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Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / May 2005Lahaina Divers of Maui, HI - any recommendations?
Anyone here ever use Lahaina Divers in Lahaina Hawaii on the island of Maui? How'd it go? Have a good experience? I'm certified, haven't been in the water for a couple of years. If that makes any difference. > Anyone here ever use Lahaina Divers in Lahaina Hawaii on the island of > Maui? How'd it go? Have a good experience? > > I'm certified, haven't been in the water for a couple of years. If > that makes any difference. Lahaina divers is apparently a cattleboat operation. I did not dive with them, but their shop was nice, adn they seemed nice. I was treated VERY well though across the street at Pacific Dive. The owner and the divemasters were all extraordinarily pleasant. They're a smaller operation, and booking ahead would be advised. Lahaina Divers though, seemed to be easy to get onto because their two boats scaled up to being able to accomodate a LOT of divers. The boats looked really really nice from what I saw. One other trip worth mentioning there is an afternoon on the Quicksilver going to molokini and turtle town. It's a fast catamaran that holds a lot of folks, but it never felt crowded. They stop for snorkelling and snuba, and also accomodate up to 12 certified divers. It's a great choice if you're travelling with someone who doesn't dive, and even if you both dive--we both dove with them and our most memorable day was on the Quicksilver. Saw a whale shark on the surface which was a hell of a rare find. Saw a humpback whale and her calf come right up to the boat too... it was wonderful (though the whales are headed back to Alaska by now). And all the other snorkelers didn't affect us at all, we plopped in off of another exit, went down, snorkellers disappeared from us essentially, and then they all have to wait after getting bored on the surface for us divers to return. There was also a guy doing video on the boat, and the video was very nice as well. Have a great time. Maui is friggin awesome. Where ya stayin? Best Regards, -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ >> Anyone here ever use Lahaina Divers in Lahaina Hawaii on the island of >> Maui? How'd it go? Have a good experience? [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >Best Regards, Thanks for taking the time to reply. Is the Quicksilver operating with Pacific Dive? Or is that a second alternative to Lahaina Divers? Right now, I'm considering my options. We'll be staying at a condo in Kaanapali (sp?) in August. I'm certified, but not the rest of my family. That may not make any difference. They could come along for the ride or do something else. > Thanks for taking the time to reply. My pleasure to help! > Is the Quicksilver operating with Pacific Dive? Or is that a second > alternative to Lahaina Divers? Oh, separate operation. Another alternative. The diving/snuba/snorkelling on Quicksilver is done by ... oh, some other shop that honestly doesn't have a great reputation evidently because they don't pay their folks very well, however, their work on the quicksilver is good and our dive guide Rachael was quite pleasant, set up all the gear, and made for a nice experience. Quicksilver doesn't typically attract a ton of divers since people mistakenly think that the snokellers would get in their way. But really, it was the most fun activity we did in Maui. > Right now, I'm considering my options. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > difference. They could come along for the ride or do something > else. Then the Quicksilver would be ideal. They could do Snuba if they wanted, or they could snorkel, while you could dive. Quicksilver is owned by teh Boss Frog dive shop. You can find a lot of places selling this tour on the Quicksilver, but here's one: http://www.maui-vacation.net/activities/molokini.html#QS and keeps scrolling to read and see all the details. Same boat, but packages for snorkel, scuba, and snuba. Tanks weights even fins and masks available on the ship, all included in tehprice. A wetsuit shorty which I'd recommend was an extra 10 or 15. Have fun! Best Regards, -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ >> Thanks for taking the time to reply. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Best Regards, One last thing - is it easy to rent underwater camera equipment there? I'd read the Mike Severn website that says such things are for rent, but I don't want to have to hunt down an obscure location. I just don't have time for that. What I'm hoping for is to rent a camera for that particular trip, same as all the rest of the gear. If not, fine, but I'm hoping. > One last thing - is it easy to rent underwater camera equipment there? > I'd read the Mike Severn website that says such things are for rent, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > If not, fine, but I'm hoping. That I have to wave a hearty "dunno" flag. I bought the DVD off the Quicksilver, and dove unencumbered. 8-) I really need to get an UW enclosure for my digicam. -- Todd H. http://www.toddh.net/ >>> Thanks for taking the time to reply. >> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >don't have time for that. What I'm hoping for is to rent a camera for >that particular trip, same as all the rest of the gear. Severns would only rent if you went on their trip. And I don't think, from the way you describe yourself, that you're qualified to go out with them. They leave out of Kihei, which is a bit of a drive from Ka'anapali. Most dive ops will have some kind of camera rental. Probably most are now doing a sealed MX-5 or a cheap digital. >If not, fine, but I'm hoping.  Signaturedillon Women should be obscene and not absurd. >>>> Thanks for taking the time to reply. >>One last thing - is it easy to rent underwater camera equipment there? >>I'd read the Mike Severn website that says such things are for rent, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Most dive ops will have some kind of camera rental. Probably most are >now doing a sealed MX-5 or a cheap digital. Yes, I got that info from one of the operators - a cheap film camera with minimal adjustments. Sort of a brownie box camera for divers ;) That's o.k. The other alternative of course is spending big money to outfit my digital. Probably won't do that. And about that last point, I've already contacted the shop I used to dive from for refresher prior to leaving for Hawaii. George Max <lazarus@removethis.rr.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :The other alternative of course is spending big money to outfit my :digital. Probably won't do that. How much do you think it will cost? Dan Bracuk If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. I thought I saw an ikelite enclosure for about $600 plus I'd have to get a strobe. Especially since the on camera flash would be blocked. It's probably a good idea to have an off camera flash in any case for this. >George Max <lazarus@removethis.rr.com> pounded away at his keyboard >resulting in: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups >----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- George Max <bluemax53201@removethis.yahoo.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :I thought I saw an ikelite enclosure for about $600 plus I'd have to :get a strobe. Especially since the on camera flash would be blocked. :It's probably a good idea to have an off camera flash in any case for :this. If your camera manufacturer makes a housing for your camera it will probably cost a lot less. Plus, you wouldn't necessarly have to get a strobe. Find a thread called The Wife Was Right in rec.scuba.equipment for details. It was started in Dec 2004 or Jan 2005. Dan Bracuk If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. >George Max <bluemax53201@removethis.yahoo.com> pounded away at his >keyboard resulting in: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >Dan Bracuk >If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. Unfortunately, Nikon, my camera's manufacturer doesn't offer a housing for my particular model. :( Mine is the Coolpix 5400 George Max <lazarus@removethis.rr.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :Unfortunately, Nikon, my camera's manufacturer doesn't offer a housing :for my particular model. :( : :Mine is the Coolpix 5400 You can buy a 4 Megapixel Canon or Sony, plus a housing for less than the $600 you said it would cost to buy an Ikelite housing for your Nikon. Dan Bracuk If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. >George Max <lazarus@removethis.rr.com> pounded away at his keyboard >resulting in: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Dan Bracuk That's a much better deal, but even so, I think I'll just rent the shop's camera. >George Max <bluemax53201@removethis.yahoo.com> pounded away at his >keyboard resulting in: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >probably cost a lot less. Plus, you wouldn't necessarly have to get a >strobe. The housing for Carol's camera is NLA. Fortunately, there's e-bay. $340 housing for a $200 camera. Flash is still available, but it's almost $400 with the required tray. >Find a thread called The Wife Was Right in rec.scuba.equipment for >details. It was started in Dec 2004 or Jan 2005. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups >----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- Signaturedillon Women should be obscene and not absurd. My first "real" OW diving was done in Maui and used Ed Robinson. Understood my level of diving but did not baby me. I hate cattle boat diving, you are just part of the crowd. I will pay a bit more for a limited number of divers on the boat. Enjoy Maui, and make sure you do the ocean side of Molikini Crater. Dove with them last August twice. Very expensive $ 125 two tank dive. ouch...! They were very nice. Nice Boats.........nice DM's. They do push as many divers as they can into their boats, hence (cattleboat) could apply, but the boats and their system is so good you do not mind. It includes a nice lunch and towels. This operation is very close to Kaanapali and the drive is very short.(a plus) I would recommend them....I loved the Molokini backwall dive and the front wall too. The bottom time was a little short, but who cares when it was soooo beautiful. I saw hundreds of white tips and a couple of spotted of eagle rays against the big blue. White tips went by you like barracudas in the caribbean do. Nice trip, Maui was great,,,,,,,Tip: go to sensei for sushi. >Anyone here ever use Lahaina Divers in Lahaina Hawaii on the island of >Maui? How'd it go? Have a good experience? > >I'm certified, haven't been in the water for a couple of years. If >that makes any difference. >Dove with them last August twice. Very expensive $ 125 two tank dive. >ouch...! [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Nice trip, Maui was great,,,,,,,Tip: go to sensei for sushi. While you were there, did anyone use nitrox? In addition to refreshing my skills at the local dive shop, I was thinking about the nitrox training. What say you, or anyone else reading this? > >Dove with them last August twice. Very expensive $ 125 two tank dive. > >ouch...! [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > What say you, or anyone else reading this? Not with Lahaina Divers. They won't let you use nitrox on the back wall of Molokini. Apparently they don't trust their own training (or anyone else's, for that matter) enough to chance letting you dive with nitrox where you can accidently exceed MOD. I've posted my negative experiences with Lahaina enough times here that I won't repeat them (google is your friend). I suggest that the OP do a search on Maui, Lahaina, Ed Robinson and Mike Severns and read some of the comments over the last three or four years. >I've posted my negative experiences with Lahaina enough times here that >I won't repeat them (google is your friend). I suggest that the OP do a >search on Maui, Lahaina, Ed Robinson and Mike Severns and read some of >the comments over the last three or four years. Good advice. I'll take a look. George Max <lazarus@removethis.rr.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :In addition to refreshing my skills at the local dive shop, I was :thinking about the nitrox training. : :What say you, or anyone else reading this? Nitrox is often a waste of money. Dan Bracuk If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. >Nitrox is often a waste of money. > >Dan Bracuk could you elaborate? George Max <bluemax53201@removethis.yahoo.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :could you elaborate? A tank of Nitrox costs more than a tank of air. Often you get no extra value for the extra money. A few months ago I started a thread in rec.scuba called Nitrox, What it Would have Cost and What I Would Have Got, or something like that. Look it up. Timeframe is ~Jan 2004. Dan Bracuk If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. >George Max <bluemax53201@removethis.yahoo.com> pounded away at his >keyboard resulting in: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Dan Bracuk Thanks for the pointer, that's an interesting debate. As always, nothings perfectly clear, it's a matter of a cost/benefit analysis > A tank of Nitrox costs more than a tank of air. Often you get no > extra value for the extra money. Sure you do. Or at least some of us perceive it that way. It all depends on how you value ending your dives with less nitrogen in your tissues. Hawaii diving is usually an early morning activity since the trade winds pick up around noon and make the water choppy. After two morning dives, it's nice to have enough energy to sightsee or pursue other activities for the remainder of the day. Less nitrogen in the tissues anecdotally equates to more energy and that may be worth an extra $10 or $20 to someone who's already spending thousands on their Hawaii vacation. Obviously YMMV. Nitrox was nice and I did my first 60 minutes dive with 80 fsw average. 650 PSI remaining at end of dive. Blowing the MOD by 1 feet. Thank god for Nitrox compatible computers. Not bad for an average out of shape diver. >> A tank of Nitrox costs more than a tank of air. Often you get no >> extra value for the extra money. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >to more energy and that may be worth an extra $10 or $20 to someone who's >already spending thousands on their Hawaii vacation. Obviously YMMV. >A tank of Nitrox costs more than a tank of air. Often you get no >extra value for the extra money. I consider bottom time a valuable commodity. I get MY money's worth from nitrox. YMMV. NO one was using Nitrox ...I would suggest another dive operation for that. >>Dove with them last August twice. Very expensive $ 125 two tank dive. >>ouch...! [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > >What say you, or anyone else reading this? |
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