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Dive Review of Lahaina Divers/Sands of Kahana in
Hawaii

Lahaina Divers/Sands of Kahana, Nov, 2011,

by Joel Horie, UT, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 20 reports with 14 Helpful votes). Report 6304.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Dove two morning dives, the Molokini inside and Lanai drift. Mid October. Good shop, people and boat. First ocean dives in a few years for the wife and I. A Hawaii vacation with a few days of diving. If doing a morning dive, plentiful free parking in city lot, one block NW up Luakini St. Ask shop for parking advice if you're doing and afternoon dive. Check in at shop and drop your gear bag. They drive your bag to the harbor and load it on the boat. Pleasant 10 min stroll to boat through downtown Lahaina. Boats are water side of the Banyan Tree Park. They have free coffee and snacks upstairs at the shop, but Badass Coffee is on the way on Front St.
Tuesday morning, boat Dauntless with Capt. Dan. Good briefs by Dan and DM Levi. I think about 16 divers, but not crowded. Nice sunny seating on the upper bridge deck. Nutbreads/pastries for boarding snacks. Tanks were Steel 72s, but they had some Alum 80s for those that wanted them. I was comfy in a 3mm long sleeve top. They did a good job of separating divers by experience. We were in the first group(experienced) and were in the water 15 minutes after they called "15 minutes". We were in the water, just as the first "snorkel" boats approached their moorings. Enenue/80' rock dive site. Great vis, went to 120' to see some white tip reef sharks. Had option to wait at 80', but everyone went to see sharks(3 or 4 resting under a ledge). Came back up to the 80' rock. Lobsters, morays, tropicals, school of jacks(a few Blacks and rest Great Crevalle?) off in the open water. I probably would have just hung out at 80' rock, if I did it again. More sea life. Buddy pairs could return on their own. Levi stayed down until the last divers were ready to return. Nice lunch of sandwiches, chips, fresh sliced fruit. Bring your own drinks if you want other than water. Second dive was Reefs End. More of the same.

Thursday Lanai drift. Capt Jarret on Dominion, with Levi and Jenna DMs. Good briefs and enthusiastic DMs again. Boat had same nice setup as Dauntless. Only 8 divers. Mid channel between Maui and Lanai spotted two Mantas and a golden cow nose ray. The cow nose was following the Mantas. They hung around the boat for ten minutes looping and rolling. Jarret was going to let us in the water, but they took off. They returned for just a few more loops and then went on their way. First dive was on the west side, south of Barge Harbor. Big sheer cliffs on the shore. Average was 50' depth with no current. Lava ridges with small swim throughs. Lots of tropicals, nudibranchs, morays, lobsters, a big trumpet fish. Second dive was on the south side, Emerald City. It was right off the cliffs of the Four Seasons Manele Bay resort. Diving was similar to the first site. No real current to deal with, but it's a drift dive because their are no moorings. Mandatory dive computer(insurance requirement?), though we never went deep, and safety sausage. We had a scenic ride to the dive sites, good crew and group of divers. Light breezes, calm seas. Our Lanai dive was good, but with the Mantas and the overall experience, it was a great day on the water.

Rental gear stays on the boat. They'll take your gear bag back to the shop if you want. Rinse barrels available at the shop.

If you're staying on west shore Maui, Lahaina Divers is a great vacation boat diving option. If we go back, I'll try to get on a Molokini outside trip.
Websites Lahaina Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving Grand Cayman, Key Largo, St Croix, San Nicolas, CA, Abacos, Kauai, Oahu, Maui.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 78-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 100-120 Ft/ 30-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions No deeper than dive master, but dive master stayed down until last divers were ready to return. Buddy pairs could return separately after checking with guide.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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