going 60 feet underwater, and then you’ll gradually get to about 100 feet below the surface.
The major attractions in Waikiki are the underwater Japanese seaweed farms, a WWII plane wreckage, and a sunken ship.
The captain is really good about turning around so that the other side of the submarine can also see the items under water.
Along the way, fish and other sea creatures pop up sporadically. Because this is an ocean, they cannot guarantee you’ll see any fish, green sea turtles, or whales. It varies so much from tour to tour.
We saw a few schools of fish, a sea turtle, and a few random fish that went in front of our window.
Waikiki Boat Ride to Shore
After the submarine ride, we climbed back out and onto the boat. They had us wait on the lower deck because they already had the next group loaded on the upper deck.
After wiping down all the windows, they got the next group on board, and we could move up to the upper deck.
I highly recommend going upstairs because you’ll have an up-close view of the submarine dive. It’s really cool!
And the rest of the Waikiki boat ride is nice and relaxing.
How does the Oahu Submarine Tour Compare with the Maui Submarine Tour?
When we were on Maui a few years ago, the submarine left directly from the harbor in Lahaina instead of taking a boat to get there.
While underwater in Maui, divers would come up to the windows and show passengers different sea life so everyone got an up-close view.
But, the Maui one doesn’t show any wreckage, and the submarine isn’t as big or new.
The Highlights of this Waikiki Tour and What You Should Look Out For
For our family, the highlight was simply going on a Hawaii submarine tour. It’s something unique that many people never have the opportunity to do. And my kids LOVED bragging to everyone they met that they had ridden in a real submarine.
There are a couple of things families should know:
- There are NO restrooms on the submarine. So, I encourage you to have your family use the facilities on the boat instead.
- If anyone in your family gets motion sickness, they do have sick bags that are easily accessible.
- The ladder to get in/out of the submarine is super steep, and they want kids to do it on their own instead of being carried.
How Much Does it Cost and Where is it Located?
The Oahu Atlantis Submarine tour is at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. The self-parking garage offers discounted parking ($4) for 4 hours.
There’s a ticket kiosk near the swimming pool area at the resort if you want to get same-day tickets. From there, you’ll walk along the beach and onto the dock for the formal check-in.
If you are sure you want to do this Oahu activity, you’ll definitely want to reserve tickets before you arrive. Adult tickets start at $133 and children start at $66.50. Prices vary depending on restrictions/availability.
So, is the Waikiki Atlantis Submarine Worth It?
If you’d like a kid-friendly boat ride in Waikiki, where you can see gorgeous views of Diamond Head and ride in the world’s largest recreational submarine to see wreckage at the bottom of the ocean, then TOTALLY.
My kids really enjoyed the little boat ride and getting to ride in an authentic submarine in Hawaii. In fact, they said it was one of the best Hawaii kids’ activities we did on our most recent trip.
But, if you’re going mainly to see tropical fish, sea turtles, and other sea creatures, you might have better luck at the Waikiki Aquarium or Sea Life Park. These are some easy things to do in Honolulu with kids.
My husband and boys were pretty stoked just with the boat ride and submarine experience, so they were happy campers. I had hoped to see more fish, so I was a little disappointed.
But, all in all, I’d say we had a really fun morning doing something the whole family could participate in. It was definitely one of the easiest Oahu adventures and the most fun things to do in Waikiki.
Atlantis Submarine Tour in Waikiki Wrap-Up
Overall, the Atlantis Submarine Waikiki experience is a must-do for families visiting Oahu. The tour offers a unique oceanic adventure.
You can ride the submarine and explore artificial reefs, sunken shipwrecks, and the vibrant marine life of Waikiki. The spacious, air-conditioned interior of the premium submarine ensures a comfortable journey as you delve into the depths of the ocean.
If you’re looking for a memorable and educational submarine Hawaii tour, this is definitely one to consider. It’s a great way to experience Waikiki’s marine mysteries and enjoy a fun-filled family adventure.
I hope this Waikiki submarine tour review helped you figure out whether or not to add this to your list of family things to do in Oahu.
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