Kaneohe Bay

Kaneohe Bay is 45 kilometers square. It is the largest bay with a shelter from the Pacific Ocean as it is sheltered by the Hawaiian Islands, most particularly Oahu. The bay has plenty of reefs underwater for divers to enjoy. It is also why the bay tends to be the most scenic and recreational bay of the windward coast of the island. The largest population of the island is found in the center of Kane'ohe, which is centered on the bay.

The Bay is 8 miles long with 2.7 miles width and a mouth opening about 4.6 miles. It has a maximum depth of 40 feet. It has been dredged to be that deep. There are two barrier reefs in the Hawaiian Islands and one is in the Kaneohe Bay. The other is the 27 mile barrier reef of Molokai.

Shoaling coral reefs in the lagoon make it great for diving, but the channel had to be cut so that boats could travel through. It is the reason that dredging occurred to make a northern channel that is deep enough. The ship channel was created between 1939 and 1945. Occasionally dredging has to reform the channel as waves bring in sand and dirt from time to time.