Dive/snorkel in Maui/Oahu

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Rick DeBay - 21 Nov 2006 16:18 GMT

I'm going to Maui and Oahu with family in late December, and I'd like help
finding boats that do both snorkel and dives. I'm the only certified diver, but
the others would like to snorkel.
I'd really like to do a two tank dive at Molokini followed by one at Turtle
Town, but I haven't had any luck. Also, what sites are must-dives in Oahu, that
could be enjoyed by snorkelers?

Thanks, Rick DeBay

P.S. dive computer rental would be a plus.

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Greg Mossman - 21 Nov 2006 20:19 GMT

> I'm going to Maui and Oahu with family in late December, and I'd like help
> finding boats that do both snorkel and dives. I'm the only certified
> diver, but
> the others would like to snorkel.

You'd be better off shore diving the snorkel spots of South Maui. Plenty of
snorkel cattleboats offer SCUBA as well, but it's probably very restrictive
and expensive for what you get.

> I'd really like to do a two tank dive at Molokini followed by one at
> Turtle
> Town, but I haven't had any luck. Also, what sites are must-dives in
> Oahu, that
> could be enjoyed by snorkelers?

Must-dive sites in Oahu? I don't think Oahu itself counts as a must-dive,
so you're not likely to find one enjoyable by snorkelers or not. Snorkel
Hanauma Bay with the family, then check out the pineapples and the Mormons
and the other topside attractions, and save the diving for Maui. I can't be
of more help since I've always taken my own recommendation and avoided
diving Oahu, though I'll be over there and in Maui in early December.

> P.S. dive computer rental would be a plus.

You probably won't need a computer for any profile off a snorkel boat and I
doubt they rent them. Quality dive ops like Ed Robinson's offer computer
rentals for use off their boats. The shore diving is shallow enough that
you won't need one.

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Rick DeBay - 26 Nov 2006 10:02 GMT

>> I'm going to Maui and Oahu with family in late December, and I'd like help
>> finding boats that do both snorkel and dives. I'm the only certified
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>rentals for use off their boats. The shore diving is shallow enough that
>you won't need one.

I'll skip Oahu for the diving, and concentrate on the hiking and museums.
For Maui, I may have to do a "cattle boat" as I want to do Molokini and Turtle
Town. I've found one serious dive outfit that will do snorkel and a Molokini
dive, but only on Wednesday, and we won't be there then. But I can't complain,
it's all comped :-)

Rick DeBay

P.S. Does anyone know what it costs to go from Maui to Big Island? I want to
see a volcano.

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Scott - 26 Nov 2006 15:21 GMT

> I'll skip Oahu for the diving, and concentrate on the hiking and museums.
> For Maui, I may have to do a "cattle boat" as I want to do Molokini and Turtle
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> P.S. Does anyone know what it costs to go from Maui to Big Island? I want to
> see a volcano.

One of the posters here lives in Hawaii, but cant seem to do anything on
this NG but flagglate about far left socialist politics, between loads of
laundry and dishes.

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Greg Mossman - 26 Nov 2006 17:11 GMT

> I'll skip Oahu for the diving, and concentrate on the hiking and museums.
> For Maui, I may have to do a "cattle boat" as I want to do Molokini and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> complain,
> it's all comped :-)

I was surprised to see that Ed's allows snorkelers aboard, but they charge
them only $10 less than the divers. Some deal.

> P.S. Does anyone know what it costs to go from Maui to Big Island? I
> want to
> see a volcano.

Hawaiian and Aloha are the only two carriers, AFAIK. Both have websites.
The interisland fares start at around $50 or so each way with suitable
advance purchase, up to $200 or so each way for first-class. Since you have
to fly through real airports, with real security, it's a PITA for a day
trip.

But you'll already be on Maui. Haleakala is a fine volcano and you can
drive to the top and hike around the rim without having to suffer the acid
atmosphere of Volcano NP. A lava flow during the day looks like mud. Big
deal. Since the interisland flights don't fly at night, you'd have to stay
overnight on the Big Island to see the sight at night, and even then it's
definitely not guaranteed on any particular day, and the park is a very long
drive from the airport (about three hours each way from Kona, maybe less
from Hilo).

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Dillon Pyron - 30 Nov 2006 23:04 GMT

>> I'll skip Oahu for the diving, and concentrate on the hiking and museums.
>> For Maui, I may have to do a "cattle boat" as I want to do Molokini and
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>to fly through real airports, with real security, it's a PITA for a day
>trip.

For us to island hop on a trip, it's pretty much a full day write off
to get from Maui to Kona. There are only a limited number of flights
a day. The last time I priced it, Kahalui to Kona was about $165 rt.

>But you'll already be on Maui. Haleakala is a fine volcano and you can
>drive to the top and hike around the rim without having to suffer the acid
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>drive from the airport (about three hours each way from Kona, maybe less
>from Hilo).

VNP is about equidistant from Kona and Hilo. For us it's a ful day
excursion. And every time we've gone there during the day, it's
rained. But only at the park. The vog encourages rain, I think. It's
also cool enough to wear jeans. We've never gone down to the "beach",
just chewed up too much time for iffy results. And I didn't feel like
making the drive back after dark. So we probably won't go back on our
next trip.

Hale'akala is worth the trip. We always stop in Kula for lunch and a
little acclimatization. Our one morning (sunrise) trip was
disappointing, with no sunrise to be seen. It's tall enough to
warrant the standard recommendations about moving slowly and dressing
warmly. And windy, especially on the summit. You just have to check
out some of the silver swords and stop at some of the picnic areas to
experience the ne nes. Just don't feed the little buggers.

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dillon

If you can't figure out how to unmunge my
address, email me and I'll explain it.

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G. Cannon - 29 Nov 2006 22:56 GMT

> > (content removed)
>
> P.S. Does anyone know what it costs to go from Maui to Big Island? I want
> to
> see a volcano.

There are tour operators that will fly you over the Big Island volcano
and then return to Maui (try http://ww.volcanoairtours.com/tours.html)
but the cost is around $300-400/person and you'll only see the volcano
from the air.
Bye,
GC

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