Visiting Oahu for the first time, looking for some advice

[happy-diver]

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[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Looking through old photos I came across this one of the M/V Sea Tiger as we were towing her offshore for reefing.

 

[scottitheduck]

Eh! This is awesome Jim! Thanks for sharing. Starboard wheelhouse side is fully open now. Makes for great swimthrough. When is the last time you logged a dive on her? Happy to take you back out if you find yourself on Oahu again. LMK!

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Last dive on her was probably 2000.

 

[living4experiences]

Hello y'all I'm coming to visit Oahu from December 18-28th I'm going to do some dives with my girlfriend.

Can anyone recommend a good dive shop? Is there any unique dives around that certain shops will take you to/are there some operators that cater to fresh off the resort tourists and others that are geared to more adventurous types?

Also is there anyone who will take you freediving with humpbacks?

Cheers!

Sean

How was your trip? What dive shop did you use and how did you like them?

 

[Seanluge]

Hey thanks for asking! The trip was great! Oahu was absolutely stunningly beautiful I would love to go back one day.

We only did 2 2tank dives with Aaron's dive shop. The visibility and dives sites were great and they were very responsive to questions when we were booking with them.

I haven't done a ton of dives in my life maybe 120-140 dives, mostly in British Columbia and Central America and Mexico. But the first day and first 2 dives with them was a bit messy in my opinion, it seemed to bother my partner a bit more.

The dive briefing was very short and not the most detailed, our guide that day was swimming a bit fast and everyone was playing catch up. He also wasn't really checking in on people as well and the safety stops were almost non exsistant. Just everything seemed a bit rushed..

-Get on the boat get to the dive site and pump out the 2 dives so we can drop you guys off and grab the next group. And for over 200$ usd for a 2 tank dive I don't think I would do it again.

The 2nd day was much much better with a lot more professionalism from the staff.

I don't want to sound negative here, it's just some honest feedback.

 

[living4experiences]

Hey thanks for asking! The trip was great! Oahu was absolutely stunningly beautiful I would love to go back one day.

We only did 2 2tank dives with Aaron's dive shop. The visibility and dives sites were great and they were very responsive to questions when we were booking with them.

I haven't done a ton of dives in my life maybe 120-140 dives, mostly in British Columbia and Central America and Mexico. But the first day and first 2 dives with them was a bit messy in my opinion, it seemed to bother my partner a bit more.

The dive briefing was very short and not the most detailed, our guide that day was swimming a bit fast and everyone was playing catch up. He also wasn't really checking in on people as well and the safety stops were almost non exsistant. Just everything seemed a bit rushed..

-Get on the boat get to the dive site and pump out the 2 dives so we can drop you guys off and grab the next group. And for over 200$ usd for a 2 tank dive I don't think I would do it again.

The 2nd day was much much better with a lot more professionalism from the staff.

I don't want to sound negative here, it's just some honest feedback.

I love honest feedback and thank you! I may find myself in Oahu in August with a couple days free for diving. Kaimana Divers comes recommended from some folks here on SB and their dives are $139 for 2 tanks, so I'm going to give them a try. I just returned from a week in Kona, and at $195 per 2-tank dive and the reefs not being in good shape, I'll not be going back.

 

[poifromthebag]

I love honest feedback and thank you! I may find myself in Oahu in August with a couple days free for diving. Kaimana Divers comes recommended from some folks here on SB and their dives are $139 for 2 tanks, so I'm going to give them a try. I just returned from a week in Kona, and at $195 per 2-tank dive and the reefs not being in good shape, I'll not be going back.

Kaimana with Gabe and his crew is great. Just understand that everything off Waikiki is a heavily beaten path. The reefs are in terrible shape. However, the wrecks are good sites, especially San Pedro and YO-257.
Corsair sounds great on paper, but it's in such bad shape I'd do the other wrecks first.

Lava caverns are great if they are going to those sites.

 

[scottitheduck]

Hey @poifromthebag ..... really appreciate the feedback. I think some of the outer corals around Rojo reef are some of the healthiest and most biodiverse on the island. Which shallow reefs did you visit?