What's the best way to get dives in at Molokini back wall and Cathedrals 2?

[doctorblack]

Hi, I'm coming to Honolulu for a conference towards the end of May and plan to fly over to Maui for a few days of diving and sightseeing. I really want to dive the Molokini back wall and cathedrals 2 but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to fit it all in. I plan to fly to Maui on a Monday morning and then back to Oahu on the Thursday evening so I will only be able to dive on the Tuesday afternoon/night and the Wednesday morning. Any advice on how I can fit these two dive sites in? Or do you think I should shuffle things around and fly out on the Sunday evening? And are there any particular dive operators that you'd recommend? Thanks for any help, I normally just turn up somewhere and wing it and am finding this pre-trip planning surprisingly stressful!

 

[doctorblack]

Oh, I'm also planning to go to the top of Haleakala to see the sunrise, maybe twice if I don't catch it on a good day, so probably tuesday and/or thursday morning. Do I have to work round that as if it were a flight too? If so then maybe I should come over to Maui on Friday night, I was planning to spend the weekend on the north shore of oahu before going to Maui but really want to make sure that I take full advantage of the diving as I doubt that I'll ever be able to come back to Hawaii again. I will have one day before my conference on Oahu to do some diving from that island.

 

[Samurai]

You do have to plan around a trip to Haleakala. For back wall dives I use Scuba Shack, but you may want to read the pee thread if that bothers you... I forget the name of the shop we use for Lani dives off hand. Someone else here may know some better ones.

 

[jeremyl]

I just got back from Maui. I went to Lanai with Extended Horizons... they seem to be the most recommended. We dove Cathedrals 2 - they will always try to do a Cathedrals dive but depending on timing and conditions it may just not happen. I think going with them would be your best shot. Pretty good operation.

I did the rest of my dives with Mike Severns. We did not do any back wall dives. If you really want that I would check around and see who will take you. A lot of ops have boats with newer divers and dont go back there too often. My last trip I went with Ed Robinson and we did more advanced dives - back wall, and some drift dives. My memory might be fuzzy, but the dives with Ed Robinson seemed more memorable to me, but both are great ops. If you can swing the 2-take nite dive with Ed R. do it... it is one of my dive career highlights, but any nite dive is great. This trip I just did a one tank shore dive and it was spectacular.

Have a great trip.
Jeremy

 

[kidspot]

honestly I don't think you can do both on one day - All the ops I know of doing both those dives only do them in the mornings. However you might check with MDS and see if they have an afternoon dive to Molokini (won't be the back wall, but very nice diving anyway)

Haleakala is at 10,023 ft, so you do need to plan it the same as no flying after diving - I'd probably do that Tuesday morning (unless you are here by 3 am Monday morning) Depending on where you stay I like to leave Lahaina or Kihei by 3am to get up there for sunrise - gives you the full experience of watching the sky change colors and see the stars dissapear.

Aloha, Tim

 

[Waziegle]

The wife and I went to Cathedrals with Extended Horizons also. Good time. Logged several dives with Pauline at Mike Severns. Too much current to do the back wall, they said.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Sometimes the conditions are not right for the backside, and some of those times it is hard to tell from the surface. I recently had a guest tell of a Reef's End drift all the way around to the wall (no peeing allowed). Current so strong they couldn't even slow down to see the little critters and all the big stuff probably some where with less current. Better to err on the conservitave side and have an enjoyable dive every dive.

 

[KrisB]

I only know of one shop that will guarantee a Backwall dive -- Maui Dive Shop. It's a one-tanker (or a three-tanker, if you elect to stay on when they return to the dock, exchange passengers, then head out again for the other two tanks).

Personally, I don't like Ed Robinson's operation (and will never dive with them again), for reasons I won't get into here (PM for details).

Extended Horizons seems to be recommended, and I'd suggest Makena Coast for the trips to Molokini. If the experience level is suitable, they will take the boat on the Backwall or other advanced sites.

 

[doctorblack]

thanks guys, this has been so helpful.
I think I've formulated a plan...
I'm going to fly out to Maui on the friday night and stay at Banana Bungalow and do their free Haleakala volcano tour on the saturday and watch the sunset there. Then Sunday I'm going to try and get an afternoon and night dive in with Shaka Doug. Monday I will go to Molokini and hopefully get to dive the back wall (not sure who with yet though). Tuesday try and do cathedrals with extended horizons. Wednesday do the hana highway (the altitude's not too high is it?). Thursday sunrise at Haleakala then flight back to oahu pm.
Sound like a plan?

 

[Samurai]

I did the island tour to Hana without any issues after diving. The Hana tour is a great trip. I like the multi-colored trees, forget the name of them but I got some great pictures of them...