First Trip To Hawaii

[MaresMan1]

Hi All,

Making our first trip to Hawaii for vacation. Will be there from Nov 20 to Dec 2nd. We will spend one week on the Big Isl at Kona and one week on Maui. Need to know what the best relaxing dives and operators to use are. We just want to relax and enjoy the Hawaiian experience with easy snorkling and diving. No challenging dives just relaxing dives with some nice scenery. All opinions appreciated.

Thanks for the replies.

MM1
Dive Smart; Dive Safe
Enjoy the ride
:14:

 

[Shaka Doug]

Hey Mares Man..if you want to see some super lazy, yet super fun shore dives on Maui, I know the spots....shoot me a PM or something and I can fill you in...

 

[DiveMaven]

A wonderful, relaxing dive to do is Molokini Crater. No current, no surge, great viz (100 feet plus), lots of fishies, and basically like diving in an aquarium.

Shore diving on Maui is easy and relaxing. That would be the lowest hassle diving since you won't have to be at a dive boat at 6:30am. Definitely do Black Rock in Kaanapali if you're up around that part of the island.

 

[cuddlefish]

...there are a lot of good operators. I would suggest starting with Jack's Diving Locker. They are good about replying to e-mails quickly so you can get the information you need. One problem you may run into is that you will be in Hawaii during a very busy time for dive shops. Jack's was totally booked already during this time period. The only reason they may actually have space for you is that they just got another boat (form their purchase of Kona Coast Divers). I would start calling or e-mailing as soon as you can so you don't miss out. There are good shore sites, but if the swell is up you would have more options from a boat. Good luck and have a great time.

 

[Wildcard]

On the big isle don't miss out on two step and Puako for shore dives and whatever the cost, do the manta dive. On Maui for lazy snorkle/ shallow dives sugar beach is good, the crater is always clear but you MUST do the back wall dive, one of the best dives in the world. Also don't miss out on Maui Ocean Center. Nice to visit better to dive with the sharks! Aloha and enjoy your visit!

 

[MaresMan1]

Hey All,

Thanks for the replies, lots of interesting info.

Shaka Doug, really cool website. I will contact you when I get to the Big Isl and see what we can put together. Love that Bus

DiveMe, thanks for the suggestions. We are looking forward to doing Molokini, just looking at the pics has us drooling.

Cuddlefish, thanks for the heads up on Jack's and the diving season. Didn't know that this was the busy period.

Wildcard, thanks for the suggestions. We would really like to do the Manta dive, but my doctor says that I have to stay away from sharks, being a recovering sharkaholic

Well, we leave tomorrow at 1:20EST and will be there tomorrow night. It was 70deg here last week and it 42deg here now, so we are REALLY looking forward to this trip. Thanks again to one and all.

Dive Smart; Dive Safe
Enjoy the ride
MM1

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Let us know how you enjoyed it

 

[kidspot]

My diving is curtailed a bit at the moment as I'm busy getting ready for a trip myself, but 6 of us are booked on B&B for December 5th to do the backwall if you're up for joining us. - Just give them a call.

Aloha, Tim

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Don't miss the manta dive. Jack's is a fun boat op, one of the larger ones FWIW.

I could spend a week on the Big Island just shore diving Two Step south of town (at Honaunau). If you want to shore dive in the Kealakekua Bay area, go see Tim at South Kona Scuba for tanks (or any other gear). Great guy.

Go see Kona Boys next door one day and rent some kayaks. They'll get em on your car and tell you where to go. Then you go down to Napoopoo as early in the morning as possible (I recommend getting the boats the night before), and you take lunch, your snorkel gear, etc and kayak a mile or so across Kealakekua Bay to the Captain Cook monument and underwater preserve. It's some of the best snorkelling on the island, and you can have a great day of picnicing and snorkelling. We saw some of the most diverse species just snorkelling over there. We even took some tanks one day, though the shallows are far richer in life. The kayak trip is not to be missed, and if you're lucky the dolphins will be jumping all around your boat like they did with us.

Aloha!

Gregg

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

My diving is curtailed a bit at the moment as I'm busy getting ready for a trip myself, but 6 of us are booked on B&B for December 5th to do the backwall if you're up for joining us. - Just give them a call.

Aloha, Tim

Rub it in Tim, rub it in.

Just got back from a week of liveaboard diving in the Bahamas. It was pretty nice but this weekend I was diving local and it was 43 degrees.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr