Maui dive shop advice

[waitn2dive]

I have been reading through all the strings and there is some great info here. I'd greatly appreciate any recommendations out there on dive shops in Maui.

I will have 9 days in Maui at the beginning of April 2011 and would like to get in as much quality diving as possible. Here's what I am working with.

I am a novice diver, 14 dives including my open water cert here in Seattle and the rest in Placencia Belize. I will need to rent or have the equipment included for the dives. Like everyone I would prefer a smaller groups for the dives.
I was thinking 1-2 boat dives, a night dive and 3 or 4 days of shore dives and if possible. I am also considering going for my Advanced open water while I am there.

Thanks!

 

[dwaters]

Welcome to the 'board!!!

Drop on down to their local forum and get alot of great advise (and opinions) here:
Hawai'i 'Ohana - ScubaBoard

For shore dives and instruction, I totally enjoyed Welcome to SHAKA DIVERS Web Site! . Alot of good OPs in Maui...... staying on the west or south side???
Enjoy

 

[waitn2dive]

Still looking to book a place but more than likely south side.

 

[terrylowe]

I had a very good experience with Lahaina Divers over Christmas

Scuba Dive Lanai, Molokini, Molokai, and Maui

 

[EnvironmentalDiver]

I dove Maui in October '09. I did my Open Water class with my local dive shop and check out dives with Shaka Divers(mentioned in an earlier post). The experience was good and bad. My advice (to be taken with a grain of salt) is if you want to go shore diving use Shaka. You can see some great little reefs on the cheap. The rental gear is well used. But for instruction/training try some of the bigger shops maybe Maui Dive Shop.

 

[waitn2dive]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone! Has anyone gone out with Scuba Gods? Looks like they only take out small groups and have solid gear.

For shore dives I am down with Shaka for sure! Bummer about the equipment being a bit dated...

 

[EnvironmentalDiver]

Doug is the owner of Shaka Divers, and is really a nice guy. He works out of his house and with the cost of living on Maui, I do understand how it would be hard to keep current equipment. But if you know that going in you'll at least be prepared. Ask him to dive "White Rock Beach" My very first Open Water dive, instead of doing skills we chased huge manta rays all around the reef! It was killer, and I was hooked! (If you really want a wild time on shore go to Little Beach for the Drum Circle on Sunday evenings, check it out on YouTube) Good luck, and safe diving

 

[terrylowe]

Molokini is a great dive.
I loved the "Cathedrals" at Lanai. These are old volcano tubes that are stunning.
The old pier on Maui is OK, but don't let anyone take you there more than once...which happened to us.

 

[Dive Bug Bit Me]

Hey my first post, so this is a little experimental.

I was in Maui last month and logged 11 dives with the dive shop at the four seasons resort. They are little more expensive, but you get great service. All Kit is included (BCD, Reg, Mask, Wet Suit, Tourch for a night dive, etc) All round I really rated the experience. The bay at the four seasons is one of the better dive sites and you have boats that travel to the reef just off the beach.

The dives are all shore entry, but they will let you use their underwater scooters for certain dives (costs a bit more, but well worth it). This was my first DPV experience and was great fun. Also recommend the St Anthony Wreck (canoe out to wreck for about 30 mins, then dive). Its a small wreck, but lots of fish with two resident frog fish. I also did the night dive (very good) and the caverns (just up the road, but I forget the location). You will see white tip shark in the caverns.

They dive small groups. (Instructor + between 1 and 4 people). The Instructor will take a camera and provide you with photos that they display on television in the shop after the dive (for an extra $50 you can buy these).

Unfortunately you will need to dive with someone else to see the Cathedrals. So consider using two different dive charters.

 

[Bogart000]

"Cathedrals" at Lanai, Second that. I'm still kicking my self for not having my camera set up. Not to miss if you are a photographer.