Calling all divers.......BI/Maui

Looking to dive (for me) and snorkel (for wife) on Maui and the BI. Here is what I am looking for:

Maui.....are there any dive trips to Molokini that you would recommend? We are staying on Ka%26#39;anapali beach at the Sheraton.

Big Island.....Are there any dive trips to Kealakekua Bay that you would recommend? We are staying at Keauhou bay at the Sheraton.

My wife only snorkels, so I would prefer a trip that does both divers and snorkelers.

I look forward to your recommendations.

Mike in Tulsa

Calling all divers.......BI/Maui

on Maui the best diving is the back side of Molikini and the very best is Ed Robinson...Hawaiian Watercolors

On the Big Island go with Dive Makai...... very small and aroung since the 70%26#39;s

Not a lot of diving at kealakekua since it is so fragile and better for snorkelers....... it is a reserve.

HD

Calling all divers.......BI/Maui

I know I must sound like a broken record on this subject, but have you considered doing the Manta Ray night dive/snorkel excursion on the BI? It would be great for both you and your wife, and is quite amazing, really. One of the highlights of our trip for my husband and myself.

We used Jack%26#39;s Diving Locker on the Big Island - my husband and a friend of ours actually finished their Scuba certification with them. We really liked the crew.

As for Maui - personally, after much hype we found Molokini to be very disappointing. We snorkeled there on our honeymoon back in 1996, but this past July was our first return trip (we%26#39;ve done a lot of ';shore'; snorkeling on subsequent Maui trips). Anyways, we went diving at Molokini this year and were disappointed in the low number %26amp; variety of fish we saw. - And several people on this forum had warned us of such.

However, we were strongly urged to try the waters off of Lanai. This was the highlight of our trip! We went diving, but there are snorkel trips that take you there as well (and perhaps some combined scuba/snorkel boats). The variety %26amp; number of fish were SO much better than Molokini, and the underwater topography was very cool. We loved Cathedrals I and Fish Rock, and we can%26#39;t wait to return to explore other sites as well. Dolphins are common on the ride to/from Lanai - very cool!

Oh - we used Mike Severns for Molokini and found their pre-dive briefing to be the best of any dive boat operator we%26#39;ve dove with. Very knowledgeable, interesting, %26amp; fun crew. We used Extended Horizons for Lanai and they did a great job too. I%26#39;d use them again.

I said the Back Side of Molikini not the crater which is over run with visitors.....

The back side is not a snorkel site and for very experienced divers..... your entry is in 400 feet. descent to 90 to 100 feet and drift with a slow ascent to the end of the world section on the crater.... looking down 300 feet ant up 100 ft as you drift is wau too cool like floating in space.

Again Ed Robinson....Hawaiian Watercolor.....He has writtien books on diving.....world class photographer.....small groups

this is the finest.

HD

After further discussion with better half, she decided that she would rather take the time when I am diving to relax on beach or at pool.

So, with that in mind, and taking the suggestions I have received in the forum, I think I will skip Molikini in favor of Lanai with Lahaina Divers while on Maui. While on the BI, I will opt for the two tank dive with Jacks Dive Locker.

Once again, the TA members have given great input to help base a decision on.

Thank you.

Mike in Tulsa

I made a trip to the Big Island during the Christmas-New Year week of 2005. I wanted to experience scuba diving and after checking out this forum and scouting for other scuba diving outfitters, I settled for Jack’s Diving Locker.

I did the introductory pool dive followed by the shore dive. My experience was unforgettable. The check-in process was very professional. I was hooked up with my instructor, Jim Humme. Jim walked me through the basics of diving, dos and don’ts and the possible risks. At first, those risks sounded scary and I wondered what I had signed up for. After about 15 minutes of verbal introduction, we got into the pool with the Scuba gear. I was introduced to underwater techniques for breathing, eardrum equalization, hand signs for under water communication etc etc. Jim was patient and put me at ease when I initially struggled breathing from the apparatus. He was encouraging and infused enough confidence that I soon found my self under 12 feet of water in their pool playing with some toys. I gradually gained confidence. The pool introduction lasted 45 minutes to an hour. All this while, Jim was diving along with me.

We hit the shore soon thereafter. We walked down the beach into the water. Once the water was waist high, we put on our flippers and dived…to about 35-40 feet. The experience was unforgettable. I guess this is the closest you get to being an astronaut! It is a whole new world out there.

Jim kept a close watch on me and repeated checked with me how I was doing. I had tough time maintaining my buoyancy…but it was a learning experience.

If you want to try scuba diving, I would certainly recommend Jack’s Diving Locker. Their pool+shore dive is a good starting point. If you have more time on hand, you could also try their boat dive (which I didn’t due to time constraints) They are a neat shop and rent good equipment. Happy diving!!

We went with Jack%26#39;s Diving Locker out of Kona on a night dive/snorkel trip to see manta rays last year and it was amazing! Divers and snorkelers alike should not miss this incredible opportunity--Jack%26#39;s did a fantastic job for us, and one of the guides (Kellar Laros) is the founder of the Manta Ray Research Foundation. He is a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide, and his ';insider'; info. on some of the mantas we saw made the whole trip that much more interesting. Even though we%26#39;re both only snorkeling (at this point, anyway)the divers who went on the trip with us all seemed satisfied with Jack%26#39;s, and we all had a great time!