Finally going to Maui

[lamarpaulski]

mala pier is excellent shore dive. watch boat traffic.

 

[bperc]

Diving wise I have no concerns about either of the two sites. I would assume Molokini is somewhat like Little Cayman and as far as the Hellfire I have a wreck cert but it doesn't look like it is that kind of dive anyway.

I have dove with Lahaina Divers several times and would highly recommend them. If I were you, I would make sure that you dive the backside of Molokini. The drift dives on the west side of Lanai are really good too.

 

[freewillie]

We stay near Kaanapali. We like it because we are close to the beach and to the Whaler Village shopping center. It's not that big and depending on your shopping needs you are done in just a few hours.

Lahaina is only 20 or less from Kaanapali. I dove Lahaina Divers and had very good experience with them. Our friends are not morning people and the time we had to leave to scuba in the morining was more civilized than if we had to drive to Kehei. There are lots of shops and restaurants in Lahaina to keep non divers happy. For my night dive we parked near Lahaina Divers. My daughter and I checked in and my wife and two other kids walked to the Banyon tree and went shopping and ate dinner. We hooked up again after the dive and all went home happy.

It is about 30-45 minutes depending upon traffic to get from Kaanapali to Kihei and at least 45 minutes to get to Wailea. I've been down that way a few times but we spend more time a near Lahaina and Kaanapali.

Don't forget, the top of Haleakala volcano is 10,000 feet. You will need to take that into account if you plan on going there during your trip. I you do I would recommend the Kula lodge along the way. It has great views of the ocean and shoreline. Another neat place to eat is the cafeteria restaurant at the Maui Ocean Center with a view over the Mala Harbor/Landing area. My personal favorite restaurant is Mama's Fish house in Paia. It's a good 30 minute drive from Kaanapali. We also always eat at the Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina right behind the Safeway shopping center. Local food at reasonable prices.

Have fun.

 

[diversteve]

There is the possibility of diving with Manta's off Maui, it's just not the Manta Night Dive that the Big Island is famous for. "Manta Point" is a cleaning station off Ukemehame Beach. Lahaina Divers goes there, or at least they used to. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/hawaii/370280-mauis-manta-point-carthaginian-dives.html

Some years ago my buddy dove a site with Ed Robinson(s) just around dusk - they saw 3. Couldn't get too close w/o spooking them though. IDK if it was the same spot.

 

[merxlin]

We stay near Kaanapali. We like it because we are close to the beach and to the Whaler Village shopping center. It's not that big and depending on your shopping needs you are done in just a few hours.

Lahaina is only 20 or less from Kaanapali. I dove Lahaina Divers and had very good experience with them. Our friends are not morning people and the time we had to leave to scuba in the morining was more civilized than if we had to drive to Kehei. There are lots of shops and restaurants in Lahaina to keep non divers happy. For my night dive we parked near Lahaina Divers. My daughter and I checked in and my wife and two other kids walked to the Banyon tree and went shopping and ate dinner. We hooked up again after the dive and all went home happy.

It is about 30-45 minutes depending upon traffic to get from Kaanapali to Kihei and at least 45 minutes to get to Wailea. I've been down that way a few times but we spend more time a near Lahaina and Kaanapali.

Don't forget, the top of Haleakala volcano is 10,000 feet. You will need to take that into account if you plan on going there during your trip. I you do I would recommend the Kula lodge along the way. It has great views of the ocean and shoreline. Another neat place to eat is the cafeteria restaurant at the Maui Ocean Center with a view over the Mala Harbor/Landing area. My personal favorite restaurant is Mama's Fish house in Paia. It's a good 30 minute drive from Kaanapali. We also always eat at the Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina right behind the Safeway shopping center. Local food at reasonable prices.

Have fun.

Like we are twins! We have a condo in Kahana (5 min North of Kaanapali). I agree with everything you suggested. We were there when AMP started serving breakfast (thought I was in heaven) - best Loco Moco's - Ono ono!

 

[geoff w]

So after years of wanting to go to Maui and not being able to make the surface swim from Monterey I finally am getting to go there.

I'm looking into dive shops and have a couple emails out but suggestions are always welcome. Looking to dive the Hellfire and the crater. Anything else is gravy, but id like to dive the mantas. That may not be an option depending on what the "boss" approves. I don't know if theres a certain time of year for that dive either.

We will have a car but there is no Hotel booked yet. Are there any suggestions on where to stay? The wife probably prefers to stay somewhere with activities other than diving as well.

I am comfortable on ocean boat dives, and since im really hoping to do the Hellfire and Molokini I don't mind making the drive. I would assume my wife wants to relax by the ocean and probably have some things to look at.

Diving wise I have no concerns about either of the two sites. I would assume Molokini is somewhat like Little Cayman and as far as the Hellfire I have a wreck cert but it doesn't look like it is that kind of dive anyway.

I know she's got a bug about Kaanapali, of course I prefer Wailea since its more diving convenient and may make it possible to dive more than one day. Granted like you said who knows what the cost difference is. I didn't know the manta's were on the big island, so thats good to know.

There's a big difference between the Kaanapali part of Maui and the Kihei/Wailea. The Kihei / Wailea area is in the south, so typically warmer and drier. The Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua area is often cooler, wetter and windier. You can spend a lot or less money in either part of Maui. If the "boss" is planning on sitting out in the sun while you're blowing bubbles under water, the south part of Maui is probably a better bet for vegging on the beach

If you're looking for more independence, a rental condo will get you a full kitchen, so you can shop for food and eat in for breakfast. For the full resort experience, it's easy to have $25 breakfasts every day. Condos give you the flexibility of eating in or out, but you don't get daily maid service (unless you like playing maid while on vacation). Condos usually have a washer/dryer, so you can bring less clothes over with you and still have clean clothes

Lots of activities to choose from in both areas, but if you're looking for horseback riding or zip lining, you'll probably need to go upcountry. Plenty of shopping in both areas, along with eateries where you can people watch holding a drink with a little paper umbrella in it. Nice options for golf and tennis all over

Our first choice for dive operator in Kihei is Mike Severns, but they can book up in advance, so check with Pauline for reservations when you have dive dates set. I've only done the helldiver bomber once - you certainly don't need to be wreck certified. The plane itself is great, the rest of the dive is none too memorable. Maui Dreams used to do scooter dives out to the helldiver from Maalea, so maybe check with them. It's a longer trip from the Kihei ramp and Molokini, so most dive operators don't want to use the fuel to get there. Maui Dreams is also great for tank/weight rentals and is about the only place on Maui that can competently service gear

If you're thinking back wall of Molokini, whether you dive there on any given day depends on conditions and overall skill level of all the divers. We've been on plenty of trips where they check it out and decide to stay on the inside. If you check with a six pack operator, like Pro Diver Maui, you'll probably have greater assurance of diving the back wall

You should be back from any two tank morning dive to Molokini from the Kihei ramp before noon, which leaves the rest of the day to spend with your better half

You should also look into diving the Cathedrals in Lanai - dive boats leave from the Lahaina / Kapalua area, and Lahaina Divers has a hammerhead dive of off Molokai (dive boat leaves from Lahaina). We're going to do the hammerhead dive for the first time on New Years Day after many, many years of visiting Maui.

The manta night dive on the Big Island is the main diving attraction there. Doing that dive on Halloween makes it all the more surreal. I can't remember ever seeing mantas on any dive we've done on Maui, although I'm sure they are sometimes out there

 

[iluvcozumel]

Hammerheads!? I paid the $$$$ and saw 1 hammerhead 75 ft away. The crossing to Molokai is very rough. It's a crap shoot seeing the sharks. Try to be in the first group in. Hammerheads are very shy and will split in a flash. Now if you want to see hammerheads... Socorro Islands. I won't waste my money or time with Lahaina divers again. Not that great of a dive op. I recommend B&B.

 

[merxlin]

Hammerheads!? I paid the $$$$ and saw 1 hammerhead 75 ft away. The crossing to Molokai is very rough. It's a crap shoot seeing the sharks. Try to be in the first group in. Hammerheads are very shy and will split in a flash. Now if you want to see hammerheads... Socorro Islands. I won't waste my money or time with Lahaina divers again. Not that great of a dive op. I recommend B&B.

There is a huge difference between a "one day get a chance to see hammerhead dive" while you are in Maui and a 10 day Soccorro trip. I've tried 3 times, got there once and had murky viz, and twice ended up at Lanai because of conditions. And I'm going again in January- because you never know when the conditions will be perfect. I spent a week in the Galapagos and didn't see whale sharks or big schools of hammerheads. Sometimes the ocean is like that. The only guarantee is at an aquarium.

I'll disagree with you about Lahaina Divers- My experiences have all been good. But they are not a small op and you might have a full boat of divers of various skills, and not much in the way of a personal guide as they herd cats. But I know that going in and make the best of it.

 

[fisheater]

I dove with Extended Horizons out of Lahaina. First class operation. Smaller boat and smaller groups allowed for a personalized experience.


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[geoff w]

I dove with Extended Horizons out of Lahaina. First class operation. Smaller boat and smaller groups allowed for a personalized experience.

Second that! They're a first class operation