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Dive Review of Bubbles Below/Private Condo in
Hawaii/Kauai

Bubbles Below/Private Condo, Apr, 2008,

by Scott George, CA, USA ( 2 reports). Report 3996.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Kauai (and Hawaii, in general) is not the best destination for a dedicated dive vacation, but is excellent for other activities with family. So, on our recent vacation I took one day to do a morning two tank dive with Bubbles Below.
I found Bubbles Below to be a very good operation. They normally run with no more than six divers but on my trip there was only the divemaster, another diver and me. Apparently, another couple had canceled the day prior. Not very profitable for them, I imagine, so I appreciated that they didn't cancel. The divemaster, Heather, was very good. It is apparent they put a lot of emphasis on their divemasters being knowledgeable about the local critters (an important trait for Hawaii diving because so many of the fish are indigenous to the islands). Heather knew the fish well and was adept at pointing out the interesting ones. Our first dive was was at around 75-80 feet and featured some nice swimthroughs, a few sharks, and a juvenile frogfish. The second site was around 45 feet and featured quite a few interesting critters, including a wire coral shrimp, and a turtle cleaning station with at least a dozen large turtles.
As I mentioned, I don't consider Kauai to be the best choice for a dedicated dive trip, but if you are in Kauai it is certainly worth a few days of diving. There wasn't much in the way of coral and the fish life is not as abundant as other places I have been, but many of the fish are indigenous and there are many, many turtles. It was too early in the season to make the crossing to Niihau (the channel is too rough to cross in winter), but it sounds like that may be the best diving in the state. I would definitely dive again with Bubbles Below if we return to Kauai. I would love to try their trip to Niihau if we are there during the summer.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving California, Honduras, Belize, Fiji, Maui
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy
Water Temp 79-79°F / 26-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-60 Ft/ 15-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Start ascent with 700 psi
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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