resort diving

This photo of Reef Gliders is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This is the one hundred and sixty-fourth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Roatan and the Bay Islands, Honduras. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving on Roatan before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving Roatan

Background – Roatan is the largest of the group of 7 Bay Islands situated 65 kilometers (41 miles) off the north coast of Honduras between other Bay Islands Utila and Guanaja.  It is an exposed coral reef that is 77 kilometers (48 miles) long and 8 kilometers (5 miles) wide at the widest.  The western side is most populated with the easternmost quarter separated by a 15-meter (50-foot) mangrove channel.  Europeans first arrived when Columbus landed there on his 4^th voyage from 1502 to 1504.  Spanish traders soon followed and the indigenous people quickly died out from imported diseases including smallpox and measles.  From there the island has an interesting history that included settlers, pirates, traders, and military forces.  Black Caribs from St. Vincent were brought after being deposed from rule there in 1797.  Then an influx of migrants from the Cayman Islands came after the abolition of slavery in the 1830s.  These peoples formed the foundation of people known as Islanders today that are the major cultural influence.  In the 20th-century, Spanish speaking Mestizos started arriving from mainland Honduras.  Today the population of Roatan is around 45,000 with people speaking the local version of English as the first language and Spanish as the second. Tourism is the driver of the economy.  For more historic, cultural, geographic, and demographic information, please check Wikipedia-Roatan

Undersea World – Situated on the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and on the edge of the Cayman Trench, Roatan and the Bay Islands offer great biodiversity on a variety of subsea topography.  There are shallow fringing reefs that start at 5 meters (16 feet) and range to steep walls, canyons, caves, and crevices.  The more than 300 species of fish include big groupers, schools of barracuda, parrotfish, pufferfish, angelfish, grunts, butterflyfish, snappers, moray eels, grey reef, nurse, and hammerhead sharks, eagle and manta rays, stingrays, dolphins, and pelagic game fish like marlin and tuna.  In March and April and again in September whale sharks can often be seen near Utila Island.  In addition, there are huge lobsters and crabs, octopus, rich hard and soft corals, big sea fans, tube and barrel sponges, and black corals on some of the deeper walls.  The west end of Roatan is protected by Roatan Marine Park with around 40 sites.  90 out of the 178 total sites around the islands have boat moorings with about half the sites appropriate for beginners and introductory training and the rest suitable for more advanced and technical diving.  The El Aguila, Odyssey, Prince Albert, and Mr. Bud wrecks also provide exploratory opportunities for the relatively inexperienced up to technical levels.

Moai Sculpture – Easter Island (Photo courtesy of Orca Diving Center & TripAdvisor)

This is the one hundred and sixty-third in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Easter Island, Chile. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving on Easter Island before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving Easter Island

Background – Easter Island (Rapa Nui in the local language or Isla De Pascua in Spanish) is the southeastern-most point of the Polynesian Triangle 3,512 kilometers (2,195 miles) from mainland South America.  Easter Island is a volcanic high island formed by three extinct coalesced volcanoes with a maximum elevation of 507 meters (1,663 feet), an area of 163.6 km2 (63.2 square miles), and a tropical rainforest climate with moderate temperatures.  Recent research indicates that the first known settlers were of Polynesian origin arriving from the west around 1,200 AD.  They developed a rich civilization as evidenced by the 1,000 huge monumental statues called moai which were there in a mostly toppled state when Dutch explorers first arrived on Easter Sunday in 1722.  At that time there was a population of 2,000-3,000 down from an estimated 15,000 a century earlier.  The island was deforested for food cultivation and that along with an imported rat infestation had put the civilization into decline.  Disease, slave-raiding, and emigration further decreased the indigenous population to 111 by 1877.  In 1888 the island was annexed by Chile and eventually became its special territory in 2007.  By 2017 the population was 7,750 with 45% considering themselves Rapa Nui.  Spanish is the official language with estimates that as few as 800 are fluent speakers of Rapa Nui, a dialect closely related to others in Eastern Polynesia.  Approximately 100,000 tourists come to Easter Island annually.  For more historic, cultural, geographic, and demographic information, please check Wikipedia-Easter Island.

Undersea World – Easter Island has a subsea topography formed through volcanic activity that includes some steep drop-offs, arches, swim-throughs, big boulders, and coral bommies.  It has a relatively drab reef dominated by a limited number of hard corals and 142 endemic species of marine life.  Fish life is sparse, probably mostly due to overfishing.  In 2018 the government put into place the Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area covering 740,000 km2 (286,000 square miles) around the island.  Hopefully, it will eliminate fishing and spur a major regeneration of marine life.  I included a National Geographic video below of diving around Sala y Gomes 415 kilometers (258 miles) to the northeast which would be a great place to go for some dives and provides a look at what Easter Island could conceivably become.  All that said, there is a supply of interesting things to see that include Christmas tree worms, lobsters, moray eels, damselfish, wrasses, cowfish, butterflyfish, pufferfish, lizardfish, filefish, scorpionfish, squirrelfish, trumpetfish, surgeonfish, amberjacks, trevallies, turtles, and the possibility of Galapagos sharks, pelagics like swordfish and tuna, and seasonal humpback whales from December to March.

Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible all year around Easter Island.

• Air temperatures reach average daily highs of 27°C (80°F) from January through March dropping to 21°C (70°F) from July through September.
• It rains all year but there is a bit more from April through September.
• The water temperature has annual highs in February and March of 25°C (77°F) and lows of around 20°C (68°F) from August through October.  When the water is at its warmest many divers will be happy with a 3-5mm wetsuit.  At its coolest 7mm wetsuits or thicker with hoods and gloves or even drysuits may be suitable.
• Visibility is usually excellent at 15-40 meters (50-130 feet) or greater at times.  When it rains heaviest the visibility decreases.
• Current can be moderate to strong at times depending on the site, season, and tide.
• There are sites suitable for all levels of diver from beginner to advanced levels.  A dozen or more dive shops are available to offer a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding and boat cruises.

Here is my review regarding the range of gear suitable for cold water diving:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

There aren’t any liveaboard diving cruises to Easter Island.  The closest liveaboard locations served are the Galapagos Islands and French Polynesia.  Here are my reviews and links to one of the liveaboards to each.

• Best Galapagos Liveaboard Dive Trips Described, Reviewed & Compared
• Best Scuba Diving French Polynesia Liveaboards

MY Galapagos Master – Galapagos Liveaboard Diving

French Polynesia Master – French Polynesia Liveaboard Diving

 

Selected Easter Island Dive Sites

Moai Site: 21-23 meters (68-75 feet), a 7-meter (23-foot) replica of a Moai statue in Hanga Roa Bay on the southwest side where most of the popular diving takes place, sitting in a tilted position with the face angled upward on a volcanic slope, there are several stories to explain it, the most common is that it was a prop made for a Chilean TV show in the 1990s that was filled with cement and sunk there as an attraction, suitable for all levels of diver

Vai a Heva:  10 meters (33 feet), near Hanga Roa, series of easy to access coral pinnacles with the standard Easter Island reef tropicals, suitable for all levels of diver

Motu Nui: 55 meters (180 feet) maximum depth, one of three small islets behind the Rano Kau volcano off the southeast tip, the undersea terrain includes smooth grey rocks, pinnacles, and hard corals, known for great visibility up to 70 meters (230 feet), look for a number of endemic reef tropicals, it’s a good spot to view passing pelagics like tuna, suitable for all levels of diver depending on depth attempted.

The Cathedral: series of caverns, arches, and swim-throughs located just below the Matu Tuatara lava tube on the island, some current is possible, suitable for experienced divers

Things to Do in Easter Island (aside from scuba diving)

The remnants of an ancient culture, volcanic terrain, and isolation have created a unique setting for discovery.  Here is a sample of sights and activities to consider:

Anthropological Museum, Photography Tour, Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, Quarry at Rano Raruku, Ana Kakenga Cave, Stargazing, Orongo (site of the ancient ‘Birdman’ competition), Ana Kena Beach, Traditional Dance Show, Surfing, Horseback Riding, Explore the Coastline, Kaloa Restaurant, Get a Polynesian Tatoo, Ancient Petroglyphs, Volcanic Crater at Rano Kau, Hanga Roa Village Catholic Church, Ahu Akahanga, Local Fast Food, Sunset at Tahai, Swim with Turtles, in Hanga Roa Harbor, Ahu Aivi Moais, Pito Kura Navel of the World, Botanical Gardens, Island Lifestyle (slower), Ana Te Pahu Cave, Pakaos at Puna Pau, Ahu Vinapu Stonework.

This video gives a representative glimpse of the natural and cultural attractions and some useful travel tips.

Easter Island Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

• Air – Mataveri International Airport (IPC), located at Hanga Roa connects to Santiago, Chile daily and weekly to Tahiti and Lima, Peru on LATAM Airlines.
• Taxis are cheap and plentiful, but otherwise, there is no public transportation.
• Rentals – Cars, including jeeps and larger cars, are available from several agencies in Hanga Roa.  It is also possible to rent dirt bikes, other motorbikes and scooters, and bicycles.

For more details related to all of the above transportation options and other tourist information, go to Wikivoyage-Easter Island.

Hotels and Diving – On Easter Island, there are more than 130 lodging options ranging from $15 to $686 per night and a number of dive shops in operation.  They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  The website linked below has the details for the lodging and can arrange a booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Easter Island Lodging

Photography in Easter Island

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, turtles, pelagics, and beautiful historic and natural onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Easter Island scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Giant Moray Eel (Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor and Molokai Fish & Dive Center)

This is the one hundred and sixty-second in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Molokai, Hawaii. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Molokai before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Molokai Scuba Diving

Background – Molokai, known as “the Friendly Isle,” is the birthplace of the hula and the fifth largest Hawaiian Island at 35 miles (61 kilometers) in length by 10 miles (160 kilometers) in width.  Located 25 miles (40 kilometers) across the Kaiwi Channel from Oahu and north of Lanai and Maui, it has a population of 7,500.  Developing geologically from two shield volcanoes the highest point is at 4,970 feet (1,510 meters). It has the highest sea cliffs in the world and the longest fringe reef in the US at 25 miles (40 kilometers).  The low western half is dry and denuded by goats while the eastern half has lush wet rainforests.  Recent studies indicate that indigenous peoples started arriving after 1,000 AD from the Marquesas Islands.  Captain Cook was the first westerner to sight the island with the first landing made by Captain George Dixon in 1778.  Missionaries arrived in 1832.  Coffee and sugar production started in the 19^th century along with cattle and coconuts set up by King Kamehameha V on the Molokai Ranch.  Local resistance to western disease was weak and a number were introduced including Hansen’s disease (leprosy) for which the famous colony was set up there that ran from 1866-1969.  The ranch company still operates today and has been the developer of a limited amount of tourism.  Local resistance has been strong with protests against the ranch involving arson and animal poisoning.  In 2015 there were only 64,767 tourists to go to Molokai compared to 3 million in Maui.  This amount of tourism is important to the economy along with agriculture but there is high unemployment with one-third of the population on food stamps.  For more historic, cultural, geographic, and demographic information, please check Wikipedia-Molokai.

Undersea World – With almost no commercial activity and a small amount of diving traffic, the 40 dive sites on the long fringe reef and offshore are in pristine condition.  Many of the best sites require a boat to access with Scuba Dive Molokai and Molokai Fish & Dive the two most recommended operators.  On some sites you can go deep and substantial drift is possible but there are sites suitable for all levels of diver.  In addition to the fringe reef, the volcanic terrain has a good variety of ridges, boulders, pinnacles, canyons, walls, swim-throughs, and blue holes with diverse hard corals especially, including antler, cauliflower, blue rice, and green lobe corals.  In the nooks and crannies, there are fascinating macro critters like lobsters, crabs, octopus, frogfish, and conchs.  Colorful reef tropicals include blue-striped grunts, wrasses, parrotfish, butterflyfish, bannerfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, angelfish, and trumpetfish.  Megafauna highlights are very common green turtles, eagle and manta rays, whitetip reef sharks, hammerheads, whale sharks, Hawaiian monk seals, dolphins, and humpback whales in winter.

Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible on Molokai all year.

• The average daily air temperature highs range from 79°F (26°C) in January and February to 86°F (30°C) in August and September.
• Water temperature runs from lows of 76°C (24°C) in December through March to highs of 80°C (27°F) in August through September.  3-5mm wetsuits are suitable when the water is at its warmest.  Some divers may opt for 6-7mm of insulation when it is coolest
• There is substantial rain all year with a drier season from May through September.  Rains are usually of short duration and not intense.  In the wetter eastern half of the island where the most explored dive sites are located, there are 300 inches (7,600 mm) of rainfall per year.
• Current can be strong at times on some sites.  In the summer months, it is windier and surface chop can be greater.
• Visibility is typically 50-100 feet (15-30 meters).

There are conditions suitable for all levels of diver.  Several dive shops operate on Molokai providing a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding and boat cruises.  Some of the shops on Maui also make trips to the Molokai sites.

There is not a liveaboard that directly cruises the Molokai dive sites, but there is one that dives on the big island.  Here is my review and a link to that liveaboard:

• Best Scuba Diving Hawaii Liveaboards

Kona Aggressor II, Hawaii Liveaboard, Check the Price

There is great diving on all the major islands of Hawaii.  Here are my reviews.

• Best Scuba Diving Maui Hawaii
• Best Scuba Diving Kauai Hawaii
• Best Scuba Diving Oahu Hawaii

Selected Molokai Dive Sites

The most popular area to dive is around Mokuho’oniki Rock (Elephant Rock), which is an islet designated on the map to the right.  The sites on the map are not perfectly placed but are in the general area there in the Pailolo Channel.  Below are descriptions.

Fish Bowl: 40-100+ feet (12-30+ meters), ledges at 50-60 feet (15-18 meters) are a good spot for whitetip reef sharks to hunker down along with octopus, lobsters, and reef fish, in what can be strong currents, hammerheads are possible, below the deeper edge of the bowl are big coral covered boulders, suitable for experienced level divers

Fish Rain: 100 feet (30 meters), in the Pailolo Channel strong currents can push the fish down from the top of a wall like rainfall, a good variety of reef tropicals and pelagics are there like mahi-mahi, bluefin jacks, and the possibility of hammerhead, tiger, Galapagos, and whale sharks, and monk seals, suitable for experienced level divers

Hole in the Wall: 40-100 feet (12-30 meters), pinnacle from the bottom at 100 feet (30 meters) topping at 40 feet (12 meters), the name comes from a hole in the cliff wall above the water onshore, hard corals to look for include snowflake and wire corals in the shallow areas along with lots of reef tropicals, moray eels, and macro critters in the nooks, deeper are black coral trees, and the possibility of sharks, mantas, and humpback whales in the winter, currents can be strong, suitable for experienced level divers

The Cove: 20-100 feet (6-30 meters), gradual slope with lots of antler corals that drops off more sharply at 50 feet (15 meters), look for black coral trees deeper, marine life highlights include butterflyfish, porcupine puffers, long-nose hawkfish, reef sharks, and manta rays, in the evenings or at night slipper lobsters or Spanish dancers might make an appearance, suitable for all levels of diver

Things to Do in Molokai (aside from scuba diving)

With the conscious effort to keep tourism at a low level, the scenic beauty of Molokai is largely undisturbed.  Here is a sample of sights and activities to consider:

Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Purdy’s Macadamia Nut Farm, Halawa Valley, Saturday Farmers Market, Halekealoha (Live Music), Halawa Beach Park, Sandy Beach, Kayak or Standup Paddle Tour, Kumimi Beach, Hot Bread Lane, Molokai Forest Reserve, St. Joseph Church, Mana’e Goods and Grindz, Ali’i Beach Park, Fly into the Molokai Leper Colony, Explore North and South Sea Cliffs by Boat, Popohaku Beach Sunset, Helicopter and Air Tours, Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove, Ironwood Hills Golf Course, Camping.

This video paints an attractive portrait of the natural attractions and some of the activities available on Molokai.

Molokai Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

• Air – Located in Ho’olehua, 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the town of Kaunakakai, Moloka’i Airport (MKK) has two runways that handle commuter/air taxis, general aviation, and some military traffic.  4 airlines in operation altogether offer flights to all the islands including multiple daily flights to Honolulu and Maui.  A second airport, Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) provides links to Moloka’i Airport.  Most are small aircraft with the 9-seat Cessna Caravan a popular model.
• Boat – There is a daily ferry between Lahaina, Maui and Kaunakakai, Molokai.
• Car rental is available through Alamo and Molokai Car Rental at the airport.
• Tour buses can be arranged to many sights.
• Mules and horses are possible for shorter distances.

For more details related to all of the above transportation options and other tourist information, go to Wikivoyage-Molokai.

Hotels and Diving – In Molokai there are only a few lodging options ranging from $107 to $281 per night and several dive shops in operation.  They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  Scuba Dive Molokai and Molokai Fish & Dive are the two most recommended shops.  The website linked below has the details for the lodging and can arrange a booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Molokai Lodging

Photography in Molokai

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, sharks, whales, seals, and beautiful onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Molokai scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

Carthaginian II Wreck (Photo courtesy of Maui Diving & TripAdvisor)

This is the one hundred and sixty-first in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Maui, Hawaii. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Maui before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving Maui

Background – Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian island and the largest in Maui County which includes Moloka’i, Lana’i, and unpopulated Kaho’olowe, and the Molokini crater.  The population of the island is 145,000 with 26,000 in the commercial and financial hub, Kahului.  Volcanic in origin like all of Hawaii, it has a tropical climate and diverse terrain dominated by volcanoes.  The western cones are older and more eroded than those in the east with Mount Haleakala peaking above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).  The first westerner to see Maui was Captain Cook in 1778, though he didn’t land due to lack of a suitable site.  Shortly thereafter traders, whalers, loggers, and missionaries arrived with local rulers maintaining control of the Kingdom until 1893 when American business interests took over.  A year later the Republic of Hawaii was formed.  The government lasted in that iteration until the US annexed Hawaii in 1898.  It became the 50^th state in 1959.  Today tourism is the driving economic force in Maui with 3 million annual visitors.  It is not a one-trick pony, though, with retail, health care, business services, agriculture, and IT playing significant roles.  For more historic, cultural, geographic, and demographic information, please check Wikipedia-Maui.

Undersea World – Most of the diving on Maui is done along the western coastline which has undamaged rich reefs with a good diversity of marine life and a lot of hard corals, especially, as well as a nice array of soft corals, sponges, and other encrusting invertebrates on the volcanic terrain.  Most sites are accessible from shore and have a good variety and volume of fish and macro critters with highlights including helmet conchs, lobsters, crabs, octopus, frogfish, moray eels, anthias, damselfish, blue-striped grunts, wrasses, parrotfish, trumpetfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, snappers, angelfish, reef sharks, manta rays, and lots of turtles.  Pulling back and taking a wide-angle view at the 5 islands of Maui County, there are numerous shallow channels with the southern edge bordered by Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe creating a shield to strong ocean swells flowing across from lower in the Pacific.  If the reefs along the shoreline begin to seem quite similar to each other, 3 miles off the south shoreline is Molokini Island with its half-moon crater clearing the surface and several types of underwater topography including a steep drop-off to more than 100 meters.  For further variety, Lanai Island is only an hour away from Lahaina Harbor by dive boat for a number of sites with a much different flavor.  On the ride over you have a good chance to enjoy dolphins, flying fish, and humpback whales, which are most often seen in the January to April time-slot.  Other highlights in the area are occasional appearances of a variety of much sought after sharks like whale sharks, Galapagos sharks, hammerhead, oceanic whitetip, and tiger sharks, and playful monk seals.  If that is not enough there are caves, caverns, and swim-throughs, and intriguing wrecks like the scuttled Carthaginian II at 100 feet (30 meters) in depth.

Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible on Maui all year.

• The average daily air temperature highs range from 79°F (26°C) in January and February to 86°F (30°C) in August and September.
• Water temperature runs from lows of 76°C (24°C) in December through March to highs of 80°C (27°F) in August through September.  3-5mm wetsuits are suitable when the water is at its warmest.  Some divers may opt for 6-7mm of insulation when it is coolest
• There is substantial rain all year with a drier season from May through September.  Rains are usually of short duration and not intense.
• Current can be strong at times on some sites.  In the summer months, it is windier and surface chop can be greater.
• Visibility is typically 50-100 feet (15-30 meters) on the inshore sites and 100-150 feet (30-45 meters) on offshore sites.

There are conditions suitable for all levels of diver.  Around two dozen dive shops operate on Maui providing a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding and boat cruises.

There is not a liveaboard that directly cruises the Maui dive sites, but there is one that dives on the big island.  Here is my review and a link to that liveaboard:

• Best Scuba Diving Hawaii Liveaboards

Kona Aggressor II, Hawaii Liveaboard, Check the Price

There is great diving on all the major islands of Hawaii.  Here are my reviews.

• Molokai Scuba Diving Hawaii
• Best Scuba Diving Kauai Hawaii
• Best Scuba Diving Oahu Hawaii

Selected Maui Dive Sites

Carthaginian II Wreck: 97 feet (30 meters), 100-foot (30-meter) 2-mast schooner built in 1920 scuttled to become an artificial reef in 2005 off Puamana Beach Park, resting upright, easy penetration into the holds, look for frogfish, trumpetfish, schools of snappers, and grey reef and whitetip reef sharks patrolling around and inside the wreck, little current, suitable for experienced level divers (check out the video at the top)

Honolua Bay: 18-45 feet (5-14 meters), shore entry, marine preserve with a variety of corals and reef tropicals, highlights are barracuda, bluefin jacks, and manta rays, suitable for all levels of diver

Airport Beach: 8-50 feet (2.5-15 meters), shore entry, sandy coastline with the reef starting at 8 feet (2.5 meters), nice corals with reef tropicals like lemon butterflyfish, Moorish idols, lionfish, needlefish, and yellowtail coris, look for green turtles and the occasional hawksbill turtle, mild currents run from north to south, excellent site for the open water course dives, suitable for all levels of diver

Mala Wharf: 35 feet (10 meters), shore entry, concrete pier built in 1922 that partially collapsed in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki, rich encrusting invertebrates on the pier and rocks, lots of reef tropicals and macro critters, highlights are frogfish, whitetip reef sharks, and green turtles, suitable for all levels of diver

Hellcat Wreck: 32 feet (10 meters), off the coast of Kihei, World War II F-6-F Hellcat Fighter rests overturned on its back with the engine 60 feet (18 meters) away, suitable for all levels of diver

Molokini Crater: 3 miles (5 kilometers) offshore from South Maui, state seabird and marine sanctuary, half-moon shaped crater from an extinct volcano with several dive sites, the back wall site is a sheer drop-off to 300 feet (100 meters), known for excellent visibility and the chance to see whale sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, tiger sharks, and manta rays, other marine life includes, lobsters, bluefin jacks, filefish, bannerfish, triggerfish, yellow tangs, surgeonfish, parrotfish, and groupers, suitable for experienced level divers (check out the video above)

Lanai First Cathedral:  45-60 feet (14-18 meters) off the south coast of Lanai, a 45-minute boat ride from Lahaina Harbor, big lava tube cavern reminiscent of a cathedral, light penetrating from many openings, marine life includes schools of squirrelfish, blue-line grunts, trumpetfish, pyramid butterflyfish, eels, surgeonfish, parrotfish, cowries, and grey reef sharks, tidal flow can create strong currents propelling divers within, suitable for experienced level divers (check out the video below)

Things to Do in Maui (aside from scuba diving)

Maui is a tropical paradise that abounds in natural beauty and activities to fascinate a tourist.  Here is a sample of sights and activities to consider:

Drive to Hana, Learn to Play a Ukelele, Old Lahina Luau, Little Beach, Maui Grown Coffee, Makena Cove, Kaanapali Surf School, Feast at Lele, Maui Whale Festival, Slack Key Guitar Festival, Wa’a Paddle Tour, The Seven Sacred Pools, Maluaka Beach, Made in Maui Festival, Maui Wines, Hyatt Penguins, Maui-Lanai Ferry, Paia Fish Market, Black Rock Cliff Dive, Joey’s Kitchen, Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, Hawaiian Shave Ice, Ironwood Ranch, Lahaina Historic Trail, Kula Botanical Garden, Haleakala National Park, O’o Farm, Maui Ocean Center, Loco Moco, Stargazing.

This video paints an attractive portrait of the natural attractions and range of activities available on Maui.

Maui Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

• Air – Kahului Airport (OGG) is linked to the other airports in the state and to many US and Canadian cities along the western corridor and inland cities including Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.  Smaller general aviation airports are located in Kapalua (JHM) and Hana (HNM).
• Public bus service is available to the main towns at reasonable rates.  In fact, there are three free routes. There is also a rural shuttle than runs three times a week.
• Shuttle services, like Executive Shuttle and others, provide transportation to Maui tourist destinations.
• Car Rental – Many locations aren’t accessible by public transport and a car adds greatly to convenience.  Several major companies have offices at Kahului and Kapalua Airports and numerous hotels and other off-airport locations.  Pricing is generally more expensive at the airports.

For more details related to all of the above transportation options and other tourist information, go to Wikitravel-Maui.

Hotels and Diving – In Maui there are hundreds of lodging options from $51 to$2,495 per night and two dozen or more dive shops in operation.  They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  The website linked below has the details for the lodging and can arrange a booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Maui Lodging

Photography in Maui

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, sharks, whales, seals, and beautiful onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Maui scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

This is the one hundred and sixtieth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Kauai, Hawaii. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Kauai before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving Kauai

Background – Kaua’i, known as the Garden Island, with more sandy coastline than any other Hawaiian island, has a population of 67,000 and is situated 105 miles (168 kilometers) across the Kaua’i Channel from Oahu.  Originating from volcanic activity 5,000 years ago it is geologically the oldest of the islands.  The highest peak is Mount Kawaikini at 5,243 feet (1,598 meters) and the climate is tropical with one region of the island receiving 460 inches (11.684 meters) of rain per year.  Captain Cook first landed in 1778 but Kaua’i has not been the target of economic exploitation to the extent of the other major islands.  However, today tourists number more than 1.3 million per year with only 3% of the population involved in agriculture.  The natural beauty of Kaua’i has been recognized by its inclusion in 70 Hollywood movies.  The biggest city is Kapa’a in the east with a population of 10,000.  Number two with half that number is Lihu’e, site of the airport in the southeast.  Other towns are Po’ipu in the south, Princeville in the north, and Waimea in the west.  For more historic, cultural, geographic, and demographic information, please check Wikipedia-Kauai.

Undersea World – The volcanic origin of Kauai has left an intriguing undersea topography of lava ridges, caves, arches, walls, swim-throughs, craters, and pinnacles to explore on dozens of dive sites.  While not as rich in colorful soft corals as some other sites around the world at the same latitude, there is a nice encrusting life of hard corals, and other invertebrates including black coral, sponges, and gorgonians in places.  The other marine life is quite diverse with 25% of it endemic along the Hawaiian chain with 680 species of fish, 420 of which are inshore.  Megafauna highlights to look for are green turtles, dolphins, monk seals, humpback whales, groupers, whitetip and grey reef sharks, silky sharks, sandbar sharks, brown stingrays, and pelagics like tuna.  Among the macro marine life and reef tropicals there are helmet conchs, lobsters, crabs, octopus, moray eels, longfin anthias, damselfish, blue-striped grunts, wrasses, parrotfish, triggerfish, surgeonfish, snappers, and bandit angelfish.  On trips to Niihau Island to the west hammerheads and mantas are often sighted.

Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible on Kaua’i all year.

• The average daily air temperature highs range from 78°F (26°C) in January through March to 85°F (29°C) in August and September.
• Water temperature runs from 70-77°F (21-25°C).  3-5mm wetsuits are suitable when the water is at its warmest.  Some divers will opt for 7mm of insulation when it is at its coolest
• There is substantial rain all year with a drier season from May through September.
• Current can be strong with more on the east and west side sites.  The north and south side sites also have the possibility of moderate to strong currents at times.  Outside the surf zone surface chop is generally moderate with more likely in the winter months.
• Visibility is typically excellent in the 50-70 foot (15-21 meter) range sometimes extending to 100 feet (30 meters).

There are conditions suitable for all levels of diver.  At least 26 dive shops operate on Kaua’i providing a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding and boat cruises.

There is not a liveaboard that directly cruises the Kaua’i dive sites, but there is one that dives on the big island.  Here is my review and a link to that liveaboard:

• Best Scuba Diving Hawaii Liveaboards

Kona Aggressor II, Hawaii Liveaboard, Check the Price

There is great diving on all the major islands of Hawaii.  Here are my reviews.

• Molokai Scuba Diving Hawaii
• Best Scuba Diving Maui Hawaii
• Best Scuba Diving Oahu Hawaii

Selected Kauai Dive Sites

Koloa Landing: 5-45 feet (2-14 meters), on the south side in Horseshoe Bay, shore entry, rich fish life includes, large schools of fish, butterflyfish, reef triggerfish, snappers, damselfish, surgeonfish, trumpetfish, cornetfish, moray eels, and turtles, suitable for all levels of diver and snorkeling

Sheraton Caverns:  20-65 feet (6-20 meters), on the south side 400 yards offshore from the Sheraton Kauai, best to have a guide to find it,  intriguing terrain of lava tubes, archways, and caverns with black coral and Kauai’s most abundant marine life, look for lobsters, octopus, frogfish, pufferfish, parrotfish, Picasso’s triggerfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, wrasses, eels, surgeonfish, blue-striped grunts, reef sharks, and numerous turtles, suitable for all levels of diver

Brennecke’s Ledge: 65-84 feet (20-26 meters), on the east end of the south side, boat access, a large shelf at 75 feet (23 meters) and two big caves with macro life and reef tropicals including nudibranchs, arrow, hermit, and spider crabs, lobster, conchs, morays, boxfish, blue-lined grunts, triggerfish, butterflyfish, and squirrelfish, there is a possibility of whitetip reef sharks, and green turtles, deep along the drop-off is black coral, alongside there are often knife jaws, tuna, and dolphins, from December to May there is a possibility of humpback whales, strong current is possible, suitable for experienced level divers

Tunnels: 5-60 feet (2-18 meters), on the north side, shore entry, multiple tunnels up to 75 feet (23 meters) in length, 26 caverns have been counted, highlights are nudibranchs, triggerfish, unicornfish, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, bluefin jacks, green turtles, monk seals, whitetip reef sharks, and black coral, strong current is possible, best done at low tide with a calm surface, suitable for experienced level divers

General Store:  60-90 feet (18-27 meters), on the south side, named for the large selection of marine life, the site is the location of the Pele wreck which sank in the late 1800s, the remains include boilers, the deck, anchors, and some machinery, nearby is a horseshoe-shaped inlet with lava tubes and small caverns, marine life highlights are morays, lobsters, helmet conchs, crabs, octopus, pelagics, and dolphins, strong current is possible but there are places sheltered from it, suitable for experienced level divers

Ni’ihau Dive Sites: 17-mile (27-kilometer) boat ride to 11 or more sites around the island, rich variety of undersea terrain with pinnacles, caverns, canyons, and drop-offs, marine life highlights include nudibranchs, flatworms, red-striped pipefish, tiger cowries, pennant and pyramid butterflyfish, Hawaiian turkey fish, triggerfish, Moorish idols, anthias, turtles, bluefin jacks, whitetip and grey reef sharks, silky sharks, sandbar sharks, hammerheads, and manta rays, for starters, strong current is possible on some sites, there are sites suitable for all levels of diver

Things to Do in Kauai (aside from scuba diving)

This sparsely populated island has unspoiled natural beauty with a relative few creature comforts making this a great destination for a person who loves the outdoors.  Here is a sample of sights and activities to consider:  Helicopter Tours, Sail the Napali Coast & Whale Watch, Waimea Canyon, Koke’e State Park, Poipu Beach Turtles & Seals, Beach Hop the North & South Shores, Polihale State Park, Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail, Spouting Horn Blowhole, Eat Shave Ice, Eat at Warehouse 3540, Farmers’ Market, Wailua Falls, Hanalei, Kilauea Lighthouse, Hanalei Valley Lookout, Island Taco, Da Crack, Kauai Poke Co, Eat Healthy Café, Hanalei food trucks, Bar Acuda, Whaler’s General Store, Goodland Harvest Market.

This video is an overview that gives you a nice feel for the natural beauty of Kauai.

Kauai Transportation, Hotels, & Diving Services

• Air – Lihue Airport (LIH) serves as the main gateway to Kauai with interisland flights and non-stop links to the west coast of the US and Canada.
• Boat – Cruise ships use the deepwater port in Nawiliwili for trips between the islands that start and end in Honolulu.
• Taxi – Two taxi companies, Pono Taxi, and Taxi Hanalei are authorized for pre-arranged airport pickups.  They provide transport to any location on the island and do island tours.
• Bus – Kauaʻi Bus makes runs between major population centers but does not go to many rural sights.
• Tour companies are in operation that will take you to the major attractions.
• Car rental is the best way to conveniently get to where you want to go.  They are available through most major rental agencies at the airport or by shuttle to a nearby location.
• Bicycle – Bike paths are not complete all around the island yet, but are open on the entire east side of the island.

For more details related to all of the above transportation options and other tourist information, go to Wikivoyage-Kauai.

Hotels and Diving – In Kauai there are at least 76 lodging options from $114-639 per night and two dozen or more dive shops in operation.  They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  The website linked below has the details for the lodging and can arrange a booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site.  The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Kauai Lodging

Photography in Kauai

With the colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, sharks, whales, seals, and beautiful onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
• Best Waterproof Cameras

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and give scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Kauai scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<