Dive Review of Seasport Divers in
Hawaii

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Seasport Divers: "Octopus harassment", Mar, 2015, by Don Gensler, OR, US ( 2 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 8184 has 3 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude	N/A	Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	My teen boy and I dove Seasport one day only in Kauai late March, 2015. They're located in Kapaa (equipt and reservations only) and at the dive center in Poipu. They were clean, friendly, professional, well-organized. Did a ScubaPro fin repair free when a clip broke pre-dive. Boat was large so despite 12+ divers (w 2 DMs) everything went smoothly on board and in the haul-out. Squally, overcast, gusty, chill air temps (didn't record air) and a brrr 72* water temp, both dives. They had a hot water hose to fill your wetsuit after the dive. Jeez I loved that touch! My DM was Mat. He allowed us to breathe our own air; after the first dive and his comfort in my air consumption, he only monitored our diving, did not continually inspect for psi. Poor vis due to overcast and some turbidity and not much to see....but Mat did locate some macro for us. Rubbly prairies @ +/-60'. What got me hot was watching Mat w/ a free-swimming small octopus accompanied by several divers. When the oct. jetted to a crevice Mat repeatedly and deliberately fingered the crack until it inked. Topside at both of the shops I challenged this practice but was informed: It's legal in Hawaii, the mgmt knows about it, divers approve. I don't approve. I used to raise cattle. Every minute that a cow is not feeding (chased by dogs, ATVs, etc) is a minute that it isn't producing milk or gaining weight for butcher. An octopus uses metabolic energy to produce ink. Each inking depletes some reserves which can limit its reproductive potential, necessary metabolic needs, ink production for predator defense. I'm not a PETA guy; I raised and butchered livestock for half my life. But these are not livestock. The shallow glory of an inking does nothing towards education of my fellow divers....and hardly rises to a signal event in our diving experience. It was worthless to us....and potentially debilitating to the octopus.
Websites	Seasport Divers
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Hawaii, Bonaire, Bali, Wakatobi, Dominica, Saba, Cozumel, St Marten
Closest Airport	Lihue	Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	windy, rainy, cloudy	Seas	choppy, currents
Water Temp	72-°F / 22-°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	50- Ft/ 15- M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	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]

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at Apr 20, 2015 04:44 EST

Octopus handling seems pretty common in Hawaii, my comments have been met with similar, unacceptable, replies.

By Robert Halem in CA, US at Apr 20, 2015 13:13 EST

I have had similar experiences diving Kona. If you want a dive trip on Kauai that is very environmentally focused, try Bubbles Below. Great people and a real respect for the wildlife.

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at Apr 21, 2015 02:11 EST

Most of my experience has been on Maui and Oahu, seems like this behavior is widespread. It appears guides feel compelled to entertain guests by harassing sea life. Besides making our individual comments, perhaps a mention of this trip report and comments could be included in a future issue of Undercurrent.

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Dive Review of Seasport Divers in Hawaii

Seasport Divers: "Octopus harassment", Mar, 2015,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Seasport Divers in
Hawaii