Reefwander

Kauaʻi · United States · Reef

General Store

The boiler and anchors of the Pele, lost in the late 1800s

General Store is a deeper south-shore reef at 20-30 m (65-100 ft), named for its plentiful fish. It is also the resting place of the Pele, a freighter that sank here in the late 1800s, of which little is left. Currents can get rough, but a horseshoe-shaped inlet on the site gives divers somewhere to shelter.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of General Store: typical dive 20–30 m (66–100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit20 m30 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Kauaʻi and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

General Store is one of the deeper boat dives on the south shore, with the reef lying between 20 m and 30 m (65-100 ft). A horseshoe-shaped inlet with small lava tubes on either side gives the fish plenty of places to hide, and the site takes its name from how plentiful they are. Black coral, lemon butterflyfish, helmet conch, octopus and turtles are regulars.

The site sits in deeper water, past 27 m (90 ft) on the outside, so larger animals pass through, and dolphins are seen here often. Currents can get a little rough; when they do, the inlet offers a place to duck in and hide, and the site is sometimes dived as a drift. It lies just east of Turtle Bluffs and is rated for intermediate and advanced divers.

Marine life and season

  • Reef fish swarms
  • Dolphins
  • Sea turtles
  • Octopus & cuttlefish
Month-by-month season rating for General Store
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGood

Season follows Kauaʻi: May to September brings the calmest seas and warmest water, though south-shore visibility tends to run a little better in winter.

Know before you go

  • Currents can get rough; divers duck into the inlet on the site to shelter when they pick up.
  • The reef lies at 20-30 m (65-100 ft), deeper than most south-shore sites, so depth and air need watching.

Dive videos

SCUBA DIVING GENERAL STORE KAUAI HAWAII - 30 DECEMBER 2025 - w/ FATHOMFIVE.COM - INSTA360 x5 · Go Outside Craig on YouTube

Sources

  1. Dive Sites - Fathom Five Divers (Kauai) — Fathom Five Divers

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