Oahu in Nov. - Military discounts?

[AlaskaDiver]

I'm looking into coming to Oahu for a week at the end of November since the flights from Alaska are inexpensive to Hawaii. My husband (retired Army) and I will stay at the Haleakoa military resort in Waikiki. We are both experienced divers and are interested in a good boat operator or dive shop to use for the week. I'm uncertain as to whether or not we should rent a car. Parking has been in the past a nightmare in Waikiki and very expensive. We only used it to get to the dive sites and back. Didn't seem worth it. I'm looking for a good boat operator who could offer us a military discount and/or a pickup/drop off at the hotel. Any suggestions?

 

[Cacia]

Skip the car.

Operators will pick you up.

Ocean Concepts does millitary discounts....other operators might compete if you call them and ask for a weekly special. I know AAA diving is doing free Nitrox, for example.
Many operators offer some packages...

Halekoa seems like a very nice hotel (I have not seen the rooms, but the location and bar is very pretty)

 

[AlaskaDiver]

Thanks Catherine. I've already sent emails to those two operators asking for more details. Haleakoa is a nice place and had a nice luau and evening entertainment. Rooms have all the amenities and are (visibly) roach-free. We've always stayed there because it it so inexpensive- based on military rank. Location is excellent for walking around town. There is a small sundries store on the premises too with the usual touristy stuff just at lower prices.

 

[rugbydiver]

Contact fishboy as well -- he's with the Sea Lancers (or go to http://www.sealancers.org) and look at their qualifications. My cousin (Col AFA, ret'd) say they're they way to go if you can get in with them. All military / DOD folks and they cut you a deal.

 

[RICHinNC]

Yep...OC will give ya a discount. If you go with them....go the day they do Land of Oz.

 

[fishb0y]

Like Rugbydiver said, check out our website, we may have a club dive scheduled for the weekend you are here. No one will carry your tanks for you (I may if I see some cash), but with the money you save on the dives ($20 vice $160ish for 2 divers) you can get yourself a nice dinner. You would also need a temporary membership (anywhere from $15-45 depending on how much gear you need), but you won't need to rent gear or pay for air if you want to do a couple of shore dives.

Just a side note, I would pay a premium to dive with anyone besides OC.

 

[RICHinNC]

The only thing I found "odd" about OC was its safety briefing at the shop. Other than that.....no problems with boat or DMs.

 

[mrjimboalaska]

Also check with www.islanddivershawaii.com, located on Hickam Air Base. Most Dive ops will do Hotel pick up/drop off.
I'm a Sealancer myself, so since you have the ID Cards....use the benefits.....
I'm also with Fishb0y in regards to OC.........
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Randy8876]

Just a side note, I would pay a premium to dive with anyone besides OC.

Would you mind going into this a little? I got certified through them and promptly started going to another shop. And I paid more at the other shop, but felt it was worth it. My reason was customer service that I didn't feel was up to par, just curious what yours was.

 

[fishb0y]

OC has a tendency to deal with their local customers as if they were tourists... high prices and poor return customer service. I find that some of their employees have misconceptions about the nitrox fill process (tried to get O2 clean air in a set of O2 clean doubles and got turned away... I should have said I need EAN21)

Also a while back OC tried to get my dive club shut down (I guess it is tough to compete with a group of people who offer $5 boat dives even though we sell no gear). Its kinda funny that a lot of local dive shops say we have bad air, even though we have our air tested at the same place as them.