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Dive Review of Makena Coast Dive Charters/Kihei Kai in
Hawaii/southwestern Maui

Makena Coast Dive Charters/Kihei Kai, Nov, 2013,

by Robert and Laura Mosqueda, CA, US (Contributor Contributor 14 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 7459.

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 N/A Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Great dive operation! We went for 5 consecutive days and had a wonderful time. Most days the DM was Benha, a very experienced, knowldgeable and friendly DM. Steve, the owner, dove with us on one of the days and was terrific. On 4 of the days we were with other experienced divers so we went to more challenging sites (in terms of current and need for good air consumption), although the diving was relaxed and easy most of the time. We had a wonderful manta encounter on one of our dives... the manta stayed with us for about 10 minutes and circled around us many times.
The way it works: meet at the Kihei boat ramp, park your car in a conveniently located lot after dropping off your dive gear. The boat is then taken down the ramp and passengers get on after it's in the water. The boat ride is fast and pleasant over to Molokini, about 20 minutes, and then another dive is done on the way back. You go early (around 6:30 am) in order to minimize the tradewind-driven chop which typically arises in the afternoon. On the windy days the water is pretty choppy when you get back to the surface. We did a couple of drift dives and the boat was right there to pick us up. Other than a ladder that's not so easy to climb the boat is comfortable. A crew member is right there to help get up the ladder. No bathroom on the boat, so be advised!
We stayed at some condos in the northern part of Kihei, called Kihei Kai and this worked out really well. It's a small oldish apartment building that's away from the town but easily accessible. It was about a 15 minute drive from the condo to the boat ramp.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving California, Cocos, Sulawesi, Komodo, Socorro, Cozumel, Palau, Yap, New Guinea
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas choppy
Water Temp 76-78°F / 24-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 20-150 Ft/ 6-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Reasonable restrictions, usual depth limits for rec divers. Although the DM would propose a 45 min dive, we often went longer when there were interesting things to see.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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