Going to Maui (also Oahu and Hawaii) 3/3/6

[k8brandt]

Just thought of more....

Don’t skip the Maui Ocean Center. It’s one of the best aquariums I have seen (other than the ocean). They might still be giving a coupon for 10% off in the restaurant. Use it, excellent food and the best whale watching spot we found. The shopping center there is also great. Island Soap and Candle Works sells Surfer’s Salve, pick up some. You will use it all the time. It's good for rashes & burns, as well as hands.

Someplace else to take your GF is The Alli Kula Lavender Farm (www.aliikulalavender.com). This would be an after Haleakala trip as it is near there. The Lavender Gardner’s Lotion is as good as the Surfer’s Salve, but geared toward overworked gardener's hands. Also check out the Lavender Love Potion. Go under the arbor and see the biggest jade tree I have ever seen.

 

[DiveMaven]

I'll have to respectfully disagree that Lahaina Divers is a cattleboat operation. Perhaps my definition of cattleboats is different than others, but my experience with cattleboats is far different than what I've experienced when I've dived with Lahaina Divers.

Cattleboat: One that takes large numbers of divers. Gives very little personal attention. Only concern seems to get you back on the boat as quickly as possible. Has no regard for grouping divers based on skill/experience. Doesn't modify dive times based on air consumption. Offers no service beyond the basics. Can't wait to get back to the dock to get the next group.

The only part of "cattleboat" that Lahaina Divers has is the large boat part IMO. And frankly, I've only ever experienced a full boat with them on one morning charter to Molokini Crater. They are always full for afternoon charters since that's when they do Discover Scuba, so we avoid the afternoon groups whenever possible.

Yes, the boats are big, but for those of us with motion sick issues, they are wonderfully stable and fast. There is also oodles of room for everyone and we've never felt crowded on the rides to and from the sites. Personally, I prefer them to Extended Horizons for Lanai trips since both run the same dive profiles and I like the bigger boat for comfort (plus their charter prices are cheaper).

We'll be doing 2 Lanai trips with them in April and 2 3-tank Adventure Dives with Ed Robinsons...can't wait!

 

[mistressmotorsports]

Well, I'm a new diver, but I just got back yesterday from a week in Maui. Did a shore dive right off the hotel (actually the Westin time share in Kaanapali) a little north of Black Rock and saw an octopus, turtles, eels, etc. Then I tried (unsucsessfully) to get all the sand out of my gear before going on a few boat dives.

Went with Mike Severns out of Kihei. Warren was our guide. We dove the 85's (old Hawaiin fishing site halfway to Molokini) and also dove inside Molokini to around the edge of reef's end. I didn't much care for the 85's, although we did see a white tip, and some cool cleaner shrimp. Also, vis was incredible there, maybe 150 feet or more. Molokini is always great, and an easy dive at about 65 feet max unless you do the back wall. Molokini is really popular, though, so there can be diver or boat traffic jams. I really liked Mike Severns, as they were extrememly knowledgable about the fish and area, were good at grouping us by experience, and did all our equipment loading unloading and setup for us right from the trunks of our cars. My only complaint was they ran out of bottled water. They did have other drinks, but I'm a water junki now. If you book with them, be specific about where you want to go. On our dive, we had called and made reservations for the back wall, but when we got to the boat, everyone else there had just done that, so that's what drove the decision to do the 85's. After that dive, I requested Molokini, so they went there for the second dive. If you don't want to be flexible, maybe another company is better suited to your needs.

Also did Lanai Cathedrals and Seargent Major with Extended Horizons. Marin (sp?) was our guide there. She has a great knowledge of fish and is one of the most bubbly (no pun intended) and enthusiastic people I have ever met. She spent less time coddling us newbies and more time with the fish, which was fine with me, but maybe other newbies would like for a guide to stay really close. She also brought a slate to explain what all the fish, etc, were while we were looking at them instead of answering questions at the surface later. You should have heard the squeal she let out when the spinner dolphins came over to check us out. Cathedrals 2 was really cool, and I would call it a must dive for any Maui trip. Easy to enter semi-caves with plenty of natural light coming in. Entrances not too tight for even a beginner with modest boyancy skills like myself. Only banged my tank lightly once, because I was taking pictures and not paying attention to the ceiling of the cave. Seargent Major is a beautiful reef dive named after the fish that are very common in that area. Bagels and cream cheese for breakfast, and the rinsed all our gear before we got back.

Sorry for the long combination trip report/ company recommendation, but I would recommend Extended Horizons as well as Mike Severns for Maui diving, although as I said above, the dive site was not predetermined with Mike Severns. Shore dives can be really fun as well, and if you are renting equipment, you don't even have to worry about the sand.

Mike

 

[kidspot]

Now how did I miss this thread

Hey Newbiegoingtomaui - If possible, please do join us for the bbq Charlie99 mentioned - If possible I'd be glad to do a shore dive or two with you while you're on island, just drop me a PM.

Aloha, Tim

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Yes, the boats are big, but for those of us with motion sick issues, they are wonderfully stable and fast.

If you are prone to motion sickness I can't imagine doing the trip to Molokini from Lahaina. Just do the little 5 mile trip from south kihei over and back. Also getting back before 10am like you are with B&B makes a lot more sense since the wind isn't usually up until later.

 

[ZULU6]

Before you go to Maui be sure to get and read through "Maui Revealved". My girlfriend and I went to Maui last year in March and just got back from Kauai last week. The "Revealed" books are the best. By the end of the trip our copy was tattered. The book is unbelievable in its detail. The folks that put it out go and experience everything. If you have a question about a dive shop, restaurant, or tour service chances are they checked them out and provide a review. The authors are not tied to any of the attractions so the reviews are honest, sometimes brutally. There are also maps and detail on how to get to things like waterfalls that belong only on movie sets. It’s a mistake to not get this book.

On my trip this month I also spent a day on Oahu. Try to get there early and see Pearl Harbor. A real must see for any American. After that leave the south end of the island as fast as you can and get to the north shore. The south is just a big city while the north has amazing beaches and great sights. When I was there the surf was not huge and a swim in Waimea Bay was awesome.

Anyway, have fun in Maui. It was amazing for me. Just be prepared to want to never leave.

 

[DiveMaven]

If you are prone to motion sickness I can't imagine doing the trip to Molokini from Lahaina. Just do the little 5 mile trip from south kihei over and back. Also getting back before 10am like you are with B&B makes a lot more sense since the wind isn't usually up until later.

You're right Al, the trip to Molokini from Lahaina can be less than flat, and going out of Kihei is MUCH better. I was speaking more in generalities that the boats are more stable. They are extremely comfortable during the crossing to Lanai and there's lots of room to sit and enjoy the boat ride.

 

[lishen]

I must also disagree with k8brandt's thoughts on Lahaina Divers being a cattleboat operation. I had a great time diving with them in October 2005 and would go back to them in the blink of an eye. Typical diver to instructor/dm ration was 5-6:1.

Read my review of Lahaina Divers here

 

[NewbieGoingtoMaui]

Thank you all for your tips and information. Its been very helpful. We moved the Haleakala biking to the first full day (Sat) and we would love to meet some people on Sat night at Old Airport if that is still on. We booked with B&B for Sunday to out to Molikini (I'll dive, She'll snorkle). Monday Road to Hana, Tue off to Oahu, Wed/Thur Big Island, Fri/Sat back to Maui. So far, so good and we can fill in the rest after we get on island. Thanks again and look forward to meeting some of y'all.

 

[kidspot]

Here's the info for the bbq - Saturday Morning - http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=130955

Have fun on Maui