The Robinson family has privately owned the island since 1864. The island is operated as a cattle ranch. The island is closed to the public, so there is no recreational visitor industry. Private boats, commercial fishermen and dive charters occasionally visit the reefs, but visitors are not allowed to come ashore. Most of the commercial operators confine diving and snorkeling trips to the northern tip of the island.
Vertical walls plunge to great depths, with clear water and abundant fish life.
Pelagic fish such as tuna can be observed swimming close to the vertical walls. Pinnacles, caves and other features provide interesting places to explore. Black coral is abundant and occurs as shallow as 90-feet off the north end of Niihau. Some excellent diving locations exist at the SE tip of the island, but strong currents can occur in this area. Only three commercial dive boats are of sufficient size to cross the Kaulakahi channel and take dive tours to Niihau, but only during ideal weather and wave conditions.