I’m in Maui on a vacation with diving and in the past, have always dove from the shore with a local guide. This time I wanted to boat dive, so because of time and schedule limitations, went with Yonegan Prodivers. There’s an online waiver to fill out after booking, and a newer state law for Hawaii requires you to fill out the standard student diver medical questionnaire, even though you aren’t in a learning scenario.
Both trips were on their twin hull aluminum boat, the Kilikani II, which according to some other divers I met, was Ed Robinson’s boat before he retired. Check in time is at the Kihei boat launch at 6:15 am. There is no marina in that harbor so all boats are launched by the many operations that use this as a base. Best parking is secured by arriving a bit earlier (it’s free) and getting to the smallish paved lot above the launch area. There’s a dirt overflow lot to the right as well. You check in with the crew while the boat is on the trailer and then wait with everybody going out with any operation at the picnic table to the side of the ramp. It’s a good chance to meet people. If you have your own gear, you can hand it up to the crew in the trailer before going to the waiting area.
You’ll board at the dock after the boat is launched. If the water level of high enough, the side door will be open, otherwise you’ll have to step over the door, which some people found tricky.
The tanks are stored vertically at deck level in the center with seating against the side. Getting set up is not as easy as on the Newton boats I’m more familiar with. Once the BC is set up, a crew members will help lift the setup onto the side bench seat and assist in donning it while you are next to the side door. Entry into the water is giant stride out of side doors and reboarding was using twin stern ladders. There is no tag line or active management, so use your best judgment and talking to other divers to safely get aboard. You step onto the bottom of the ladder with fins on and then doff them and hand them up to the deck before climbing onboard. Surface intervals are about an hour, and water and a light snack is provided.
Day 1 was advertised as inside Molokini and another site at captains discretion. The inside Molokini trips are a mix of divers and snorkelers, with a guide for each party. We did two dives, one at the inside west tip of Molokini (Reef’s End), and one at the inside east tip of Molokini (E’nenue, I think). Both were moored dives, entry off the side of the boat, swim to bow mooring line, then descending as a group. I was solo and actively partnered up with another solo diver. Visibility was excellent, water temperatures in high 70s at depth, both dives were in the 60-70 foot range, saw a couple of grey reef sharks, trevally, barracuda, lots of smaller fish. Current was fairly mild. Both dives 45 minutes with 50 minute surface interval. It’s a nice easy dive site and most divers will be newer.
On dive 1, my low pressure house to my primary developed a leak in the middle, so on dive 2 the crew lent me a regulator set (Atomics) and a BC (Oceanic jacket). My BC had AIR2, so not compatible with their reg set. Shout out to the crew for helping me out. They recommended Maui Scuba Dreams as a shop that could get me a new hose, even though that shop is affiliated with Island Style Divers, a competing boat operation out of the same harbor. Maui Dreams replaced my hose, no muss, no fuss, so I could dive the next day.
Both trips were on their twin hull aluminum boat, the Kilikani II, which according to some other divers I met, was Ed Robinson’s boat before he retired. Check in time is at the Kihei boat launch at 6:15 am. There is no marina in that harbor so all boats are launched by the many operations that use this as a base. Best parking is secured by arriving a bit earlier (it’s free) and getting to the smallish paved lot above the launch area. There’s a dirt overflow lot to the right as well. You check in with the crew while the boat is on the trailer and then wait with everybody going out with any operation at the picnic table to the side of the ramp. It’s a good chance to meet people. If you have your own gear, you can hand it up to the crew in the trailer before going to the waiting area.
You’ll board at the dock after the boat is launched. If the water level of high enough, the side door will be open, otherwise you’ll have to step over the door, which some people found tricky.
The tanks are stored vertically at deck level in the center with seating against the side. Getting set up is not as easy as on the Newton boats I’m more familiar with. Once the BC is set up, a crew members will help lift the setup onto the side bench seat and assist in donning it while you are next to the side door. Entry into the water is giant stride out of side doors and reboarding was using twin stern ladders. There is no tag line or active management, so use your best judgment and talking to other divers to safely get aboard. You step onto the bottom of the ladder with fins on and then doff them and hand them up to the deck before climbing onboard. Surface intervals are about an hour, and water and a light snack is provided.
Day 1 was advertised as inside Molokini and another site at captains discretion. The inside Molokini trips are a mix of divers and snorkelers, with a guide for each party. We did two dives, one at the inside west tip of Molokini (Reef’s End), and one at the inside east tip of Molokini (E’nenue, I think). Both were moored dives, entry off the side of the boat, swim to bow mooring line, then descending as a group. I was solo and actively partnered up with another solo diver. Visibility was excellent, water temperatures in high 70s at depth, both dives were in the 60-70 foot range, saw a couple of grey reef sharks, trevally, barracuda, lots of smaller fish. Current was fairly mild. Both dives 45 minutes with 50 minute surface interval. It’s a nice easy dive site and most divers will be newer.
On dive 1, my low pressure house to my primary developed a leak in the middle, so on dive 2 the crew lent me a regulator set (Atomics) and a BC (Oceanic jacket). My BC had AIR2, so not compatible with their reg set. Shout out to the crew for helping me out. They recommended Maui Scuba Dreams as a shop that could get me a new hose, even though that shop is affiliated with Island Style Divers, a competing boat operation out of the same harbor. Maui Dreams replaced my hose, no muss, no fuss, so I could dive the next day.
