Diving around Maui

[Bob the Diver]

Hey everybody,

Long time creeper, first time poster here. I'm going to be on Maui staying in Kaanapali for about 10 days come December and I'm looking for recommendations on dive charters. I was out with a shop that I won't name when I was there in May and was not at all pleased with them. Between the sites they took us to, and the general feel of the boat and crew it was not enough to make me go back to them.

So here I am looking for recommendations for who's the best dive company in Maui. A couple things, I'm not really interested in big charters if I can avoid them and being able to take the girlfriend out to snorkel on one of the trips would be a bonus.

 

[PeterNBiddle]

I've never dived Maui, but I have snorkeled it and there are some lovely spots. If you do t know those I'm happy to share.


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[Bob the Diver]

I'd love to hear some of them! Since we're going to be there without kids this time around we'll actually be able to go tour the island. Might as well spend a day or two touring around with snorkel gear too!

 

[DiveMaven]

Our preferred operator is Ed Robinson's because they have advanced charters including a 3-tank charter on Tuesdays. On Tuesdays there are only up to 10 divers on the boat, divided into 2 groups for diving, other days there are up to 12 divers divided into 2 groups. They do allow snorkelers, but keep in mind that good dive sites aren't usually good snorkel sites. Dive times are limited by NDL or each diver's air, with typically a max time of 60ish minutes, though we've done 70 minute dives with them.

Sadly there are are more and more operators that limit dive times, or even worse, both limit dive times AND take you to an easy entry shore diving site like 5 Graves or Makena Landing.

Unfortunately they depart from the Kihei boat ramp, which is a good 45 minute drive in the morning from Kaanapali. We did the drive for 3 years and found it was worth every minute (now we're in Kihei).

when are you going in Dec.? We'll be on island for Christmas and New Years.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I went one time with Lahaina Divers one day back in January: Scuba Dive Lanai, Molokini, Molokai, and Maui | Lahaina Divers. The only thing I didn't like is that they went to Mala Wharf after going to the Carthaginian. Mala Wharf is a nice dive site, but its a shore dive.

I did most of my diving with Ed Robinson's out of Kihei. The only negative was one of their DM's digging in the sea floor and pulling an octopus out of a hole.

For something bit different, try a scooter dive with Maui Scooter Divers: Maui Scooter Divers - Maui's Scooter Diving Specialists - Come scuba Diving with us!. I did that once, and Greg is a great guy. Warning, if you head towards a school of fish, don't be surprised if they part and you find yourself heading straight into a reef. That was a close call!

For snorkeling, I think you'll enjoy Molokini Crater.

There is some great night diving. Try to squeeze that in. I can check my log book for the name of sites, and I can connect you to people on FB. PM me if you like.

 

[fisheater]

Up there, I've gone with Extended Horizons.

Really like them and their operation.

 

[diversteve]

Without the 45min. drive south at 5AM to get to the Kihei ramp by 6AM your boat-based options in Lahaina are still only (afaik):

Scuba Dive Lanai, Molokini, Molokai, and Maui | Lahaina Divers
Maui Scuba Diving 808 667 0611 Scuba Dive Lanai Extended Horizons - Maui's Leading Green Dive Shop - Lahaina, Hawaii
Scuba Lanai - Lanai Dive Trips, Lahaina Dive Shop, Scuba Lessons | Hawaiian Rafting Adventures
Maui Scuba Diving | Scuba Diving Tours | Maui Pacific Divers

For snorkeling near Kaanapali there's Black Rock. Kaanapali Beach - Black Rock Snorkeling
Or Kapalua Bay farther north. http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/kapalua_bay.html

It's also a drive (slightly shorter than Kihei) but check with Maui Diamond II in Ma'alea also.

Non-certified divers are also invited on-board to snorkel or even try scuba diving!

http://www.mauidiamond.com/

Snorkel Bob's also has a map: http://snorkelbob.com/snorkel-locations/maui-snorkel-sites/

I could pass on snorkeling Olawalu - although I have dove there. It's not always the clearest and snorkelers look like turtles. Tigers love Turtles...

 

[Bob the Diver]

Thanks for the info everyone! I'm good with a drive down to Kihei, it isn't that far considering I drive 30 minutes to get to our dive sites here at home. I'm not a "once a year" diver and something like an advanced charter sounds to be exactly what I'm looking for. As much as I want to keep the GF happy with a snorkle trip, we can find some other spots for that.

Someone local mentioned they had gone with Scuba Shack, anyone have any experience with them?

when are you going in Dec.? We'll be on island for Christmas and New Years.

We're there from the 6th to the 17th

---------- Post added July 27th, 2015 at 03:50 PM ----------

Without the 45min. drive south at 5AM to get to the Kihei ramp by 6AM your boat-based options in Lahaina are still only (afaik):

Scuba Dive Lanai, Molokini, Molokai, and Maui | Lahaina Divers
Maui Scuba Diving 808 667 0611 Scuba Dive Lanai Extended Horizons - Maui's Leading Green Dive Shop - Lahaina, Hawaii
Scuba Lanai - Lanai Dive Trips, Lahaina Dive Shop, Scuba Lessons | Hawaiian Rafting Adventures
Maui Scuba Diving | Scuba Diving Tours | Maui Pacific Divers

For snorkeling near Kaanapali there's Black Rock. Kaanapali Beach - Black Rock Snorkeling
Or Kapalua Bay farther north. http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/kapalua_bay.html

It's also a drive (slightly shorter than Kihei) but check with Maui Diamond II in Ma'alea also. http://www.mauidiamond.com/

Snorkel Bob's also has a map: http://snorkelbob.com/snorkel-locations/maui-snorkel-sites/

I could pass on snorkeling Olawalu - although I have dove there. It's not always the clearest and snorkelers look like turtles. Tigers love Turtles...

Thanks for all think links and info Steve

 

[diversteve]

3 days a week Robinson's does special "Adventure" dives from Kihei:
Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures offers Maui SCUBA Diving tours and SCUBA Certification courses led by the top professionals on Maui.

 

[TSandM]

If you don't mind the drive to Kihei, I recommend Mike Severns. Pauline, who runs the boat, is the co-author of one of the guides to Hawaiian marine life, and the guides focus on endemic species, especially unusual ones. The boat tends to attract a little more advanced group of divers, but it also books up very fast.

BTW, I did the Carthaginian and the Mala Pier as a night dive with Lahaina Divers. I've done the pier from shore during the day, and it's one of my very, very favorite Maui dives, but I would not do it from shore at night, because the legal entry would be a nightmare of tripping over coral heads in the dark.