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Dive Review of Lahaina Divers/Maui Kaanapali Villas in
Hawaii/Maui

Lahaina Divers/Maui Kaanapali Villas, May, 2010,

by Jeff Robertson <BR>Fantasea E, CA, US (Contributor Contributor 17 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 5586.

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 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling 4 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments I just read the comments by Nick Phelps about his Maui experience in the June 2010 issue of Undercurrent and needed to add in my 2 cents. I was on Maui in May and, like Nick, stayed at the Maui Kaanapali Villas and dove with Lahaina Divers. My experience with Lahaina Divers was similar to Nick’s; a very well-run dive op that caters to divers of every ability. For local dives, experienced divers were paired together and those less experienced were in a separate group. We never had a group of more than 5 divers. For advanced dives like Molokai or back wall Molokini, LD made sure to advertise it as an advanced dive, no beginners. Molokai was my first ever sighting of hammerheads in the water; six on the first dive, 8 on the second dive. Very cool.

However, my experience at Maui Kaanapali Villas was much different than what Nick reports. Maybe it’s just about perspective.

Don’t tell anyone, but MKV it is one of the best-kept secrets on Maui. The “Villas” are a 15 minute drive from LD in Lahaina. Close to the action, but not in the middle of everything. MKV is a short 10 minute walk north of Black Rock and consists of a 6-story condo-hotel surrounded by several 2 story buildings of privately owned, individually decorated condos. The grounds are beautifully landscaped in the Hawaiian style right on the beach. True, the hotel and some of the condos are managed by Aston Properties, but some of the owners themselves or companies like Kaanapali Beach Properties, Inc. rent out other condos. We stayed in #293 overlooking the pool with an ocean view. Gorgeous. Our room was spacious and modern, having recently been renovated by the owners 2 years ago. True, there was construction going on in the main hotel lobby and it's bad that Nick wasn’t informed, but for us, it was a minor inconvenience.

The best part of the secret is that MKV property fronts one of the best diving and snorkeling sites on the island. We saw dolphins, turtles and a myriad of reef fish, including octopus. Next door is “Airport Beach” a public beach park with free parking, clean restrooms, fresh water showers and a gorgeous reef for shore diving. The 5-day package with Lahaina Divers includes free tanks and weights for shore diving. Score!
Websites Lahaina Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving [Unspecified]
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, surge
Water Temp 75-°F / 24-°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility - Ft/ - M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
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 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Dedicated fresh water rinse buckets on board for UW cameras only - no items that don't take photos or video underwater.
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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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