Pinniped
Hawaiian monk seal
Neomonachus schauinslandi
IUCN status: EndangeredBucket-list species
The Hawaiian monk seal is endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago and remains endangered. A seal may approach divers around Niʻihau, but NOAA recommends at least 15 m separation in water and encounters must not be engineered.
- Max size
- About 2.4 m
- Habitat
- Hawaiian coastal waters, reefs, offshore islands and beaches
Best places to dive with Hawaiian monk seal
rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak season
Kauaʻi & Niʻihau
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Niʻihau is one of the better-known scuba areas for chance encounters, but no monthly probability is defensible and sightings are not assured.
Sources & last checked
Checked September 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 3 sources and checking notes
- Hawaiian Monk Seal, NOAA Fisheries
- Viewing Marine Wildlife in Hawaiʻi, NOAA Fisheries
- Kauaʻi's Niʻihau, Divers Alert Network
Note on the data: Protected endangered wildlife; never pursue, touch, feed or block its path.