Recommendations for Maui & Kauai

[SafetyStopBait]

Hey all,

Wife and I are travelling in June and looking to go out for a few dives on each island. She just got certified open water padi. So we're looking for an outfit good with beginners. We're not sure where were staying on each island yet.

Any recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[SoBay Jim]

I love Steve and Diana at Scuba Luv Maui - Maui Scuba Diving, Dive Certification on Maui, Maui Diving Instruction and Tim at Scuba Dive Maui Ka'anapali Lahaina Hawaii Snorkel | 808.870.0878 | Tiny Bubbles Scuba Diving Specializing in Private Scuba Dives.Snorkel Tours. and Scuba Diving Instruction on Maui | Let's Get Tanked is great too. I've stayed a number of times in Kihei at the Maui Banyan Resort: www.vrbo.com/190382 and these people also own a place at Wailea Elua Village: www.vrbo.com/203468 .

 

[fisheater]

Maui recommendations would, by necessity, be highly dependent upon which part of the island you'll be staying at.

Kauai diving is mainly on the south side, near Poipu. There, you have your choice of shore diving at Koloa Landing and boat diving. All of the dive ops are good. I prefer Fathom Five.

When your wife has more experience, she can also try Ni'ihau (the "Forbidden Island" accessible by a long boat ride from the Poipu area) and Tunnels Beach on the north end of the island.

 

[SafetyStopBait]

On Maui, we're leaning towards West Maui, probably lahaina or the town just north of there (I'd butcher the spelling if I tried to type it). South shore (makena?) is our other option.

Thanks!

 

[DiveMaven]

For boat diving on Maui for beginners:

If you're staying in West Maui, the Lahaina/Kaanapali/Napili area, I'd recommend Lahaina Divers.

For South Maui, Kihei, Wailea, Makena, I'd recommend Dive and Sea, Maui Diamond, Maui Dive Shop, or B&B. I'd strongly recommend Ed Robinson's if you stay on their regular 2-tank charters (Monday, Thursday, or Saturday), the other days would be too advanced.

For shore diving, I'm a big fan of Maui Dreams in Kihei. I don't know west Maui shore ops.

 

[Shaka Doug]

Hey all,

Wife and I are travelling in June and looking to go out for a few dives on each island. She just got certified open water padi. So we're looking for an outfit good with beginners. We're not sure where were staying on each island yet.

Any recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

Hey Aloha Mike,

Depending on what your needs are you might consider a condo instead of a hotel. Here's a link to two awesome condos in Kihei that I remodeled over the last two years. One was in 20012, the other in 2013. They are really comfy and luxurious without the high dollar price (under $150 a night) and close to both great shore and boat diving.

[video=youtube;yG_ehhZI8XA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_ehhZI8XA[/video]

and

[video=youtube;-K1hFasri-k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K1hFasri-k[/video]

Have a look and see if these will work for you. You can tell Tracy that I sent you!

Aloha,

Shaka Doug

 

[TSandM]

I second the recommendation for B&B for beginners in the Kihei area . . . but don't discount the shore diving on Maui. If the swell isn't up, you can do a lot of very nice shore diving, with shallow depths and easy navigation, and lots of critters. Our trip before last, we saw mantas, dolphins and sharks, all in less than 30 feet of water! And Shaka Doug, who has posted above, has a good reputation for introducing people to Maui shore diving. B&B can help you out with tanks and weights, too.

 

[SafetyStopBait]

Thanks!

 

[kumimonster]

I just got back from Maui and all of the dives done out of Kihei were with Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures (thanks to the great references from this board!).

One dive during my visit was made out of Lahaina with Extended Horizons (which a couple people from ERDA recommended). It definitely wasn't a super charged advanced day of diving but instead a nice and easy - and enjoyable! - couple of Lanai dives. (Sgt Major & Cathedral). The crew were great and one of the DMs (Victoria) brought down a board to write notes on the life we encountered instead of just pointing and making a hand sign). It was a really nice change and ended up being a lot more of a naturist "walk".
Oh, and if you're into being green, they've got info on their website about the use of solar panels, bio-diesel, and all that jazz!

---
did not get to attempt any shore diving! grrr.
each time i thought about it my laziness took over!
next time!

 

[SafetyStopBait]

Kumi

Thanks for the review. That is really helpful.

Mike