Second Cathedral

Second Cathedral is the magnificent companion site to First Cathedrals on the coast of Lanai — a second system of lava tube chambers and archways that provides a variation on the extraordinary cave diving experience that makes this section of the Lanai coastline among the most celebrated in all of Hawaii. Like First Cathedrals, Second Cathedral features a primary lava chamber where natural light enters through openings in the roof and walls, creating dramatic light-shaft effects that have made these sites the subjects of some of the most extraordinary dive photography produced anywhere in the Pacific. The two sites sit in close proximity and are often visited on the same two-tank dive day from Lahaina, allowing comparison between their distinct geological characters — Second Cathedral tends to be somewhat smaller in its primary chamber dimensions but offers its own particular light quality and several unique swim-through passages that provide different perspectives on the lava cave environment. Depths reach a maximum of approximately 21 meters (about 70 feet), consistent with First Cathedrals, with the primary cave features in the 12-to-18-meter range. The advanced rating reflects the overhead environment and the navigation discipline required to dive cave systems safely, particularly in the presence of other divers where surge of kicked silt can rapidly reduce visibility inside the enclosed spaces. Marine life at Second Cathedral mirrors the richness of its sister site: whitetip reef sharks rest in the cave interior with characteristic daytime repose, Hawaiian green sea turtles drift through the chambers on their own schedule, and spotted eagle rays cruise the open water outside the cave entrance. The Lanai crossing by charter boat from Lahaina Harbor typically takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on conditions — the Au'au Channel can develop swell in the afternoon — but the Cathedral sites consistently deliver experiences that divers describe as transformative. Second Cathedral ranks among Hawaii's top five dive experiences by any measure.