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The simplest answer is look at a map.
Kahului is on the east coast of Maui. All the diving we've described previously is on the west coast. So are all the dive operators except one. And I think they only do shore diving at a couple of sites north of Kahului. Even the cruise divers that dock in Kahului get shuttled over to West Maui. Do you really want to drive over every day to dive? About 45mins. IIRC. Unless you want to get up pretty early, that limits access to the Kihei boats as most leave between 6-6:30AM to Molokini. They're smaller boats to launch from the ramp so the tradewinds beat them up pretty good coming back. Most afternoon boat dives off Maui are near Maui. Many of those are single dives - also expect those to be the Discover Dives/Cert dives so likely not the best of Maui.
The Kona Courtyard - evidently the King Kamehemeha although I did not know that until now - is in downtown Kona. It's an older hotel but I think it's pretty nice - they took a hit from a storm/tsunami? a few years ago so a lot of it was rebuilt. There's a shore dive right there at the pier. Jack's Diving Locker is a couple? blocks south for gear rental - they'll meet you at the pier for escorted dives. Five minutes drive north is the harbor described above where all the boats leave from. 10-15 mins. south is the largest cluster of shore dives on Kona. Plus there's all the restaurants, nightlife etc. in Kona within walking distance.
I'd go to Kona, not even a close choice. Even just shore diving is more accessible: http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/index.htm
As far as diving, both are equally good. There's virtually nothing you can see off Maui/Molokini also not seen of Kona - except things related to the crater itself such as the Backwall dive. Which is actually featureless just vertical. There is a Manta cleaning station off West Maui, shore accessible with a long swim if you know where to get in - some boat operators do it also. I know someone who saw three being cleaned there once.
Of course the Kona Manta Dive is famous - my buddy counted 20 there one night. He said it's a rush as they swim right at your light then veer off in the last second straight in front of you - brace yourself - the surge just about knocks you over - and they're 15-20' across.
A few days later off South Kona, my buddy was surrounded by spinner dolphins for part of their dive - several hundred of them are visible in the video. In mid-July but I don't think it's seasonal.
You can also do the Black Water dive (Pelagic Magic) there with Jack's or KDC (or others) http://www.jacksdivinglocker.com/charters2/PelagicMagic.htm There's nothing like that off Maui afaik.
The Hammerheads off Molokai - while impressive - don't always show up. It's blue water so not much to see if they don't. It's also $200 to find out. And a pretty rough ride - I think only Lahaina Divers tries it now. The Cathedrals off Lanai are the other "signature" dive but they're pretty featureless too - just impressive inside. There's diveable lava tubes off Kona also afaik.
Turtles are a given off either island, they live on the Carpathia off Maui - but you can also snorkel with them at Kahuluu Beach Park on Kona. Reef sharks are pretty common off either island. About the only reason I can think of to pick Maui is that the shore dive entries there are generally easier. And there's more of them.
Don't get me wrong, I really like Maui diving. I just never realized how good Kona diving is also until recently.
Plus on your non-diving day go see the Volcano erupt. Can't do that on Maui...
Kahului is on the east coast of Maui. All the diving we've described previously is on the west coast. So are all the dive operators except one. And I think they only do shore diving at a couple of sites north of Kahului. Even the cruise divers that dock in Kahului get shuttled over to West Maui. Do you really want to drive over every day to dive? About 45mins. IIRC. Unless you want to get up pretty early, that limits access to the Kihei boats as most leave between 6-6:30AM to Molokini. They're smaller boats to launch from the ramp so the tradewinds beat them up pretty good coming back. Most afternoon boat dives off Maui are near Maui. Many of those are single dives - also expect those to be the Discover Dives/Cert dives so likely not the best of Maui.
The Kona Courtyard - evidently the King Kamehemeha although I did not know that until now - is in downtown Kona. It's an older hotel but I think it's pretty nice - they took a hit from a storm/tsunami? a few years ago so a lot of it was rebuilt. There's a shore dive right there at the pier. Jack's Diving Locker is a couple? blocks south for gear rental - they'll meet you at the pier for escorted dives. Five minutes drive north is the harbor described above where all the boats leave from. 10-15 mins. south is the largest cluster of shore dives on Kona. Plus there's all the restaurants, nightlife etc. in Kona within walking distance.
I'd go to Kona, not even a close choice. Even just shore diving is more accessible: http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/index.htm
As far as diving, both are equally good. There's virtually nothing you can see off Maui/Molokini also not seen of Kona - except things related to the crater itself such as the Backwall dive. Which is actually featureless just vertical. There is a Manta cleaning station off West Maui, shore accessible with a long swim if you know where to get in - some boat operators do it also. I know someone who saw three being cleaned there once.
Of course the Kona Manta Dive is famous - my buddy counted 20 there one night. He said it's a rush as they swim right at your light then veer off in the last second straight in front of you - brace yourself - the surge just about knocks you over - and they're 15-20' across.
A few days later off South Kona, my buddy was surrounded by spinner dolphins for part of their dive - several hundred of them are visible in the video. In mid-July but I don't think it's seasonal.
You can also do the Black Water dive (Pelagic Magic) there with Jack's or KDC (or others) http://www.jacksdivinglocker.com/charters2/PelagicMagic.htm There's nothing like that off Maui afaik.
The Hammerheads off Molokai - while impressive - don't always show up. It's blue water so not much to see if they don't. It's also $200 to find out. And a pretty rough ride - I think only Lahaina Divers tries it now. The Cathedrals off Lanai are the other "signature" dive but they're pretty featureless too - just impressive inside. There's diveable lava tubes off Kona also afaik.
Turtles are a given off either island, they live on the Carpathia off Maui - but you can also snorkel with them at Kahuluu Beach Park on Kona. Reef sharks are pretty common off either island. About the only reason I can think of to pick Maui is that the shore dive entries there are generally easier. And there's more of them.
Don't get me wrong, I really like Maui diving. I just never realized how good Kona diving is also until recently.
Plus on your non-diving day go see the Volcano erupt. Can't do that on Maui...
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