Transportation from Pride of America cruise ship to Dive shop/dock

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CJ_diver

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Location
Texas
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100 - 199
I will be cruising on the Norwegion Pride of America in September. I have one day to dive in Maui, Kona, and Kauai. I have read thru numerous threads and have collected a lot of suggested dive operators.

The question is getting from the cruise ship to the dock or dive operator. None seem located within walking distance and most seem to be min of 30min to an hour away. My island travels have been limited to the caribbean, I mean no disrespect just need to know if cabs or uber is reliable? Especially at 5AM - 6AM to get to dock by 6:30? and more importantly finding a ride back midafternoon t make it before the ship departs.

Any and all advice welcome

Thanks
 
In Kona, Big Island Divers is a short walk from the cruise pier. The dive shops may also have pick up options...worth checking in with them.
 
I've looked at your itinerary and unless the times have changed from what's on NCL's website, you will not be able to make a morning dive until your second day on Maui and Kauai because the ship doesn't arrive until 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively.

I haven't dived on Kauai. Kona is a tender port, so it will take extra time to get to shore. Most dive operators leave from the small boat harbor, Honokohau Harbor, which is about a 10-minute ride from where you get off the tender once you get out of the downtown Kailua-Kona area. The dive boats usually leave between 8:00-8:30. It's too bad you're not overnighting in Kona, because you could do the night manta dive.

Maui is a big island. I haven't dived there since before the fires in Lahaina, so it depends on which side of the island your ship docks as to your travel time and distance.

Taxis and Uber are readily available on Kona, but I'm not sure about Maui. I usually rent a car when I go there because it's a big island, and it's a long drive from the airport to Lahaina. You do have to account for traffic on all the islands and have plenty of time to get back to the ship.
 
I've looked at your itinerary and unless the times have changed from what's on NCL's website, you will not be able to make a morning dive until your second day on Maui and Kauai because the ship doesn't arrive until 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively.

I haven't dived on Kauai. Kona is a tender port, so it will take extra time to get to shore. Most dive operators leave from the small boat harbor, Honokohau Harbor, which is about a 10-minute ride from where you get off the tender once you get out of the downtown Kailua-Kona area. The dive boats usually leave between 8:00-8:30. It's too bad you're not overnighting in Kona, because you could do the night manta dive.

Maui is a big island. I haven't dived there since before the fires in Lahaina, so it depends on which side of the island your ship docks as to your travel time and distance.

Taxis and Uber are readily available on Kona, but I'm not sure about Maui. I usually rent a car when I go there because it's a big island, and it's a long drive from the airport to Lahaina. You do have to account for traffic on all the islands and have plenty of time to get back to the ship.
The itinerary is not conducive for diving that is for sure. Which is why I assume it is not an NCL sponsored option. Thank you for the feedback.
 
I have found it increasingly difficult to dive from a cruise ship arrival at most ports in Hawaii because of the arrival times and distance to the dive shops unless you have an overnight at a couple ports. Maybe I'm just getting old, but find diving with one eye on the clock too much aggravation and stress trying to decide if I can make the dive boat departure time, and/or the ship's departure time.
 
I have found it increasingly difficult to dive from a cruise ship arrival at most ports in Hawaii because of the arrival times and distance to the dive shops unless you have an overnight at a couple ports. Maybe I'm just getting old, but find diving with one eye on the clock too much aggravation and stress trying to decide if I can make the dive boat departure time, and/or the ship's departure time.
I agree. Post-COVID, scuba diving has disappeared as a ship excursion, and it takes a lot of effort to go diving independently while on a cruise.
 
I agree. Post-COVID, scuba diving has disappeared as a ship excursion, and it takes a lot of effort to go diving independently while on a cruise.
Generally true, but RCCL and Carnival still offer dive excursions in the Caribbean. And, to my pleasant surprise, Holland America is actually offering dive excursions in several of the Southern Caribbean ports on their larger, newer ships, which usually have a younger mix of passengers. I have cruised on Holland America many times, and I believe an upcoming trip in November is the first time I have seen dive excursions on that cruise line. Most of their ships have a much older clientele, and I am usually the only old guy on the cruises that is still diving, so I really can't blame them.
 

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