Kauai

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Tomasz Szczudlo - 09 May 2004 04:07 GMT

I'm going to Kauai in July. Any dive operator/dive site recommendations? I
saw ads for very pricey ($250+) 3-tank trips to Niihau. Is it worth it?

Tomek

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Patrick - 09 May 2004 04:45 GMT

Just got back from there... Two recommendations -

Sea Sport Divers has a nice boat - 42' boat out of Poipu on the south side -
nicely equipped, good crew, seemed like a very professional operation.
Picture is at http://www.seasportdivers.com/anela_kai.html. They are
probably the best dive outfit on Kauai. If you don't want to do Niihau
with them, you can opt for a "tour" out of Port Allen - I'd recommend the
65' power cat run by Blue Dolphin Charters - at
http://www.kauaiboats.com/napali/ - they tour the NaPali coast and have an
optional 1 or 2 tank dive - we did a 1-tank wall dive from 45-120ft. We saw
spinner and bottle-nose dolphin, a couple of whales, sea turtles, monk seal,
shark, rays, and lots of other colorful fish. Another excellent crew, great
boat, and a day-trip I'd recommend for everyone - they let the certified
group go first, then run a discover scuba group, and then the snorkelers can
play, so anyone can have fun on this trip.

CaptPat

> I'm going to Kauai in July. Any dive operator/dive site recommendations? I
> saw ads for very pricey ($250+) 3-tank trips to Niihau. Is it worth it?
>
> Tomek

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Robert Schumacher - 09 May 2004 17:30 GMT

> I'm going to Kauai in July. Any dive operator/dive site
> recommendations? I saw ads for very pricey ($250+) 3-tank trips to
> Niihau. Is it worth it?
>
> Tomek

I'm surprised you saw an ad for a trip to Niihau, it's the "Forbidden Isle";
off-limits (privately owned, the island is inhabited by native Hawaiians
living in the old ways; the island's purpose is to preserve the old Hawaiian
culture). Access is limited to invitation only usually.

I'm not sure about packages in Kauai, I live on Oahu, but I can check out
here with the club I'm with. But Hawaii is a bit pricey :) I will ask
around at work Tuesday, too (a buddy at my command just did a trip to Kauai,
and he dives). Oddly, after nearly 8 years in Hawaii I've never been off
the island of Oahu... :)

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Robert Schumacher
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schumachersforum
http://www.robschumacher.blogspot.com/
Google...learn it...use it...love it.

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Dillon Pyron - 09 May 2004 21:02 GMT

>> I'm going to Kauai in July. Any dive operator/dive site
>> recommendations? I saw ads for very pricey ($250+) 3-tank trips to
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>living in the old ways; the island's purpose is to preserve the old Hawaiian
>culture). Access is limited to invitation only usually.

Nah, shops go all the time. They just can't land. Nobody can keep
them out of the waters. Those are "owned" by the State/Feds.

I know of at least two shops that go out on a semi-regular basis. As
someone else pointed out, the trip is not for the delicate stomach.
And some days it's too rough. I know of trips that were called after
leaving the dock.

>I'm not sure about packages in Kauai, I live on Oahu, but I can check out
>here with the club I'm with. But Hawaii is a bit pricey :) I will ask
>around at work Tuesday, too (a buddy at my command just did a trip to Kauai,
>and he dives). Oddly, after nearly 8 years in Hawaii I've never been off
>the island of Oahu... :)

Yes, it's pricey. And remember, you don't always get what you pay
for. There are some good operators on each of the islands, you just
have to ask around. Can't tell you about Kauai, it's been too long.

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dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

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Michael Ross - 09 May 2004 21:44 GMT

>>I'm surprised you saw an ad for a trip to Niihau, it's the "Forbidden Isle";
>>off-limits (privately owned, the island is inhabited by native Hawaiians
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Nah, shops go all the time. They just can't land. Nobody can keep
>them out of the waters. Those are "owned" by the State/Feds.

I'd be astonished if they can't land; from what I recall from my
times in the islands, it's an article of faith there that *all*
beaches are public property - I've never seen a 'private beach - keep
out' sign there.

Mike
http://www.corestore.org

'As I walk along these shores
I am the history within'

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Dillon Pyron - 09 May 2004 22:59 GMT

>>>I'm surprised you saw an ad for a trip to Niihau, it's the "Forbidden Isle";
>>>off-limits (privately owned, the island is inhabited by native Hawaiians
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>beaches are public property - I've never seen a 'private beach - keep
>out' sign there.

Not sure about Hawai'i, but from my experience, it's only up to the
high tide line, or something like that. I do know that in Hawai'i,
private property owners are supposed to provide a public access to the
beach if they have more than x feet of beachfront property (where x is
left to someone who knows the truth).

Anyone? Buhler?

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dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

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Robert Schumacher - 10 May 2004 00:25 GMT

>>>> I'm surprised you saw an ad for a trip to Niihau, it's the
>>>> "Forbidden Isle"; off-limits (privately owned, the island is
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Anyone? Buhler?

Actually the whole island is privately owned. As the above poster pointed
out, you can dive in the *waters* around it (that had slipped my mind), but
outside of an invitation or emergencey visitors are absolutely not welcome.
I don't remember when it was, but several years back the whole island was
bought and is private property.

Signature

Robert Schumacher
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schumachersforum
http://www.robschumacher.blogspot.com/
Google...learn it...use it...love it.

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Michael Ross - 10 May 2004 04:16 GMT

<snip>

>Actually the whole island is privately owned. As the above poster pointed
>out, you can dive in the *waters* around it (that had slipped my mind), but
>outside of an invitation or emergencey visitors are absolutely not welcome.
>I don't remember when it was, but several years back the whole island was
>bought and is private property.

Yes, but I thought that the law in Hawai'i was that, even if the
property was private, the beach had to be open to all? - including
obliging the property owner to provide access from the land, as
another poster pointed out.

Not saying anything about the rest of the island, beyond the high
water mark - I've no idea, it may very well be all private - but
landing on the beach shouldn't be a problem, they're public, it's the
law.

Even if Bill Gates built a billion dollar beachfront palace in
Hawai'i, he wouldn't be able to stop you and me from using the beach
outside his front window.

Mike
http://www.corestore.org

'As I walk along these shores
I am the history within'

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suds - 10 May 2004 06:57 GMT

> Actually the whole island is privately owned. As the above poster pointed
> out, you can dive in the *waters* around it (that had slipped my mind), but
> outside of an invitation or emergencey visitors are absolutely not welcome.
> I don't remember when it was, but several years back the whole island was
> bought and is private property.

The Island was bought back in the 1860s (
http://allsands.com/Travel/Places/niihauislandhi_aur_gn.htm ) by the
Robinson Family. They are also the largest private property owners on
Kaua'i. The Robinsons tried raising sheep and cattle there but it did not
suceed. Ni'ihau is Kaua'i's rainshadow and, therefore, a true dessert
island. Plus it is remote.

That said, even though the entire island of Ni'ihau is private property, it
is still subject to the laws of the state. According to state law you can
land on and be on the beach up to the highwater mark. But this does not
happen. Anyone who attempts to land there without permission is quickly
escorted off. It's seen as a native rights issue and has yet to be
challenged in court.

All that aside, the diving *off* Ni'ihau is probably the best in Hawai'i.
If the weather co-operates and you can stomach the crossing. I was there
just a year ago and plan to be back this summer.

suds

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Randy Buckner - 09 May 2004 18:02 GMT

> I'm going to Kauai in July. Any dive operator/dive site recommendations? I
> saw ads for very pricey ($250+) 3-tank trips to Niihau. Is it worth it?
>
> Tomek

Depends on the person as to worth. The crossing from Kauai to Niihau is
very rough and takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours to get there. Many days are called
off due to the rough crossing (they only go twice a week). That said, it is
some of the best diving in Hawaii, if not the best. Make sure that you have
reservations as it fills up quick. I dove many times with Bubbles Below
while stationed at Tripler in Hawaii. They never failed to deliver.

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