dive makai, Jul, 2008,by don buswell-charkow, FL, United States (![]() |
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No photos available at this time | |||
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best): |
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Accommodations | ![]() |
Food | ![]() |
Service and Attitude | ![]() |
Environmental Sensitivity | N/A |
Dive Operation | ![]() |
Shore Diving | ![]() |
Snorkeling | N/A | ||
Overall Rating |
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Value for $$ | N/A | ||
Beginners | ![]() |
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Advanced | ![]() |
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Comments |
Dive Makai gives the best dive briefings we've ever encountered. They tell you everything about the dive site, the fish, and the critters that you are likely to encounter. They do this with enthusiasm and knowledge. They use multiple reference sources so you will see pictures of what you are likely to encounter. Though the briefings are longer than those of the usual dive operation, they are never boring and I was never anxiously waiting for them to end. Underwater, the dive masters are less consistent in assisting divers in finding interesting things. Some of them really go out of their way to "lead" the group and use their experience to find those things you wouldn't necessarily find on your own. Other dive masters, though always nearby, don't seem to be particularly interested in or successful in finding good stuff. Please take this as a minor criticism of an otherwise excellent operation. The nighttime Manta Ray trip is not to be missed. It is certainly an encounter with sensory overload as up to thirty or forty divers and snorkelers from multiple boats shine their lights up from the bottom and down from the top to attract the plankton that attracts the Mantas. Then there are up to twenty or more big Mantas swooshing through this melee. Do yourself a favor and definitely overweight yourself. Otherwise you may have trouble staying firmly on the bottom as multiplr twelve foot Mantas sail by setting up cross currents. Being neutrally buoyant is great when you're diving but not when you want to be able to stay stationary with sharp urchins all around and a maelstrom of activity circling you. I would definitely encourage you to participate in the three tank dive Adventure Day. They go far afield looking for pelagics and visiting the more distant dive sites they may not be able to get to withing the limitations of two tank dives. This is an excellent dive operation and should be supported. |
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Reporter and Travel |
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Dive Experience | 501-1000 dives | ||
Where else diving | Extensive diving in the Carribbean, Fiji, Tahiti, and the "Forbidden Island" of Ni'ihau in the Hawaiian Islands | ||
Closest Airport | Getting There | ||
Dive Conditions |
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Weather | cloudy | Seas | calm |
Water Temp | 74-76°F / 23-24°C | Wetsuit Thickness | 5 |
Water Visibility | 60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M | ||
Dive Policy |
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Dive own profile | yes | ||
Enforced diving restrictions | Dive Makai asked that people be careful and not dive beyond the sport diver depths and those depths that were appropriate to the dive site. | ||
Liveaboard? | no | Nitrox Available? | N/A |
What I Saw |
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Sharks | 1 or 2 | Mantas | Squadrons |
Dolphins | Schools | Whale Sharks | None |
Turtles | 1 or 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 | They do have a rinse bucket but no table for photographers, basically because the boat is too small to accomodate the divers and any kind of separate facility for photographers |
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