Need advice on who to dive with. Seems a lot closer from Wailea-Makena than Kihei, is there a big difference in the ride. For the second day, I'm open to suggestions. We both have over 500 dives so, basically, we're open to whatever. Not too sure if it will be getting into high season, will we need to book our dives ahead?
The Molokini dive boats all leave from the Kihei Boat Ramp - afaik there is no one going from Wailea to Molokini except one of the big sailing snorkel cats. Wailea is 5mins. south of Kihei so not a big difference anyway. Generally the boats are smaller since it really is a boat ramp.
They also leave
really early in the morning - starting at 6AM - to beat the tradewinds when coming back from Molokini. From Kaanapali a fair estimate of the drive time is 45mins - assuming no delays or accidents. Often second dives are along the Maui coast also for the same reason.
For something a little more advanced, find someone diving the Molokini Back Wall. They all do, just at different days/times. The back wall can also be weather dependent - often it's a live drop also.
Ed Robinson's also has a 2 or 3 tank "Adventure" dive which will mostly be AOW divers. Just certain days of the week IIRC.
Lahaina Divers goes out to Molokini from downtown Lahaina. They have two 46' Newton dive boats with stabilizers so are less susceptible to the trade winds. I've been on their boat coming back early afternoon and it was a smoother ride. They also do a "Manta Point" dive - actually off Umekahame Beach so IDK why they call it a
point. It's a near shore Manta cleaning station. My buddy did the 3-tank Adventure with Robinson's and the last dive at dusk was there. They saw 3..
Lahaina Divers also goes to the Cathedrals at Lanai - the other "signature" Maui dive. And do advanced drift diving off West Lanai. A good double would be to combine both?. And they do a weekly Blue water Molokai Hammerhead run - it's hit/miss though for sighting them. IDK how that is in Sept. either.
Another option for the Kaanapali/Lahaina area is Extended Horizons also in Lahaina. They pretty much only dive Lanai and West Maui.
One other option for Molokini that's less of a drive is Maui Diamond II. They're out of Ma'alea Harbor. But from there it's not much further to Kihei where you'd have a choice of Severns, Robinson's, B&B Scuba and another boat I can never remember. When DiveMaven sees this she'll add it...lol.