So there are already tons of 'what dive op to use' threads. I'm more interested in the sites than the operators at this point...I'll figure out operators after I know where I want to dive. Friends will be on Maui for a week in October. I've get 4-5 days (including a no-fly day) to fly over from Oahu for some diving with them. We're open to shore or boat or a combination of the two. So, if you had 3-4 days to dive the Maui sites, what would be on your 'must dive' list?
Which Maui dive sites?
- Thread starter lonebrave
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Well, on Maui, a lot depends on where you stay.
For south end shore dives, I really like Ulua and Polo Beaches. You can drive all the way down to Makena, but frankly, without a scooter, you are faced with a challenging entry or a long surface swim. Ahihi has an easier entry, but I didn't think it was enough better to merit the drive. Beyond that, the entries get more challenging.
If you're staying in the Lahaina area, a trip over to Lanai to dive the pinnacles and the Cathedrals is, I think, well worth while. (Although that may be colored by the fact that that is where we saw our whale.) The Mala Wharf is probably my favorite Maui shore dive, although the legal entry is a PITA. But the structure harbors SO much life, and has much great photo ops, it's worth it.
For south end shore dives, I really like Ulua and Polo Beaches. You can drive all the way down to Makena, but frankly, without a scooter, you are faced with a challenging entry or a long surface swim. Ahihi has an easier entry, but I didn't think it was enough better to merit the drive. Beyond that, the entries get more challenging.
If you're staying in the Lahaina area, a trip over to Lanai to dive the pinnacles and the Cathedrals is, I think, well worth while. (Although that may be colored by the fact that that is where we saw our whale.) The Mala Wharf is probably my favorite Maui shore dive, although the legal entry is a PITA. But the structure harbors SO much life, and has much great photo ops, it's worth it.
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I 2nd the Cathedrals, also Sharkfin nearby.
Molokini is the signature dive off Maui, lots of options depending on the group's experience level. At your level probably some of the better front-side dives would be good, the backwall can get triicky as the dive floor exceeds rec. depths and it's often a live drop/pickup.
Lahaina Divers has big Newton diveboats which are more stable on the crossing to either Lana'i or Molokini if that's a concern. The tradewinds rough up the water coming back. The Kihei boats (Ed Robinsons, B&B Scuba, Mike Severns, others) leave early to get there and back b4 noon.
Maui Dreams Dive Co. in Kihei does a lot of escorted/non-escorted shore dives. Possibly also contact Shaka Divers, Shaka Doug (his username here on SB) runs a dive bus in the Kihei area. Many (not all) of the Maui Dive shops rent tanks.
Molokini is the signature dive off Maui, lots of options depending on the group's experience level. At your level probably some of the better front-side dives would be good, the backwall can get triicky as the dive floor exceeds rec. depths and it's often a live drop/pickup.
Lahaina Divers has big Newton diveboats which are more stable on the crossing to either Lana'i or Molokini if that's a concern. The tradewinds rough up the water coming back. The Kihei boats (Ed Robinsons, B&B Scuba, Mike Severns, others) leave early to get there and back b4 noon.
Maui Dreams Dive Co. in Kihei does a lot of escorted/non-escorted shore dives. Possibly also contact Shaka Divers, Shaka Doug (his username here on SB) runs a dive bus in the Kihei area. Many (not all) of the Maui Dive shops rent tanks.
I was there last Feburary and rented our tanks from Maui Dreams.
The shore dives were just as nice IMO as some of the boat dives we did. We must have been at the right spots, since most of the time Shaka Doug was at the same site.
Like TS&M, I enjoyed Mala Wharf followed by Five Graves. We enterd at Five Caves, which can be interesting in the wrong conditions, and exited at Mekena Beach with maybe a 50 yeard surface swim.
Kahekili Beach I did not enjoy. To shallow for to long.
Polo Beach was an OK site, parking was easy and maybe a 100' walk to the waters edge. Go to the north side, there are a few arches and small caverns.
We chartered a boat one day and did the Hellcat, Carthaginian and a manta ray cleaning station. Hellcat sits on a sandy bottom with nothing else around. Once you've been on the wreck for 30 minutes, there is not much more to see.
The Carthaginian I was disapointed with. The highlight was the submersible crusing by.
The cleaning station is not a guarantee to see Mantas, so we got lucky and had six throughout the dive.
Every charter boat has their days to go to certain sites, make sure the day you want to go boat diving the operator is going to that site, that day. Book early
The shore dives were just as nice IMO as some of the boat dives we did. We must have been at the right spots, since most of the time Shaka Doug was at the same site.
Like TS&M, I enjoyed Mala Wharf followed by Five Graves. We enterd at Five Caves, which can be interesting in the wrong conditions, and exited at Mekena Beach with maybe a 50 yeard surface swim.
Kahekili Beach I did not enjoy. To shallow for to long.
Polo Beach was an OK site, parking was easy and maybe a 100' walk to the waters edge. Go to the north side, there are a few arches and small caverns.
We chartered a boat one day and did the Hellcat, Carthaginian and a manta ray cleaning station. Hellcat sits on a sandy bottom with nothing else around. Once you've been on the wreck for 30 minutes, there is not much more to see.
The Carthaginian I was disapointed with. The highlight was the submersible crusing by.
The cleaning station is not a guarantee to see Mantas, so we got lucky and had six throughout the dive.
Every charter boat has their days to go to certain sites, make sure the day you want to go boat diving the operator is going to that site, that day. Book early
Spg01
Contributor
I would also have a backup plan. I went a few years ago and booked early for a boat and it ended up getting cancelled the day before for lack of people. So I had to scramble to find a boat for the next day. I happened to remember a few boats I was originally looking at, so I just called one of them and it worked out for me.
StuartT
Contributor
5 graves from the Makena landing side is a sandy protected cove entry. You can surface swim out till the rocks on your right stop then drop down and follow the reef more or less. There are several caves along the way with white tips in them sometimes. If you have good air consumption go for 30-45 min then turn back. Depending on how fast or slow you go you may make it out to where the dive boats tie up to the submerged mooring buoy. It's near the end of a long lava finger that extends west from the shore I think. Like Lynne said Mala wharf is great too with tons of life (saw octopus and white tip there). The second (deeper) reef at Ulua beach is good too. Still only about 45 fsw or so max. Honolua bay is good out to the right. Last time we walked down to the water and politely asked if we could drive down with our vehicle and the local family that lives there said no problem. Made our 2 tanks there way less of a walk. White rock beach is good around the south point (saw a Manta there). I wouldn't do red hill from shore too much of a swim out and back. Wailea beach is good too straight out from the south point of the lave rock (boats moor there too sometimes for the 2nd dive). If you go really slow you should see all kinds of eels,frogfish, turtles, nudibranchs, reef fish, octopus,lobsters, and maybe if you get lucky some reef sharks, manta's, or eagle rays.
DiveMaven
Contributor
I believe this is only true of Lahaina Divers and Maui Dive Shop. The boats out of the Kihei boat ramp choose sites each day based on conditions, usually while you're sitting on the boat. It is true that most go to Molokini for one dive, that isn't always the case. We've been on many charters where we've only done off shore sites in S. Maui and never went to Molokini at all, just as we've gone to many sites that we haven't gotten in the water at because there was too much current.
To the OP, I'd really recommend that unless you're shore diving on your own (which I wouldn't recommend to a a first time diver to Hawaii), don't get wrapped up in where you're going. Choose your dive operator, book your dives, and let the dive operator choose the sites based on that day's conditions and relax and enjoy.
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