Hi there! I'm Syndi Chesser. Light recreational diver. Open water-certified about 10 years ago. Boat-dive once or twice a year. Heading to Hawaii first of year via cruise ship. Seeking advice on reputable, patient, accommodating dive operator in Maui -- especially one close to cruise ship pier at Kahului, as we will not have land transportation (other than hiring a taxi, of course). Will have fellow diver husband with me, together with my non-diving senior-citizen parents. Would LOVE to find operator who can get Bill and me in for a 2-tank dive AND allow my parents to snorkel at same time. Really appreciate your suggestions, seasoned divers. Thanks much and happy bubbles!
It's going to be somewhat more difficult than that. Most (all?) of the dive operators are based out of either Kihei (southwest Maui) or Lahaina (west Maui) with several out of Ma'alea harbor. All are on the west coast, you're arriving on the east coast. The closest diving would likely be in Kihei, on the Southwest coast. I don't think there is a dive operator in Kahului.
I'm fairly certain that you'll have to get there by yourselves via cab also. Might be cheaper to rent a car for the day plus you'd be able to sightsee afterwards.
The other bad news is that most of the Kihei dive operators leave between 6-7AM to beat the tradewinds since they have smaller boats - they launch from the Kihei boat ramp - unless you're in Kahului really early that's probably not possible. Some of the operators do a 1 or 2 tank dive close to south/west Maui in the afternoons - many accommodate snorkelers also. Often those are Discover Diving/Cert trips also.
Lahaina Divers in Lahaina may be an option - they have the biggest dive boats. They often run over to Lanai in the mornings. Cathedrals there is a signature Maui dive. They leave from downtown Lahaina. Typically at 7AM. They also have a 9AM departure certain days and do 2 tank 12:30 dives daily near West Maui. They also allow snorkelers on all their dive trips for $79.
http://www.lahainadivers.com/reservations
Another option is one of the big powered snorkel cats. They leave from Ma'alea typically - it's the closest west side harbor across the island from Kahului, they may even have some sort of cruise pax shuttle program - IDK. They moor inside the crater, and do snorkeling, snuba and some offer an extra cost 2 tank dive. They also provide a bbq lunch. Since the cats are 65 feet long, and wide, they're very stable.
Pride of Maui is one - there's a couple more. It looks like the Pride will pick you up at 7AM for $25pp. - a car would be cheaper.
http://www.prideofmaui.com/transportation/ - at the bottom.
I've done the Pride dive some years ago with non-divers. Swim back towards Maui and you may see white-tips resting in the sand. We've also seen frogfish in the staghorn coral nearby. Lots of fish also since the snorkel trips feed them.
Another option might be shore diving, many of the south Maui dive sites are off beaches so your parents could snorkel while you dive.
Wailea Beach is a decent option for this, it's a good dive, nice beach, backs up to a couple resorts (for lunch) There used to be - probably still is - a dive shack to the right on the Grand Wailea grounds. We rented tanks there. Also there's escorted shore dive options nearby -
Maui Dreams Dive Co. or
Shaka Divers. You can also rent tanks from Maui Drems. Options with site pics/descriptions:
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/Maui/index.htm
Does the cruise line have a dive excursion? It might be a good morning dive option since they likely shuttle you across the island also.
hth, some of the other Maui SB regulars may have other/better options.
