Maui dive shops

[ibgordo]

Thanks for all the great reports on dive shops. I'll be in Maui for 10 days in early May and plan to dive 3 days. I need a little advise on which dive shop would be the best fit for me. Here are my vitals:

I just got certified last week here in Washington so I will still need some care and feeding on the dives.

I will be staying in Kihei so would perfer to leave from there.

I have my own gear and will only need to rent a wetsuit.

I will be diving alone so will need to be paired up with someone. I've never been on a boat dive, but I assume this is a common thing.

I don't want to be pushed into a dive that is beyond my level.

I'm hoping that B&B or Mike Severns will fit my needs nicely since they come so highly recommended here.

Thanks so much,

Gordon

 

[KrisB]

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

B&B, Hawaiian Rafting Adventures / Dive Maui and Maui Dreams Dive Co. are all rebreather-friendly to varying degrees with different units. I suspect that the Maui Diamond is also somewhat rebreather-friendly, though you may be expected to surface after 90 minutes so the boat can go to a second location... depending on the day's plan.

Thanks for all the great reports on dive shops. I'll be in Maui for 10 days in early May and plan to dive 3 days. I need a little advise on which dive shop would be the best fit for me. Here are my vitals:

I just got certified last week here in Washington so I will still need some care and feeding on the dives.

I will be staying in Kihei so would perfer to leave from there.

I have my own gear and will only need to rent a wetsuit.

I will be diving alone so will need to be paired up with someone. I've never been on a boat dive, but I assume this is a common thing.

I don't want to be pushed into a dive that is beyond my level.

I'm hoping that B&B or Mike Severns will fit my needs nicely since they come so highly recommended here.

I'd be pleased to take you on some shore diving, if that's what you'd like to do. It's a little more cost-effective for you than the boat dives -- $5 per tank and $5 per day for the wetsuit.

As for boat dives, you're going to find some pretty wildly varying opinions around here. Personally, for a beginner, I'd suggest either the Maui Diamond or Makena Coast Charters. Mike Severns is great, though they are geared more towards the intermediate diver -- you'll get more critter spotting from the DM and less personal "care and feeding". B&B reportedly matches different groups within skill levels, but they are known for being interested in the deeper and more technical diving side of things -- depending on the day's group, you might end up being "pushed" a little if you're the least experienced on board.

Most boats will take you diving as a group, then pair you up if you need an early ascent.

Send me a private message if you'd like to get together for some shore diving or other dive training while you're here.

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

KrisB can never give an honest evaluation of B&B since he has never been on their boat. You should give the shops a call and see what you think. B&B has never exceeded anyone's skill level and I have never heard any complaints on their boat from any sort of diver from intro to scuba to deep recreational divers. They have several DM's/Instructors on the boat and will group people according to their skill level. Stan is so attentive with divers it's amazing. Every time I go on the boat or see Stan in the water I am impressed. I was watching him with this 11 year old girl doing a certification at Reef's end... She was really relaxed but he was right there if she needed any help. I can't speak for the other boats but I know you would be in extremely good hands with B&B. Here's the photo of Stan and the 11 year old(notice the dad in the background some distance away):

Whoever you go with, try to do the same boat operator so you can check out different dive sites and dive with the same person on the boat dives.. They can help you improve your skills and show you new critters, etc which you may not get if you d 3 different boat operators...

Have a great time and let us know how it goes!

Sean

 

[KrisB]

KrisB can never give an honest evaluation of B&B since he has never been on their boat. You should give the shops a call and see what you think. B&B has never exceeded anyone's skill level and I have never heard any complaints on their boat from any sort of diver from intro to scuba to deep recreational divers.

Sean,

There's honest and then there's first-hand. They are two different things.

I spoke only of what I know -- that they cater to the tech divers. Now, it's possible they'd bring a DM on for just one less-experienced diver, but I'd find that hard to believe -- it just doesn't make fiscal sense.

I primarily spoke of Mike Severns and that they are more geared towards the intermediate diver -- I suppose I could have made those comments stand out separately, as it seems that they were read as a comment on B&B.

Sean -- I realize that you're friends with B&B, and that's cool. You may, however, want to get out and check out the other ops before claiming my opinion of which dive op suits an individual's needs is not honest... B&B and Lahaina Divers are pretty much the only two I haven't been out with, and their reputations precede them, which is why I haven't bothered.

Whoever you go with, try to do the same boat operator so you can check out different dive sites and dive with the same person on the boat dives.. They can help you improve your skills and show you new critters, etc which you may not get if you d 3 different boat operators...

See, this, again, I'd disagree. If you're diving three days, I'd suggest hitting up Lanai for one of them (using Hawaiian Rafting Adventures or Extended Horizons) and using a South Maui operator (or two) to head to Molokini / South Maui for the other two days. You'll find that, as long as you know the sites you went to (good reason for a logbook!), the second and third operator will try to show you different stuff.

Since you're here in early May, you may not even have to worry about advance booking -- since it'll be low season, the boats may not be all running every day, which you'll also have to keep in mind.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I've checked all the dive ops on Maui and B&B stands out. Kris has always had a thing against them and he doesn't give an honest opinion about them. And Kris you said their reputation precedes them yet less than a year ago you were in their shop trying to work a deal with them. They declined and you've had it in for them ever since. But I agree, their reputation does exceed you and it's a very good one.

I've sent B&B many inexperienced divers and many very experienced divers and they've all loved them. They have enough dive leaders that they can break the boat up however they want.

Kris said

B&B reportedly matches different groups within skill levels, but they are known for being interested in the deeper and more technical diving side of things -- depending on the day's group, you might end up being "pushed" a little if you're the least experienced on board.

I've never seen them push a newer diver

Kris said

I primarily spoke of Mike Severns and that they are more geared towards the intermediate diver -- I suppose I could have made those comments stand out separately, as it seems that they were read as a comment on B&B.

Hard to read that as anything else actually.

Kris said

I spoke only of what I know -- that they cater to the tech divers. Now, it's possible they'd bring a DM on for just one less-experienced diver, but I'd find that hard to believe -- it just doesn't make fiscal sense.

They bring 3 DM's all the time. With a guest list that doesn't exceed 12 they can break off a DM easily withinout hiring someone extra. They can afford to bring that many and still be the lowest price on Maui because they aren't tied into activity brokers. They don't advertise and don't need to. There are time when there are more than 3DM's on a boat. But you wouldn't know any of this because you haven't been out with them, only listened to others, or got shot down by them and have had a tough time with them since.

 

[bobmaggi]

Sean,

There's honest and then there's first-hand. They are two different things.

I spoke only of what I know -- that they cater to the tech divers. QUOTE]

oh my. . here we go again. If you haven't been diving w/ them, then you can't be 'honest' about them, or even 'know' them. They cater to ALL divers. They teach many levels of diving. We only talk about shops and boats we 'know' and have been diving/ have had service w/.

A couple trips ago, ( we come every other year for at least 2 weeks) we really liked Maui Dive Shop. I did many intro dives w/ them. I hadn't gotten certified yet, but was close, and finished up when I got home. The next trip we did most of our dives w/ them. We got to know most of the divemasters and had a grand time. We also dove w/ EH some. Plus, MDS had the best deal on air tanks w/ their tank card.

The next trip ( in 2007) was when Bob had his rebreather, and we dropped MDS fast, when they would have nothing to do w/ us because Bob had a rebreather. Plus, many of our divemaster friends with them were gone by then.

B & B IS rebreather friendly, as are EH, and ERDA. I 'know' this because Bob has a rebreather and has been diving w/ these. Before our 2007 trip we called all the dive shops on Maui and these are the only ones that we found -then( at the time- Maui Dreams didn't have their boat yet). At least one shop won't even let a rebreather on their boats ( MDS) Maui Dreams does O2 fills, as well.

Of course, when diving on a open circuit dive boat, he has to honor the down times of the open circuit divers. But, when its time for me to surface, on many instances Bob and the divemaster have dove til the boat has to return to dock/or go to the next site. First group in the water and last out.

I am not sure if North Shore Explorers were even around yet, or Bob would have been diving w/ them, as well. We own a RIB like what they use on their charters ( only ours is smaller)

Hope this helps. Maggi

 

[Charlie99]

B&B is the boat I RECOMMEND for newer divers!

When my neighbor (certified for 5 years, about 10 lifetime dives) wanted to go diving with his daughter (certified the previous winter, no dives since), B&B is the boat I recommended. They inquired about a refresher course, but were assured by B&B that they would have DM/Instructors onboard to refresh their memory and skills. They had 4 DM/instructors onboard and did a good job of helping relatively inexperienced divers have a great time.

Disclosure: I've been out on B&B several times, although not this year. Any gear I buy on-island I try to get from either B&B or Maui Dreams since they are nice, helpful, knowledgeable people. Although B&B is my recommendation for newer divers, they are #3 on my personal preference list ---- when looking for a spot on a boat I first call Mike Severns, then ERDA, then B&B.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/hawai-i-o-hana/146973-recommendation-maui-scuba.html#post2003813 are my comments from June 2006 on the various operators. (I've done a more recent writeup, but can't find it). Dive and Sea Maui has a new boat. Maui Diamond II is under newer, much better management, ERDA no longer does Lanai trip from Kihei. Not much else has changed in my observations and opinions.

 

[24940]

I did the B&B boat with my wife a few years ago. There were...Brad, Blessi, Stan and another pro in the water. The personal attention my wife received from Blessi made a huge impact on her comfort. She was very new to diving and Blessi made it very easy for her.

 

[ScubaAndDreams]

Now if Brad would just return my e-mail about doing a tech charter on MAUI for me....

 

[ScubaSeanMaui]

Sherman, try Brad@bbscuba.com

Kris, I only comment when I think you are saying untruthful things which I find you do quite often. You know you are spreading lies so I call them dishonest (we all know they are inaccurate considering how removed and biased your sources are). That surfer at the boat launch was a classic post of yours. Talk about slander. You claim to "know" what's going on but it took you almost 5 weeks to get your surfer boat launch post online; really you don't have any inside info. You want to appear to be unbiased, but to all who see your posts time after time we can read you like a billboard. Yes B&B are my friends and that actually stands in their favor; they have really enhanced my diving since I have been over here and I like both Brad and Blesi and consider them my friends. I have been on Maui Dive Shop, Extended Horizons, Mike Severns several times and Ed Robinsons a few times... I think most of them are pretty good operators and I see them all diving the same spots again and again (meaning we're all diving the same spots).

If I am around, I will correct every single post you make about B&B should it be inaccurate. Don't take it personally. I know you can't help but go negative about people you "hate" (even though you don't even know the B&B people.) I would rather you just not mention B&B again. Remember it's not cool to teach diving in the USA if you don't have a work permit or a CORA permit. Maybe you should legal up or head back to Canada?

I don't want a war with you Krisb, I just felt this was long overdue.

Safe diving!

Sean