Lava Tubes

[busraider1]

I will be in Hawaii "Oahu" in May '06, and am looking for dive operations, both on Oahu, and "The Big Island". I'm looking for a reasonably priced dive operations, that offer lava tube dives. I am advanced cert/nitrox/rescue diver, so experience isn't a worry. Any locals know of shore dives, or quality dive operators. Thanks in advance.

 

[cuddlefish]

I don't have any information on Oahu, but I know all about the Big Island. All of the dive operators in Kona visit lava tubes. You don't have to be particularly experienced for most of the tubes. All you really need is good buoyance control and the desire to check them out. (An exception would be Three Room Cave...but it's WAY south and not visited terribly often...though a great dive!) Most dive operators are up for accommodating lava tube requests if the sea conditions permit. Sites near Kona such as Suck 'Em Up/Skull Cave are visited frequently and are protected from the winter swell. Sites such as Long Lava Tube, Driftwood, Henry's and The Dome are in the Red Hill area and are not great in a big winter swell, but wonderful if seas are calm. There are lots of arches as well such as Golden Arches and Kaloko Arches. (Please keep in mind that different dive ops may call these sites by different names.)

There are lots of good dive operators in Kona. A little research in this forum should give you a ton of information. I always recommend "Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed" to everyone coming to visit. Get the latest edition (4th).

 

[ch0ppersrule]

lava tube diving on O'ahu? Can't say I have ever went diving in any lava tubes. Anywhere along China Wall or Makaha Caverns is my favorite. Makaha has lots of swim throughs were there are plenty of little critters hiding and China Wall you might get to see the Hawaiian Monk Seal and probably get to see some sharks (white tip reef) along with lots of frogfish.

 

[busraider1]

Thanks for the information... I've been searching on-line, and realized my mistake. I should have stated I was looking for a dive operation, that brings divers to an open lava fissure. UW photos of actual open fissures while flowing lava. While the lava tubes are nice, and sound fun, I'm looking for more of a adventurous dive, hence mentioning my dive experience, and such. I've seen travel shows or national geographic shows where divers were filming flowing lava as it hits the surface underwater. This is what i'm looking to do. Not sure if any dive operators run these type of charters, but figured i'd ask. Keep the information coming. Thanks everyone.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

It would be a really long boat ride to do lava viewing from Oahu, like a couple of days each way. Don't have that available on Oahu.

 

[rosi]

can you post any photos?

 

[justleesa]

Yeah, no active volcanos on Oahu - Sorry

Makaha Caverns is also known as the lava tubes...short swim thrus where you can see light at the other end when you enter....a fun dive and lots of turtles.

I know Wildcard wanted to do something like that a while back - not sure if he found something or not. You might want to do a search here on the board....but what I can say is that there was a special on TV about it and it is a VERY dangerous thing to do....underwater haze makes the vis poor and then the heat of the water. Looked beautiful, but for me too much bang for my buck...Good luck, hope you find something!

 

[cuddlefish]

My husband has been to where the lava hits the ocean twice on his own boat (YES, he's either lost his mind...or I'm not as good a wife as I thought...or just wants to end things in a dramatic manner). He has yet to see actual flowing lava underwater. Anyway, there was one company that started to run divers there but I don't think it worked out. It is usually an extremely rough ride to the area. About 40 rivets (bolts, whatever they are)...actually came out of the boat on that trip...popped right out it was so rough. Then, you never know when and where the lava will be flowing. (If you are here for a year, you might get one or two days that it's a last minute possibility.) Then you have to deal with landslides. About a month ago, 35 acres plunged off into the sea right where you would have been diving. Not a good way to go. Film crews go there once every five years or so...that's about it.

 

[busraider1]

http://www.scubadiving.com/training/specialty_and_advanced/the_edge/1/



In this month's current Adventure MAgazine by National Geographic, Feb. 2006 page 80

Shows a pic of a dive near a lava fissure. That LOOKS LIKE FUN.....!!!!

 

[busraider1]

found some old forums with links, but apparently nobody does it anymore due to logistics, and liability.

Here is some pics....