1st Time Maui - Too Many Choices

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bmorescuba

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Location
Baltimore, MD, USA
# of dives
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Hi,

I'm headed to Maui in July and I'm researching Dive Ops and I'm a little overwhelmed. We are staying in the North Wailea/South Kihei area. I've been to the Big Island once and to Kauai once, and I enjoyed the diving tremendously, but this is my first time to Maui. I love to shore dive when possible, but if there are things that can only be seen by boat, I'm up for boat dives, too. I'll probably get to dive about 5 mornings, so based on my research, here's kind of a dream itinerary:

2-3 shore dives 2 tank mornings
Boat dives to Molokini
Boat dives to Lanai

Hopefully see some Hammerheads or Mantas, but also lots of macro critters on the shore dives. Never seen a Hammerhead and only seen Mantas in Kona on the night dive, so not completely natural. I'm an advanced diver and can do shore dives on my own, if that's allowed. Not a huge fan of long, bumpy boat rides (how long is the ride to Lanai??). Prefer to dive my computer for longer bottom times. I always have my camera on dives, either setup for wide or macro. We're staying at an AirBnB and we'll have a car the whole time.

So, based on that profile and all these choices:

Banyan Tree Divers - Scuba Dive Lahaina, Small Groups | Maui
Maui Scuba Diving Lessons and Tours
http://scubadivingmaui.com/
SCUBA Shack | The Best Dive Company on Maui.
Maui Scuba Diving - Molokini Dive Charters, Guided Shore Diving, Scuba Gear Rentals
Scuba Dive & Snorkel | Underwater Adventure | Private Charters
>NeverDry® Divers, Scuba Diving in Maui, PADI Courses, Serving Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Lahaina, Offering Accommodation
Scuba Dive Lanai, Molokini, Molokai, and Maui | Lahaina Divers
Maui Dive Shop | Maui Scuba Diving | Maui Snorkel Trips | Maui Jeep Rentals | Maui Dive Stores
Maui Introductory Dives|Maui Scuba Diving | Intro Dives on Maui | Beginner scuba dive Maui
Scuba diving guides, training, sales, service and rentals, Maui HI | Maui Dreams Dive Co
Ed Robinson's Diving Adventures – Maui Diving & Snorkel Adventures
Makena Coast Dive Charters | Scuba Diving Maui
Prodiver Maui | Maui Scuba Diving | Molokini Scuba Diving | Dive Maui | Maui Dive Certification
Scuba Luv Maui - Maui Scuba Diving, Dive Certification on Maui, Maui Diving Instruction
Welcome to SHAKA DIVERS Web Site! Home of Maui's Coolest Shore Dives!
Scuba Dive Maui Ka'anapali Lahaina Hawaii Snorkel | 808.870.0878 | Tiny Bubbles Scuba Diving Specializing in Private Scuba Dives.Snorkel Tours. and Scuba Diving Instruction on Maui | Let's Get Tanked
Wailea Scuba - Beginner And Kids Scuba Diving

What do people recommend?? I know it's a pretty open ended question and everyone has their favorite op, but I thought maybe someone familiar with could provide some guidance.

Oh, and just to make sure there's controversy - who makes the best malasada on Maui?

Thanks!
 
wow, you found shops I've never heard of - and I dove on Maui for decades...lol

some basics:

Boats in south Maui leave from the Kihei ramp a few minutes north of Wailea. They all go to Molokini or dive the south Maui coast. Some do both on the same 2-tank dives. Molokini is about 15mins. straight across - you'll see it from shore easily. Pretty much all boats leave around 6am. I like/recommend (in no order)

Ed Robinson's
Mike Severn's Diving
B&B Scuba

Although 1/2 the shops on your list probably have a boat that goes there also.

If you want to dive Lanai - you'll have to drive to Lahaina and go with Lahaina Divers, Extended Horizons or Hawaaian Rafting Adventures. Since you don't like bumpy - I suggest Lahaina Divers. HRA is the fastest over but they have a big hard-bottom zodiac. We watched their divers get tossed around pretty good one day while moored on the Lahaina Divers boat at 1st Cathedral
There's a couple other shops offering boat diving in Lahaina but they just book on other boats.

Maui Dive Shops boat and Maui Dreams Dive Co's - the Maui Diamond II - are moored in Ma'alea which is a few minutes drive north of Kihei. From there they could go to Lanai but it would be a longer boat ride - IDK if they do. I was on MDS's boat once but it was pretty crowded - they funnel divers there from their several locations plus it may be nearest to the cruise port on the east side. The big snorkel cats also leave from there. Maui Ocean Center there is worth a stop.

Plan on 45mins. drive time between Wailea and Lahaina - it can even be a little longer since the resort staffs are driving to their jobs at the same time.

Being advanced, ask about the Molokini Backwall dives - live drop, no bottom, not as pretty but often you'll see reef sharks on the wall. Or the West Lanai advanced drift dives Lahaina Divers does - actually I think all 3 shops do - just LD puts a name/price on them. I've done a couple of those - pretty much an e-ticket ride. Buddy and I kicked our brains out to get around Sharkfin once (the outside) - we look over and there's 3-4000 (DM count) Tangs and Moorish Idols holding station effortlessly. Good dive, it drops deep in one area. Also about 5-6 white tips patrolling the perimeter of the school.

I've never solo dived on Maui but I have seen many others both in the water and on the beach. Legally you should tow a flag, any shop where you get tanks rents them also.

Likely the best shore dive on Maui - worth the drive- Scuba Diving Maui - Mala Pier - Steven W Smeltzer Blog also if you've not seen it: Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Maui, Hawaiian Islands If you're traveling with non-divers - they might enjoy Lahaina town one day - lots of shops, galleries, food, very picturesque waterfront.

Rarely Mantas are seen at one site inside Molokini crater but so rare that in multiple trips there we've never heard it mentioned. I don't remember the site name - was actually surprised to read it once since I'm sure we've been near/over it once or twice. Lots of fish in the crater also as it's protected and the snorkel boats feed them.

Also a few years ago they were at a cleaning station off Umekahame Beach - too far to shore dive but one of the escorted scooter rental places does it - or via boat as a 2nd dive for some shops. My buddy did a 3 tank adventure there with Ed Robnson's maybe a decade ago? and the 3rd dive they saw 3-4 there.

Hammerheads are pretty much only seen on the Hammerhead dives to Molokai that Lahaina Divers does - there's a better time of year but IDK when it is. Other times it's mostly a blue water dive with an extremely rough crossing.

Unless you find something closer to your rental, you can get tanks at the main Maui Dive shop in Kihei, Mau Dreams Dive Co. or B&B Scuba - among other places. MDS sells a fill card and has a free shore dive map. Their other shop in Kahana Gateway mall is pretty handy if you decide to drive/dive NW Maui (Kapalua, Napili etc.) one day - it's just off the main road.
 
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I second Ed Robinson's and Lahaina Divers. Check out Ed Robinson's advanced dive. I really enjoyed it and you can dive as long as you want! Lahaina Divers advanced drift dive to Lanai is also a great dive. On my last trip with them I saw several fish that I had never seen before in Hawaii. Mala Pier is a GREAT shore dive. Buy an inflatable dive flag online and take it with you for shore diving.
 
I went with Maui Dive Shop (Maui) and Extended Horizons (Lanai) on my trip last fall. Maui Dive Shop is big boat diving - we had 3 separate groups (6+ divers) each with its own DM diving from the same boat. They were very organized, I'd say they do big boat diving well - but I prefer smaller boat diving. Extended Horizons was great medium size boat diving (two DMs, each with 4 or 5 divers), highly recommended.
 
This is why I love Scubaboard - thanks so much for the very helpful information.

wow, you found shops I've never heard of - and I've been diving on Maui for decades...lol

some basics:

Boats in south Maui leave from the Kihei ramp a few minutes north of Wailea. They all go to Molokini or dive the south Maui coast. Some do both on the same 2-tank dives. Molokini is about 15mins. straight across - you'll see it from shore easily. Pretty much all boats leave around 6am. I like/recommend (in no order)

Ed Robinson's
Mike Severn's Diving
B&B Scuba

Although 1/2 the shops on your list probably have a boat that goes there also.

If you want to dive Lanai - you'll have to drive to Lahaina and go with Lahaina Divers, Extended Horizons or Hawaaian Rafting Adventures. Since you don't like bumpy - I suggest Lahaina Divers. HRA is the fastest over but they have a big hard-bottom zodiac. We watched their divers get tossed around pretty good one day while moored on the Lahaina Divers boat at 1st Cathedral
There's a couple other shops offering boat diving in Lahaina but they just book on other boats.

Maui Dive Shops boat and Maui Dreams Dive Co's - the Maui Diamond II - are moored in Ma'alea which is a few minutes drive north of Kihei. From there they could go to Lanai but it would be a longer boat ride - IDK if they do.I was on MDS's boat once but it was pretty crowded - they funnel divers there from their several locations plus it may be the nearest to the cruise port on the east side. The big snorkel cats also leave from there. Maui Ocean Center there is worth a stop.

Plan on 45mins. drive time between Wailea and Lahaina - it can even be a little longer since the resort staffs are driving to their jobs at the same time.

Being advanced, ask about the Molokini Backwall dives - live drop, no bottom, not as pretty but often sharks or the West Lanai advanced drift dives Lahaina Divers does. I've done a couple of those - pretty much an e-ticket ride. Buddy and I kicked our brains out to get around Sharkfin once - we look over and there's 3-4000 (DM count) Tangs and Moorish Idols holding station effortlessly. Good dive, it drops really deep in one area. Also about 5-6 white tips patrolling the perimeter of the school.

I've never solo dived on Maui but I have seen many others both in the water and on the beach. Legally you should tow a flag, any shop where you get tanks rents them also.

Likely the best shore dive on Maui - worth the drive- Scuba Diving Maui - Mala Pier - Steven W Smeltzer Blog also if you've not seen it: Scuba Shore Diving Site Listing for: Maui, Hawaiian Islands If you're traveling with non-divers - they might enjoy Lahaina town one day - lots of shops, galleries, food, very picturesque waterfront.

Rarely Mantas are seen at one site inside Molokini crater but so rare that in multiple trips there we've never heard it mentioned. I don't remember the site name - was actually surprised to read it once since I'm sure we've been near/over it once or twice. Lots of fish in the crater also as it's protected and the snorkel boats feed them.

Also a few years ago they were at a cleaning station off Umekahame Beach - too far to shore dive but one of the escorted scooter rental places does it - or via boat as a 2nd dive for some shops. My buddy did a 3 tank adventure there with Ed Robnson's maybe a decade ago? and the 3rd dive they saw 3-4 there.

Hammerheads are pretty much only seen on the Hammerhead dives to Molokai that Lahaina Divers does - there's a better time of year but IDK when it is. Other times it's mostly a blue water dive with an extremely rough crossing.

Unless you find something closer to your rental, you can get tanks at the main Maui Dive shop in Kihei, Mau Dreams Dive Co. or B&B Scuba - among other places. MDS sells a fill card and has a free shore dive map. Their other shop in Kahana Gateway mall is pretty handy if you decide to drive/dive NW Maui (Kapalua, Napili etc.) one day - it's just off the main road.
 
Bmorescuba,

I will also be in Maui in July, 15th -26th. I have booked with Extended Horizons for The Carthinigan wreck and Lanai and a night dive around Kanappali. We are going to Molokini with B&B scuba. From Lahaina its my understanding that the boat ride to Lanai is only 45 min and the "bumpiness" is based on the weather for that day. The Cathedral are sure something I do not want to miss out on, they look amazing. For Shore dives I understand that Mala Pier is a spectacular shore dive. Make sure that you ask your shop what Tanks they have as not all Shops run the same tanks, Lahina divers uses AL72's but offers AL100's. Also afternoon dives tend to include more of the Discover scuba Crowd in shallower locations.
 
Molokini crater is super beautiful, but the backwall is more interesting in terms of big pelagics. And it's an amazing drift dive.
For sharks, from Lahaina they offer a dive closer to the east of Molokai that's specificaly a hammerhead dive and it's really really nice too. The sea between Maui and Molokai can be a bit rough, so take that in mind if you can be sea sick and it's at least an hour of charter before the dive !

Be carefull, there is a lot a divers, we couldn't do all the dive we wanted because there was no spot left, booking in advance is better.

Lahaina divers are good guys.
 
So excited - so many great sounding sites! Thanks to everyone for their advice. I've moved Mala Pier to the top of my list. Pier dives are some of my favorite anyway and it sounds awesome! If Lanai & Cathedrals are only 45 mins, then I can deal with rough seas. I just don't like being sick for hours and hours. Once I'm in the water, it's all good.
 
With so many dive shops and so much competition, it's hard to find a bad dive operator in Maui. There are some I wouldn't dive with, and some I'd like to dive with that I haven't. For the Kihei area, Mike Severns is great especially if you want to hear about the natural history and background of a lot of the critters you'll see. If you want fast, Scuba Shack will get you out there and back before just about every other operator with two dives

For Lanai, both Extended Horizon and Lahaina divers are good, with Extended Horizon concentrating more on explaining the sea life. For Molokai for hammerhead dives, Lahaina Divers runs a trip a few times a week

Some dive operators will give you multi-day discounts, so it's sometimes better to stick with one operator in a given area instead of trying everyone

There's a Maui shore diving book I picked up somewhere, but several Maui dive shops also have info on shore dive spots, as well as guided dives. One or two dive operators also have scooters for shore dives. Also, there's a MeetUp group called Maui Mantas that do beach dives and other dive related activities regularly (like Power Scuba in San Diego). See Maui Mantas for details

Most dive operators go out at the crack of dawn and try to get back before the tradewinds really kick up and conditions get rough
 
What are your dates for July? Since you're an experienced diver, I'd strongly recommend you book the 3-tank dive that Ed Robinson's does on Tuesdays as one of your boat dives. It's one I always do when on island and we often go to sites not regularly dived.

I'm on island in July and if our dates overlap would be up to meet up for a shore dive or two.
 
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