New Diver getting fins wet in Oahu - then coming straight for KONA!

[Barrod]

I'll be landing in Honolulu and staying 2 nights in the Hilton Village up in that rainbow tower on Waikiki to chill on jetlag like i've never felt before - (flying non-stop from Dulles Washington D.C.)

I hope to do a quick dive on 5/13 in Oahu - I need to make it a good first dive!

Starting on 5/14 I'll be just south of Kona for 7 days - I'm trying to log some serious time diving - Then I go up to the northern Kohala coast for another 4 days at the Fairmont Orchid.

I've researched the dive ops and need to decide between KHD and Jacks I think.... KHD says no blackwater dive for me - but I want to do it if I'm comfortable - any reason a new diver can't after like 5-10 dives?

Just want to introduce myself to anyone going to be diving around that time - I'd love to meet some new people!

Barrod

 

[ASA400]

Barrod, you should be very careful about doing a dive on 5/13 and then hopping on a plane and being on another island on 5/14. Make sure you have at the very least 12 hours between the end of your dive and the beginning of your flight. 24 hours would be much better. Usually, I build in a non-dive day where ever I'm diving in order to out-gas before taking a flight.

 

[big island diver]

Big Island Divers also does blackwater.

 

[Barrod]

I think I'm flying at 4pm on 5/14 ---- I should be finished my first dive by 2pm on the 13th. I know I'd hate to have my face explode on the airplane!!

 

[ASA400]

Sounds like you're good to go! Have a great trip!

 

[scottitheduck]

Barrod......

I'm with the Big Island guys. I think that doing a blackwater dive poses some additional challenges that are outside of normal recreational diving. Here's our FAQ page for our Dark Side Dive here on Oahu:

FAQ | Dark Side OahuDark Side Oahu

Stoked you will be diving in Hawaii!

G

 

[Barrod]

My checkout dives are going to be at Lake Millbrook in Haymarket, VA. the last week in April - I read that a bunch of zebra mussels were found back in 2009 and eradicated. Since then it's gotten very murky - I'll probably be used to it by the end of that long weekend!

 

[diveanytime]

If you get spooked easily, then it's not for you. If you are going anyway, hope you see lots of big animals.

 

[Jack'sDivingLocker]

Barrod,

For the blackwater dive (Pelagic Magic) with us, we ask that you have done a night dive before, have done at least 10 dives, and have been diving within the last 12 months. We generally take up to 6 divers so it stays very manageable. It's a really cool experience. We actually are looking at small stuff....though many people assume we are looking for big things. Of course every now and then a big thing finds us! But it's really the small stuff for the most part. Enjoy your diving!

Mahalo, Angela

 

[Barrod]

Hi Angela

Just for curiosity - I see no problem having the time to log 10 dives - I hope to do more than that by the time I leave Kona. The two barriers to the possibility of a blackwater dive for me (been diving in the last 12 months and having completed a prior night dive). I'm guessing you consider the prior night dive an evening manta dive?

I plan to play it by ear. If the DM's that I work with ask me if I want to jump in on a blackwater dive after they get to know me, and I feel comfortable I'll go for it.

Does Jack's do pickup runs for dives a mile south of Kona?