Need a few beginner dives on Oahu and Maui

[scubamikey]

I'm looking for some dive suggestions for 3 new divers. We're all newly certified and will have time for 1 day (maybe 2) of diving on Oahu and 2, max 3 days on Maui in early march. Not looking to pack them all in, just get out with some friends. We'd all be happy just looking at pretty fish in 20 feet of water.

So what are some good beginner dives? We'll need rental gear.

I checked the stickys but there's so much info there...

 

[harleyryder247]

Hey, I know a place that is really good with divers, not big place and you can rent your gear from him. He is in Honolulu. Contact Max Brunk of Manini Dive Company at 808-291-00212 or max@mdchawaii.com not the fanciest or the newest but don't think you will beat the hospitality or fun of diving with him. I dive with him every year or two when in Hawaii. Tell him David Booker recommended him.

 

[scottitheduck]

Shakas to Max...... super fun guy to dive with!

G

 

[diversteve]

Dive inside Molokini crater with B&B Scuba or Mike Severn's. It's an easy shallower dive with lots of fish. Look for sharks resting on the sand flats and it's the only place in Maui I ever saw a scorpionfish.

In the afternoon when the tradewinds make the water rougher, they'll dive close to the Maui coast. The St. Anthony is a good wreck dive in under 60' - lots of turtles live there.

Another option would be Lahaina Divers or Extended Horizons afternoon trips. They're both in West Maui.

For shore diving, call Shaka Divers - Doug has a divebus and does escorted shore dives in the Kihei area. We also did a shoredive with Pacific Dive in Lahaina at Old Airport Beach. It was shallow yet interesting.

Part of who you go with depends on where you're staying. It's about a 45 min drive from the Lahaina area to Kihei and Severns leaves really early - around 6am when they can. Afaik all these operators have rental gear.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Working randomly off that last post;

The meet time for Mike Severns Dive boat is 6 AM in the Kihei small boat ramp parking lot. B&B check in is 5:45, but their boat is in the water at that time, so they leave quite a bit earlier than Severns. Pro Diver typically leaves nearly as early as B&B.

For South Maui, in the afternoon when trades are typically stronger there are very few boat trips, but the first dive would typically be Molokini. Actually, that would still be morning (before noon), then the second dive would be after noon, but might still be at Molokini. Second trips usually only happen during peak tourist seasons.

Extended Horizons only has a couple afternoon trips per week; they plan to go to Lanai every morning. Lahaina Divers afternoon trips often have Discover Scuba participants, so sites are less than 40 feet deep typically.

 

[princessaprilia]

+1 for Shaka Doug in Maui.

He did a great job of taking care of us newbies...

 

[grandizer52]

+2 for shaka...awsome, dives...love the bus

 

[maildiver]

For Oahu, if you are staying in Waikiki, I'd go with Waikiki Dive center, they're within walking distance of most hotels, they pick you up at your hotel. The afternoon trips are to shallow reefs or turtle dives 35-40 ft. I dove with them, and you can't beat their prices/

 

[Montana Diver]

B&B on Maui is a great boat operation. They are the first out of the Kihei ramp, so you can get two dives in and back to the condo by 10AM. Safe and great dives. As posted before, normally Molokini, a crater shaped island between Maui and Kahoolawe, and a location close to Maui shore. They dive with max twelve divers, split into groups of four so you get the dive you can do safely.

I have never dived with Shaka Doug, however he gets lots of praise from this and other boards for his great shore dives.

Good Luck, hope your trip is great!

 

[TSandM]

There is very accessible shore diving on Maui. B&B is a great shop to rent your gear from; they have been extremely good to us, and have bent over backwards to help when we've had specific problems (like forgetting our yoke adapters on one trip). Check out Home Page for descriptions of some of the local sites. If the swell is down, the entries and exits to many sites are very easy, and the reefs tend to stay shallow, all of which is good for beginners.

Boat trips to Molokini are fun, and the viz is somewhat better there (although the viz off shore can be good if the swell isn't big) but they do add substantial expense to the trip.

Which dives you do will depend on where you are staying. If you are up around Kaanapali or Lahaina, Black Rock and Old Airport are two good beginner dives. Down toward Kihei, Ulua and Polo beaches are very good dives.