Lahaina Divers/Noelani Condos : "Beautiful Hawaiian diving but not for those on a budget", Jun, 2021,by Ellen Marie Smith, MN, US (![]() |
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Photos Submitted with this Report |
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Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | N/A |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | ![]() |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | N/A |
Snorkeling | N/A | ||
Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | ![]() |
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Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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Comments |
My husband and I spent 4 days diving off Maui with Lahaina Divers. We booked well in advance and were glad we did as they were only filling the boat to half capacity due to COVID protocols. Most staff were very professional though we did encounter one very snarky boat Captain and were thankful to not be on his boat for most of the dives. As I had read from other reader reports, diving is much more expensive than in other places. We wanted to check it out as we had been to Kona several times. Basically the same topography underwater – the coral is much more monochromatic than the Caribbean or further onward in the Pacific. The first day we dove in the afternoon and it was hot walking to the boat after dropping our gear at the shop. For the rest of the trip, we had early starts, meeting at the shop at 6:45 am. What we saw @ Mala Reef: Hawaiian Green Turtles, Schooling goatfish, sergeant majors w/eggs, saddleback wrasse, Hawaiian triggerfish, Hawaiian Chub. @ Molokini Crater: many crown of thorns starfish, yellow tangs, Undulated moray, Hawaiian Sergeant angelfish, coral crabs, Blue lined angelfish, Hawaiian Dascyllus, three-spot dascyllus, freckled snake eel, Blue Dragon Nudibranch. @Molokini Crater Backwall: Banded spiny lobster, Hawaiian Dwarf Flounder, Baldwins or Red stripe Pipefish, Blackfin Sharks, Speckled Parrotfish, Saddle wrasse, Yellowtail corgis wrasse, blacktip reef sharks. @Lanai (Three Tank Dive): The fish population was healthier than on the Maui sites. By far the best dives of the trip & I highly recommend! Bandit Angelfish, Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, orange margin butterflyfish, pebbled and mullet seed butterflyfish, Hawaiian Bigeye & Squirrelfish, Acorn worms in the sand. And a Whaleshark! Molokini Crater Backwall: we had a difficult time getting back on the boat at Reef’s End due to a strong surge (which is evidentially normal at the back wall). We didn’t try to go out to see the Hammerheads because my husband gets seasick and after the back wall surge, I was glad about that decision. Note: we had to rinse and haul our gear to and fro each day because of COVID protocols. We didn’t wear face masks on the boats but were required to everywhere else on the island while indoors. We didn't use Nitrox because of the high surcharge but my husband did pay for a larger tank size as he is tall. We had a small issue getting our repetitive day dive discount (noted on their website). We had to email and follow up with a call a month later because it was never applied. However, the issue was finally cleared up and now we just have memories of a wonderful trip. |
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Websites | Lahaina Divers Noelani Condos | ||
Reporter and Travel |
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Dive Experience | 501-1000 dives | ||
Where else diving | Red Sea (North and South), Galapagos, Hawaii, Caribbean (Cozumel, Belize, Turneffe, Utila, Turks & Caicos, St. Martin, Nevis & St. Kitts, Roatan), California (Catalina), False Bay (South Africa), Cocos Island, Socorro Islands, Baia & Ustica (Italy), Yap, Palau, & Truk, Thailand (Surin Islands). | ||
Closest Airport | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Getting There | MSP to Salt Lake, then non-stop to Maui. Return via Honolulu then direct to MSP. Issue on Delta airlines is that a partner carrier takes you from Maui to Honolulu and doesn't accept the same weight for first class baggage. We managed to reorganize but with dive and camera gear this could be an issue. |
Dive Conditions |
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Weather | sunny, windy | Seas | calm, choppy |
Water Temp | 76-79°F / 24-26°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 3 |
Water Visibility | 70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | no | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | Stay with the group - follow divemaster. Extra time under the boat if air consumption ok. 50 min max bottom time. | ||
Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | yes |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | 1 or 2 | Mantas | None |
Dolphins | None | Whale Sharks | 1 or 2 |
Turtles | > 2 | Whales | None |
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best): |
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Corals | ![]() |
Tropical Fish | ![]() |
Small Critters | ![]() |
Large Fish | ![]() |
Large Pelagics | ![]() |
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Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Subject Matter | ![]() |
Boat Facilities | ![]() |
Overall rating for UWP's | N/A | Shore Facilities | N/A |
UW Photo Comments | There were coolers filled with fresh water for the cameras. No other facilities for charging or air drying. |
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