MakingBubbles
Registered
First, let me apologize for the length of this post but it is necessary so you understand my situation. Hopefully your replies will help others in similar situations. I am bringing my family to the Hawaiian Islands the latter half of November thru early December. We are going to be island hopping between the following islands:
5 days - Oahu (Waikiki)
2.5 days - Kauai (Poipu)
3 days - Hawaii (Kona)
3 days - Maui (Between Kaanapali Beach and Kapalua Bay)
I've done a lot of research on various websites such as ShoreDiving.com and most of the dive shop's websites, and other sites I found on Google. Unfortunately, I'm kind of like a kid in a candy store with too many options. Since I've only dove a single boat dive in Oahu and snorkelled Hanauma Bay, I'd like to get some guidance from others who dive these islands often. First, I would like to know which islands I should do shore dives and which islands I should go for the boat. Second, I'd like to know which shore dive locations are the best based on my criteria below and considering the time of year. Finally, are there any boat dive locations that stand out above the others.
Experience Levels:
My wife and daughter are both OW certified divers, though I would consider them beginners (about 10 dives). Both are excellent swimmers, have pretty good bouyancy control, and are comfortable diving. I have significantly more diving experience and would consider myself an intermediate diver with very good diving skills and buoyancy control based on feedback from other experienced divers and instructors (though I am definitely humbled in the presence of such experienced divers on this board.) Nonetheless, I would like to stick to dive sites that are about 40FSW or less.
Budget:
Weather permitting, we would like to dive at least 2 tanks on each Island. We have some money to spend on diving (somewhere between $600-800), but this is not enough for all of us to do boat dives on each island (assuming 2-tank dives are at least $100/person). We want to be thrifty with our money and choose our boat dives wisely to get the best overall diving experience. Specifically, we want to do boat dives under the following circumstances:
1. It is a very unique dive opportunity such as:
- Manta Night Dive
- Sites that consistently have an amazing array of fish, eels, turtles and frequently have other large creatures like whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, etc.
2. If there are no good places with easy access to shore dive on the island (I'll explain this later).
Physical Limitations:
My wife has a bad back and my daughter would struggle to carry a full tank very far. This usually means that I carry the tanks and heavier gear for them to the dive site and they put it on in the water. Therefore I am looking for shore dives with an easy entry and a place to drop off the gear near the entry point before I go park the car. Carrying 6 tanks plus the rest of my gear over 50 yards is not my idea of fun (though I might consider it if the dive is spectacular and worth it).
With all of that said, here are my initial thoughts based on my research. Please comment and let me know if I am warm or way off base. Also let me know if you have other recommendations.
1. Oahu
- Considering snorkeling at Hanauma Bay instead of Scuba. I really enjoyed the sealife here on my last trip to Oahu. Scuba seems to a bit difficult with the long walk with gear/tanks. Also not sure about depth beyond reef or strong currents. Guided shore dive at Hanauma Bay seemed very expensive. Assuming I could carry the gear to the tram, is this a good site for beginners to attempt beyond the reef?
- Thinking about shore dive at Magic Island or a boat dive. Staying away from North, East, and West sides of Island due to surf. Not sure if I should use boat dive on this island or Maui.
2. Kauai
- Considering only shore diving at Koloa Landing.
3. Kona
- Definitely looking to do a boat dive here (Sunset and Night Manta Dive) unless I hear recommendations from many of you otherwise.
- Also considering shore dives at Place of Refuge.
4. Maui
- I get the impression that Maui may have better overall shore diving and boat reef diving for beginners than the other islands. Is this true?
- Considering shore dives at Honolua Bay, Kapalua Bay, or Makuleia. Is surf too high during December?
- Considering shore dives at Ulua Beach, Wailea Beach, Makena Landing, or Ahihi Cove.
- I've heard both good and bad about the Molokini boat dives. Are there better boat dives on Maui that are suitable for beginners? Should I used the boat dive on Oahu and opt for shore diving on Maui?
Mahalo!
5 days - Oahu (Waikiki)
2.5 days - Kauai (Poipu)
3 days - Hawaii (Kona)
3 days - Maui (Between Kaanapali Beach and Kapalua Bay)
I've done a lot of research on various websites such as ShoreDiving.com and most of the dive shop's websites, and other sites I found on Google. Unfortunately, I'm kind of like a kid in a candy store with too many options. Since I've only dove a single boat dive in Oahu and snorkelled Hanauma Bay, I'd like to get some guidance from others who dive these islands often. First, I would like to know which islands I should do shore dives and which islands I should go for the boat. Second, I'd like to know which shore dive locations are the best based on my criteria below and considering the time of year. Finally, are there any boat dive locations that stand out above the others.
Experience Levels:
My wife and daughter are both OW certified divers, though I would consider them beginners (about 10 dives). Both are excellent swimmers, have pretty good bouyancy control, and are comfortable diving. I have significantly more diving experience and would consider myself an intermediate diver with very good diving skills and buoyancy control based on feedback from other experienced divers and instructors (though I am definitely humbled in the presence of such experienced divers on this board.) Nonetheless, I would like to stick to dive sites that are about 40FSW or less.
Budget:
Weather permitting, we would like to dive at least 2 tanks on each Island. We have some money to spend on diving (somewhere between $600-800), but this is not enough for all of us to do boat dives on each island (assuming 2-tank dives are at least $100/person). We want to be thrifty with our money and choose our boat dives wisely to get the best overall diving experience. Specifically, we want to do boat dives under the following circumstances:
1. It is a very unique dive opportunity such as:
- Manta Night Dive
- Sites that consistently have an amazing array of fish, eels, turtles and frequently have other large creatures like whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, etc.
2. If there are no good places with easy access to shore dive on the island (I'll explain this later).
Physical Limitations:
My wife has a bad back and my daughter would struggle to carry a full tank very far. This usually means that I carry the tanks and heavier gear for them to the dive site and they put it on in the water. Therefore I am looking for shore dives with an easy entry and a place to drop off the gear near the entry point before I go park the car. Carrying 6 tanks plus the rest of my gear over 50 yards is not my idea of fun (though I might consider it if the dive is spectacular and worth it).
With all of that said, here are my initial thoughts based on my research. Please comment and let me know if I am warm or way off base. Also let me know if you have other recommendations.
1. Oahu
- Considering snorkeling at Hanauma Bay instead of Scuba. I really enjoyed the sealife here on my last trip to Oahu. Scuba seems to a bit difficult with the long walk with gear/tanks. Also not sure about depth beyond reef or strong currents. Guided shore dive at Hanauma Bay seemed very expensive. Assuming I could carry the gear to the tram, is this a good site for beginners to attempt beyond the reef?
- Thinking about shore dive at Magic Island or a boat dive. Staying away from North, East, and West sides of Island due to surf. Not sure if I should use boat dive on this island or Maui.
2. Kauai
- Considering only shore diving at Koloa Landing.
3. Kona
- Definitely looking to do a boat dive here (Sunset and Night Manta Dive) unless I hear recommendations from many of you otherwise.
- Also considering shore dives at Place of Refuge.
4. Maui
- I get the impression that Maui may have better overall shore diving and boat reef diving for beginners than the other islands. Is this true?
- Considering shore dives at Honolua Bay, Kapalua Bay, or Makuleia. Is surf too high during December?
- Considering shore dives at Ulua Beach, Wailea Beach, Makena Landing, or Ahihi Cove.
- I've heard both good and bad about the Molokini boat dives. Are there better boat dives on Maui that are suitable for beginners? Should I used the boat dive on Oahu and opt for shore diving on Maui?
Mahalo!
