Diving in Maui, Hawaii

[maranda1389]

So my fiance and I are planning on taking a vacation to Maui next summer and I was hoping to get some input about the diving there. My fiance and I are very much beginners, with about 15 dives a piece. We have only done cold water and shore diving. Is there any shore diving in Maui or is it all by boat? How is diving off a boat? We never really went to in depth about boat diving in my OW class, I am assuming because Oregon and Washington are supposedly some of the best places for shore diving? I don't know. I'm still only comfortable at 30' max, do boats always take you to deepish dives? Or can you do shallow dives off boats too? Any boat diving tips/pointers would be appreciated as well as dive tips and info regaurding Maui. Thanks!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: Black Rock (Sheraton) of Maui, Hawaiian Islands

 

[Bappelt]

Where are you going to be staying? That will influence some of the recommendations.

Shore diving in Maui is pretty good. Shaka Doug (here on SB) down in Kihei and Tim Rollo (tiny bubbles scuba on the web) in West Maui are two operators that offer guided shore dives.

 

[maranda1389]

We most likely will be staying in Kihei. That's where we stayed last July and we LOVED it there! We would be willing to drive a bit too though, if it meant good diving for our experience.

 

[diversteve]

Wailea Beach is a good shore dive 5mins. away. Easy beach entry and pretty interesting out by the point.
Another option in that area is Maui Dreams Dive Co - they do escorted shore dives.

The link mentioned above also has descriptions and entry pictures for a lot of the shore sites:
Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Maui, Hawaiian Islands

You should really get on a boat to Molokini also. It's easy, shallow diving inside the crater and about the best off Maui. Years ago I did two dives there and never broke 50'. There's a lot of fish, a lot of coral and sometimes whitetips resting in the shallows.
Try B&B Scuba, they tailor their trips to the skill level of the divers onboard. http://www.bbscuba.com/

 

[maranda1389]

Wailea Beach is a good shore dive 5mins. away. Easy beach entry and pretty interesting out by the point.
Another option in that area is Maui Dreams Dive Co - they do escorted shore dives.

The link mentioned above also has descriptions and entry pictures for a lot of the shore sites:
Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Maui, Hawaiian Islands

You should really get on a boat to Molokini also. It's easy, shallow diving inside the crater and about the best off Maui. Years ago I did two dives there and never broke 50'. There's a lot of fish, a lot of coral and sometimes whitetips resting in the shallows.
Try B&B Scuba, they tailor their trips to the skill level of the divers onboard. Maui Scuba Diving - Molokini Dive Charters, Guided Shore Diving, Scuba Gear Rentals

Thank you! This site was so helpful. Gave me plenty of sites to consider and I liked seeing all the reviews for the sites. Thanks again!

 

[TSandM]

The shore diving in Maui is generally just as good as the diving off the boats, except that, if the surf is up, the shallow water visibility will be poor.

You can see turtles, reef fish, and even black-tipped reef sharks on the shallow inshore reefs.

A lot of days, and especially in the morning, the surf is minimal and the entries and exits at many sites are easy (I know this, because I haven't gotten knocked down getting in and out on Maui, whereas I have been rolled on about half my tries in California )

Home Page has quite a bit of information about shore diving sites, and the Shore Diving Maui book (available at some of the dive shops) has even more. If you're a little uncertain about just wading in on your own, ScubaBoard's Shaka Doug does guided shore dives, and most people who dive with him seem quite pleased.

If you do decide to try a boat trip, I concur with the recommendation for B&B Scuba for novice divers. They're very nice people (they're also where we rent our tanks and weights).

You will find diving in warm, clear water is far less stressful than diving in cold, green murk -- although there is far more life in our PNW waters, believe it or not.

 

[stakanak]

I must say that if you can dive in Oregon you will have no problem in the warm, high vis, beautiful waters of Hawaii. I did it the opposite way(certified in Kona/came home to dive in Cali)and struggled a bit with the heavy rubber and cold water. Your stoked!
Get Wet!

 

[Blackwood]

Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: Black Rock (Sheraton) of Maui, Hawaiian Islands

I second this recommendation, though I tend to snorkel that spot.

 

[k ellis]

I had a less then desirable experience with one of the local dive shops there but I found Maui Dive Shop which turned out to be pretty good this go round. Ive used them 2 times and the second time was quiet impressive. We went to Lanai and dove the cathedrals which was an awesome dive in itself.

If you want to shore dive there Polo beach was an interesting dive for beginners too with an easy entry. The only drawl back was the long hike past the resorts.