murdrcycle
Contributor
My wife and I and another couple are considering a trip to Hawaii in February, splitting our time between Maui and Honolulu. I searched the board and found a lot of information. Unfortunately the sheer volume of information was staggering and much of it outdated. If possible, I would like to gain some insight to a few specific questions.
First, some background. I am the most experienced diver in the group with 11 logged dives (about 15 dives prior to certification). The other couple is getting their certification now and will be doing their checkouts during the vacation. All of us have or will have PADI OW. I am the oldest at 37 years of age and we are all in fairly good physical condition.
I have dove in some less-than-perfect conditions, including some relatively cold water (58 degrees F), and low vis (5 ft or less at some points) while diving at local quarries. My wife did her checkouts at a local quarry as well where the conditions were similar. My wife and I have both dove in some fairly serious surge and current conditions while in Mexico, with some bad chop (I was certified, my wife was not). One one dive, the divemaster, an Englishman who has dove all over the world, commented that it was some of the worst he has seen. It was so bad it knocked my tank off of my bc and it had to be reattached twice. I went shore diving once while in Florida at the Destin Jetties. Conditions were OK, but it did start to silt up a bit at the end. I was with a local that I met on this board whose expertise was well worth the money I paid to refill his tanks. None of us have been on a deep dive (the deepest I have been is about 70 ft prior to certification while in St. Thomas in 1992).
We are looking for some shore diving sites that are very easy. I would like some sites where the tides allow for big windows of opportunity, with little current or surge. I am especially interested in sites that are close together that may afford the opportunity to hit two on the same day.
The other couple will need someone to administer their checkout dives. I would like to know which shops (or independent instructors) are good for this.
We are also looking for lodging. We would like a place on the beach with a kitchen so we can cook our own meals.
Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
First, some background. I am the most experienced diver in the group with 11 logged dives (about 15 dives prior to certification). The other couple is getting their certification now and will be doing their checkouts during the vacation. All of us have or will have PADI OW. I am the oldest at 37 years of age and we are all in fairly good physical condition.
I have dove in some less-than-perfect conditions, including some relatively cold water (58 degrees F), and low vis (5 ft or less at some points) while diving at local quarries. My wife did her checkouts at a local quarry as well where the conditions were similar. My wife and I have both dove in some fairly serious surge and current conditions while in Mexico, with some bad chop (I was certified, my wife was not). One one dive, the divemaster, an Englishman who has dove all over the world, commented that it was some of the worst he has seen. It was so bad it knocked my tank off of my bc and it had to be reattached twice. I went shore diving once while in Florida at the Destin Jetties. Conditions were OK, but it did start to silt up a bit at the end. I was with a local that I met on this board whose expertise was well worth the money I paid to refill his tanks. None of us have been on a deep dive (the deepest I have been is about 70 ft prior to certification while in St. Thomas in 1992).
We are looking for some shore diving sites that are very easy. I would like some sites where the tides allow for big windows of opportunity, with little current or surge. I am especially interested in sites that are close together that may afford the opportunity to hit two on the same day.
The other couple will need someone to administer their checkout dives. I would like to know which shops (or independent instructors) are good for this.
We are also looking for lodging. We would like a place on the beach with a kitchen so we can cook our own meals.
Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.
