Maui Dive Review

[DiverDebbie]

So, for my first dive in Maui I met up with Kidspot (Tim) and another local guy, Jim, for a Sunday afternoon shore dive. We went to old airport beach and it was a nice easy little dive... good parking, easy access, not a lot of depth, but lots to see... including turtles (I'm a huge turtle fan, so this was awesome). Early the next morning I met up with them again and we dove Mala Ramp. We didn't spot the resident shark, but it was an interesting dive with lots to see all around the concrete pilings. Then Tim and I met with AquaGuy, who was also in on vacation, and did a dive at coral gardens. It was a bit of a surface swim, but well worth it, and we managed to get to 70 feet with great viz. It sure was nice to have Tim show me the sites. If any of you get a chance to dive with him... absolutely do! He's great to go diving with... thanks so much Tim
Then my boyfriend came in and off we went with the shore diving book I bought, along with the Maui dive guide from Maui Dive shop. We didn't have as much luck. Sure, we managed to find the sites ok, but the North end, although stunning, had way to much surf to be safe to enter. When they say dive in summer, they mean it! Even when we drove to the south end all the way down to La Peruse bay there was quite a lot of swell (but once again stunning... and very different terrain). The weather didn't cooperate with us much for shore diving... Let's just say the surfers had better days then we did... so shore dive days became beach days (life is rough in Maui)
However, we did a 3 tank dive at Molokini and it was absolutely incredible. We ended up going with Maui Dive shop and I can't say enough great things about our crew - Joe (capt.), Vince (DM) and Ty (our DM), who pointed out lots of cool stuff for us. They were all super friendly and helpful. The service was great, the lunch good.. and more important, only six in our group. These guys made up for the disorganization and confusion we experienced at some of the MDS locations. We got our 10 fill card through them. It is convenient that they have so many locations, but they all seem to do things a bit differently. Some of the staff were absolutely hopeless, but there were a few who were outstandingly helpful and friendly.
Back to Molokini.... There was a bit of current at the start of our backwall dive, but that didn't last then it was such a nice easy, relaxing dive. The viz. was just amazing and there was lots to see including 2 white tip reef sharks (Kevin's first shark siting). The next 2 dives we did in the crater and we couldn't have asked for better conditions. It was clear and sunny and the water was calm. Viz. was amazing... and it wasn't even busy with boats. I liked that our bottom time wasn't limited to that of any air hogs. Buddy teams went up as neccessary, so we had nice long dives... even cut the last one short due to getting a bit chilly.
2 days later we went out again with Maui Dive shop to Lanai. It was a bigger boat, but I personally liked that for a longer trip. It was nice and comfy and we made good time... and even spotted whales along the way, then tons of spinner dolphins came along around our boat. It was incredible! We dove Cathedral II first, with our Aussie DM Trent (and his sense of humour... don't believe him when he says you have to take your gear off to get throught the openings hahaha. Again we had perfect conditions. The sunlight streamed in from above and it was just breathtaking (figuratively speaking... haha) After another good lunch, we were going to do a site called Sargent Major, but then lucked out and did Cathedral I instead... where we once again had dolphins around the boat so everyone geared up quickly and jumped in. They didn't stick around long, so then we made our way to the cathedral for another amazing dive... until we heard the dolphins again. We followed our DM Trent off in the direction he thought they were, but no more luck diving with dolphins. They did however come back after the dive and we must have had at least 50 around our boat, and when we left a bunch came and bow rode with us. I got some great pictures. At times they were almost close enough to touch.
Would I recommend Molokini and Lanai for diving?.... absolutely... don't miss them if you go to Maui.
Now I get to go back to COLD water and lousy viz... and no sharks, turtles, rays, whales or dolphins <sigh> ...for now....

 

[Wildcard]

Aloha and Im so glad you enjoyed your visit. Sadly it sounds like you missed out on the shark dive at MOC. Im sure you would have brought that up if you had done it. But you did get Molokini and three tanks at that! One of the, no it was the best dive I have ever done. The crater is OK but the back wall!!!! WOW!!! In the six months I lived there I never did the back wall as it's a drift dive and I was in my boat. So glad I paid to go back and do it. I will do it every time I get a chance as will I the MOC shark tank. Hammerheads are next in the tank.
Please come back and see the other islands, Kona side of the big isle is a must!
Aloha

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for posting such a great dive report! Makes me anxious to go back to Maui.....but alas, I have to wait until April.

Great to hear that you had such a great experience with MDS. I've heard far too often that diving with them can be hit or miss, but considering you had 2 great experiences, perhaps they are becoming more hit than miss.

We looked at their 3-tank trip to Molokini but nixed it because it seemed like they went back to the pier to pick up more divers between the backwall part and the inner-crater dives. Is this what you did, or did you stay at the crater the whole time? Also, you said you had long dives inside the crater as people were sent up when they ran out of air. Do you mind sharing your profiles?

 

[Charlie99]

Also, you said you had long dives inside the crater as people were sent up when they ran out of air. Do you mind sharing your profiles?

This was the procedure MDS DMs Trent and Andrew also used on my latest dive with them, last January. Both dives were inside the crater, from a mooring in about 50' in the garden eel sand channel. 1st dive was Reef's End out-and-back, 2nd was Taco Flats and Center Reef. On on both dives we started with DM + 6, and went back past the mooring and dropped off 4 divers at around 35 minute runtime. 76', 61 minutes, AL 80 3400-1000psi; and 50', 59 minute, AL80 3400-1400psi. Both dives were called on time, but that wasn't a problems since I'm usually ready to go up at around the hour point of the dive.

For most divers the highlight of the dive were the 3 or 4 whitetip sharks that came in close proximity. For me, the highlight of the dive was a blue goatfish hunting in conjunction with a whitemouth eel. A jack then joined them to make a hunting party of three. 6:30AM check-in at Maalaea MDS, 7AM depart, 12:30PM return. Approx 50' boat takes up to 24px, but only had 12 certified divers, plus an instructor with a student.

My general observation of MDS (and Lahaina Divers) is that the DMs have much less experience than the DMs at other dive ops, but have a good attitude and try hard to see that each customer has a good time. Many of the customers are relatively new divers, and this puts constraints on what sort of dives and dive sites can be done.

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks Charlie, perhaps we need to try MDS for their 3-dive trip to Molokini. We're planning to do the backwall on our April trip, and rather like the idea of diving the inside of the crater on the same charter.

 

[Charlie99]

Thanks Charlie, perhaps we need to try MDS for their 3-dive trip to Molokini. We're planning to do the backwall on our April trip, and rather like the idea of diving the inside of the crater on the same charter.

I only went with MDS that day because Mike Severns, Ed Robinson, B&B, ProDiver, Dive&Sea Maui, and Scuba Shack were all fully booked.

Here's some earlier comments I've posted about the many different Maui dive operators. Mike Severns, Ed Robinson, and B&B are considered by most divers to be the top 3 in Kihei (that sequence is my ranking, but all 3 are great). Extended Horizons is my preferred Lahaina-based operator.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I've done the 3 tank dive with MDS and wasn't impressed, maybe I would have had I not gone with other outfits.

We got back late, very very late. After the backwall we had to go back to the dock to let off the one tank divers and pick up two tank divers. I usually am back done with two dives well before 10am and we didn't make it back after the first dive until 10am so we got back mid afternoon.

I won't do that dive again.

 

[DiverDebbie]

Wildcard... no, we didn't do the shark dive at the ocean centre. I told Kevin about your amazing dives there, but we got busy... you know how it goes... not enough time for everything! Mind you, if we hadn't seen the sharks along the back wall Kevin would've been very tempted

As for choosing MDS over the others, let me tell you, making a choice after all the good things I've heard about so many operators in Maui wasn't easy. I admit much of it was based on convenience for us. We were staying near Lahaina, and were already dealing with MDS for tanks for shore diving. We almost went with Lahaina divers, especially after hearing of the amazing discount for instructors and AI's, but their schedule wasn't fitting ours as well as MDS's was, and we really wanted to do a 3 tank that combined the back wall and crater in one day... which is exactly what we got. Plus for the Lanai trip we did not one but both cathedrals, which was absolutely perfect.
Yes, we did go back to drop off 6 divers after the back wall dive, and in replacement picked up 6 more. It does make for a longer day, but we didn't mind. We both like the whole experience. Being out on a boat all day in Maui isn't hard to take for us. We don't get seasick and enjoyed snoozing on the bow all the way back from Lanai. I liked that they took the time on the Lanai trip for us to stop and photograph the dolphins. It was a bonus. But if time is an issue, then I agree they wouldn't be your best bet.
Yes, there were some less experienced divers along for dives 2 and 3 at Molokini, and at Lanai, but that didn't limit our dives. I guess I'm used to them from working with students... hehe. Even the "remora" guy who didn't get it after I kicked his mask couldn't spoil my dive... I just scooted off... see ya later bye. Yes, I totally agree that MDS has some very inexperienced staff... working in their shops, anyway. We found it night and day dealing with them based on where we were and who we talked to. Cannery mall... yikes! I actually stood there one time waiting while 2 staff discussed where to place the display rack... umm excuse me... hello???? ...but Jim who works mainly at the Kahana store... absolutely great... bent over backwards to help us. But then... sorry to say, but bad service... as in being totally ignored... wasn't completely uncommon around Lahaina in general and we walked straight out of more than one shop after feeling invisible.
Anyway.... DiveMe... I don't have my computer handy for exact profiles at Molokini, but we had an 80 ft. max on dive 1, got to 70-something on dive 2 and I believe 50 ft. on dive 3. All were around an hour on AL80s with about 3400 psi. I've heard from a few people about the 120-130 ft. dives on the backwall with other operators, so if one is keen on depth then MDS won't be the operator for them. I'm personally not a depth "junkie". Everyone around my neck of the woods seems to have the motto "the deeper the better", and to each his own, but I am personally content to have longer shallower dives. Mind you, I find in cold water with a drysuit you "feel" the depth a lot more though... and it just gets darker and colder... brrr... I shiver just thinking about getting into my drysuit again and having head freeze and numb fingers. (Are you getting that I'm not really into cold water? hehehe) ...already thinking about where to go next that's nice and warm and clear

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for all the information Debbie. I'm not a depth junkie either so that isn't a consideration for us. We're in Maui for only 6 days in April, and will dive 4, so we're looking to maximize our dives, and a 3-tank dive with 1 to the backwall is very appealing. You've given us something to ponder.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Getting 3 dives in spread out over all day long doesn't sound like maximizing to me