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Dive Review of Fathom Five Divers and Ocean Quest/Marriott's Kauai Beach Club in
Hawaii/Kauai

Fathom Five Divers and Ocean Quest/Marriott's Kauai Beach Club: "Kauai in October", Oct, 2016,

by Ms Lynda Durfee, VA, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 49 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 9155.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food N/A
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments I expected to get the usual top-level service from F5, but was surprised to see critters I've never seen or seldom seen before, after being certified in Kauai in 2007 and diving there every year since (now 8 years with F5). F5 has two boats (both 6-packs), so you're not in the water with a dozen or more divers like some other operators. Entry is by back-roll, but then accomodate those who can't do this by handing your scuba unit (BC, regs, tank,etc.) to you in the water. Wind conditions made it easier to get to eastern sites not usually dived in summer during the south swells. I dove with Jessie most days, and after only 2 years in Kauai, she's an expert at finding the more unusual fish and invertebrates, and knows the sites like the back of her hand. As I fish "geek" I had lots of fun competing with Jessie to ID and point out these critters to the other divers. All sites are no more than 20 minutes from the small boat harbor in the Poipu area. Soft drinks, water, snacks are available before and after dives. They try to separate novice and experienced divers between the two boats, but this was a slow time when only one boat went out most mornings. Usually, it was possible for divers good on air to stay down longer after others in the group had surfaced. They try as much as possible for those diving multiple days to avoid repeating a site, but you won't be disappointed if you dive Sheraton Caverns more than once.
Websites Fathom Five Divers and Ocean Quest   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving All over Caribbean, all Hawaiian islands, Fiji, Palau, Maldives.
Closest Airport Lihue Getting There easy connections through West Coast airports from elsewhere in US

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, dry Seas choppy
Water Temp 79-82°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions No deco; stay within site of DM
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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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Subscriber's Comments

By report author: Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at Oct 15, 2016 13:31 EST  
Whoops. I meant to check the box "yes" for dive own profile. Most dive sites have moorings, so the dive is a circle or out and back, with everyone back at the near the line when the first diver gets down to 700. Then the rest of the divers can cruise around near the mooring until they get to 700, then come up for a safety stop. On the rare drift dives, the groups needs to stay together to get picked up by the boat, but if its not too windy, the captain can handle picking up some divers early.
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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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