Maui dive shops

[Al Mialkovsky]

I dove Hawaiian Rafting a couple of times. Nice people, had fun but honestly that's a younger guys boat . I think I like a tiny bit more comfortable these days. I know they put us on a dive with some snorkelers so it wasn't exactly a great trip and I have no idea if they still do that.

 

[dbittner]

I have about a month left in Maui and will try to take a ride on a couple W. Maui dive ops, as well as the Kihei based Makena Coast Divers 6 pack. I also plan on making the trek over to Maalea to take a trip on Maui Diamond II now that it is being run by the same people that run Maui Dreams Dive Shop.

It's a rough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

Thank you for taking on this job. I wish that I could take some of these onerous duties off your shoulders , but I can only do one 10-day trip to Maui this year.

Peace,
Dave

 

[TudorMatt]

Maui Diving is a good outfit IMHO. I did my cert through them and Mike was a great instructor. Have had some really great shore dives in Lahaina at various spots. I live in Maui if your lookin for a buddy to dive with while on vacation! Hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[hdtravlr1]

Scubashack was recommended to me by a local instructor here in Tulsa. He uses them when he dives Maui.

I have searched and found a few comments about their equipment and not to pee in their wet suits mainly from KrisB. Maybe there was one other positive comment from someone else. Not much other information.

Any other comments about Scuba Shack pro or con?

 

[Oside Jimc]

Any other comments about Scuba Shack pro or con?

When I was there in October one of my friends couldn't get on Mike Severns with me so he went with ScubaShack, he was very disappointed, crowded boat, rushed dives, not so friendly staff. Maui Dreams, Mike Severns, and KrisB are my prefered sources for Maui diving.

 

[Ryan96]

Just did a trip with B&B on Tuesday and one with Mike Severns yesterday. Both were great operators but I appreciated the relaxed, extremely humble vibe of the crew of Mike Severens a bit more. Also, their knowledge of endemic creatures and the quality of their dive briefings were amazing. If you really want to maximize seeing unique marine life here, the Mike Severens crew's (Warren & Michelle on our dive) knowledge of the species' behaviors and places to find unique marine life was awesome.

The B&B crew was almost too efficient in getting you out and in the water. They leave earlier than any operators our of Kihei, which is good if you need to be back early for a non-diving spouse but at least at this time of year it hurts the quality of the first dive because you're in the water just after day break which means less light in the water. With Mike Severns we a more relaxed boat briefing and intro to the crew just after leaving the boat ramp, did a little impromptu whale watching on the way Molokini and then had a really dive briefing on the dive site (Mid Reef), all of which translated into being in the water 45 minutes later. We also managed to pull a 75 minute dive vs the 45min we got with B&B on Molokini so the overall effect on the sunlight was marked. Mike Severns stated commitment to leaving you in the water as long as air allows was uncompromising.

So I'd go with either operator again, but if it were B&B I'd make sure to push them to do a more detailed site briefing. However the upside of B&B was that their gear was nicer and newer (had too much luggage to bring my own) and they like Mike Severns' crew also had excellent knowledge of underwater photography to make the most out of the photos.

 

[hdtravlr1]

Oside Jimc

Thanks for the tips!

When I was there in October one of my friends couldn't get on Mike Severns with me so he went with ScubaShack, he was very disappointed, crowded boat, rushed dives, not so friendly staff. Maui Dreams, Mike Severns, and KrisB are my prefered sources for Maui diving.

 

[maildiver]

Is this Maui Diving and snorkel shop in Lahaina, you are talking about? I've contacted Bia before about boat dives.

 

[KrisB]

Is this Maui Diving and snorkel shop in Lahaina, you are talking about? I've contacted Bia before about boat dives.

You're thinking of Maui Diving Scuba Center. Very different from the other operators with "Maui" in their name.

Maui Dive Shop -- large corporation with 8 (I think) stores and a half-dozen boats.

Maui Dreams Dive Co. -- PADI 5-Star IDC specializing in shore diving, shop is in Kihei

Maui Diving Scuba Center -- small, hole-in-the-wall operator in Lahaina in Anchor Plaza. Did my OW cert there a few years back. Appears to be more activity agent than actual dive shop. They'll book you on a boat and pocket the 20-50% commission.

 

[116fire]

Any first hand reports from Northshore Explorers, and are any of the other ops RB friendly???