To Maui Soon....

[Al Mialkovsky]

If the waves cooperate you'll want to dive Honolua as it's fairly close to the Embassy. For some reason I enjoy diving Ulua at the other end of the island but mainly because it's easy access and seems to be a decent dive regardless of what the wind and chop is doing.

Now when the waves are big, shore diving isn't so hot. Or even doable.

 

[steveinathens]

Definately make a trip over to Lanai. Maui Dive Shop runs over there 3 days a week ( Tu, Th, Sa ) from Ma'alaea Harbor. However in these winter months, you are at the mercy of mother nature and may get a bumpy ride. That being said, the last 2 weeks, Lanai has been awesome. Last Tuesday, we saw so many whales I lost count. We also encountered dolphins several times, the weather was beautiful, sea was calm, and good vis...

I can also recommend night diving at Molokini. MDS does that twice a week, Tuesday and Friday nights. The twilight dives are just spectacular!!! You will be the only boat out at Molokini ( which never happens during the day ) and so you will have your choice of moorings, and chances are you will be serenaded by whales!

 

[DiveMaven]

Since you're staying in Northern Kaanapali Beach, you can easily dive Lanai with an op that runs out of Lahaina. Check with Lahaina Divers or Extended Horizons. The trip to Lanai is much shorter from Lahaina than the Kihei area, and both are good ops. It'll also only take you 10 minutes to get to the boat in the morning.

We dive with Lahaina Divers pretty regularly when we're on Maui since we get a minimum 10% discount on charters, know the guys well (and like them), and prefer the big boats (motion sickness issues)....but you can't go wrong with Extended Horizons either.

 

[steveinathens]

MDS doesnt run their Lanai trips out of Kihei Boat Ramp, they run them out of Ma'alaea, which is closer, but certainly not as close as Lahaina . The MDS Maka Koa is a Pro 48 foot boat, comparable to Lahaina Divers 46 foot, but much better for bigger swell days than the Extended Horizons small boats. I also have encountered sea sickness issues when going to Lanai, that's why i always choose the Maka Koa.

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for the correction SteveinAthens...I hadn't remembered that MDS uses two different locations to launch their boats from.

 

[in2Scuba Maui]

Maui Diamond ll Is a great boat for Molokini

 

[Charlie99]

Maui Diamond ll Is a great boat for Molokini

Compared to who? What other dive ops have you gone out with?

I tried Maui Diamond II a few years ago (before the incident where they lost a group of divers for 5 hours) and after 2 dives from the same mooring with a DM that appeared to be lost, have never been back.

 

[KrisB]

Compared to who? What other dive ops have you gone out with?

I tried Maui Diamond II a few years ago (before the incident where they lost a group of divers for 5 hours) and after 2 dives from the same mooring with a DM that appeared to be lost, have never been back.

I've been on ERDA's boats and the MD2. I prefer the "diver experience" from ERDA, but if the smaller boats just aren't your bag, then MD2 might be a good second choice. Just don't do the Backwall with them...

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Compared to who? What other dive ops have you gone out with?

I tried Maui Diamond II a few years ago (before the incident where they lost a group of divers for 5 hours) and after 2 dives from the same mooring with a DM that appeared to be lost, have never been back.

Yep they're a great op if you want to be starring in another lousy movie, maybe they can call it Open Water II Losing a group like they did should just put them outta business as far as I'm concerned.