Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu is the most popular, especially with Honolulu as the primary travel hub. Many visitors find enough to do on Oahu alone, from relaxing on the world-famous sands of Waikiki to braving (or watching as others brave) the surf of the North Shore. Yet just as history buffs must see Pearl Harbor here, wreck divers are drawn to the historic sites of Oahu. Just off Waikiki alone are some of the best wrecks in the world, including the YO-257 oil barge (pictured left) and the World War II Corsair fighter/bomber.

When the surf quiets down on the North Shore in spring, divers head there to see the pristine reefs and more, one of the best sites in Hawaii. And off the Waianae coast is the Mahi cable-layer, another wreck that makes Oahu a unique draw.