Scuba Diving In Hawaii
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Opportunities abound for scuba diving in Hawaii. Some claim the Hawaiian island chain is made up of 137 'islands', although this includes minor islands and islets. Most people are more familiar with the eight main islands of Hawaii ('The Big Island' ), Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Ni'ihau and Kahoolawe. Each boasts unique features and sites for diving. One fact about the uniqueness of Hawaiian sites is indisputable -- with about one quarter of its marine life only found in the islands, scuba adventures here are unrivaled by any other place on earth.
Even a casual Internet search reveals much information about scuba diving in Hawaii. Tours range from day trips to living on a dive boat for extended periods. Most groups offer instruction to beginners as well as advanced activities for more experienced divers. Safety is an important aspect of the experience, and pre-dive safety instruction is a regular part of the dive. Special interest tours are also available, such as eco-tours and instruction that focuses upon developing the skills of underwater photography. Night dives to observe the silent grace of giant manta rays are offered by some companies. Websites offer reading lists to help tourists prepare for their Hawaiian adventure, or furnish reviews of the various islands and specific dive locations. Suggested experience ratings (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) are available for many sites.
More advanced divers may be interested in tours based on exploring underwater wrecks. Sites include wrecks of bomber airplanes, landing craft, fighter planes and ships. Although the machinery lies abandoned on the ocean floor, a variety of fascinating sea creatures inhabit the shadowy wrecks, calling to mind the words of Psalm 104:24-26 -- O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. Experienced dive leaders can weave together captivating stories about both.
Speaking of leviathans, humpback whales are a welcome sight to scuba expeditions. Arriving from Alaska for mating and calving in warmer, predator-free waters, the first of the whales may sometimes be spotted as early as October or November. However, it is not until February or March that the season goes into full swing. Baby whales need to surface often to breathe, so mothers and their babies can usually be spotted. Males anxiously awaiting the arrival of mating season spend time engaging in display behaviors, hoping to attract female attention or ward off other competitors. Although the whales must wait until the mothers are satisfied that the calves' needs are met, divers engaged in scuba diving in Hawaii delight to witness the antics of these enormous creatures. From the end of March until sometime in June, activity gradually tapers off until next year.
The best dives take place on the leeward side of the islands, where water conditions allow visibility of more than 100 feet. Some physical features to explore include basalt boulders, coral reefs, lava tubes, and caves or caverns. Many companies' websites advertise diving tours to specific islands. Equipment is readily available through a multitude of dive shops located on most islands. Searching through various websites about scuba diving in Hawaii, it seemed that many of the people who ran the tours seemed genuinely interested and enthusiastic about the sport, and were willing to take extra time with beginners and persons who were fearful about participating in diving activities.
Sites near Kihei and Wailea (South Maui), including the Malokini Crater, are popular areas for scuba diving in Maui. Weather and sea conditions may have very different implications to tourists on land than to divers anxious to explore seas where underwater visibility can range from 50-100 feet inshore to 100-150 feet offshore. Storms can significantly reduce visibility. Trade winds which moderate the temperatures onshore can create wind chop and uncomfortable conditions for boat divers. Scuba diving in Maui owes some of its best diving sites to leeward coasts sheltered from the winds by Haleakala Crater and the West Maui Mountains. Departure times for boats may be early (about 7 am), which may provoke groans from vacationers but are necessary in order to allow for the greater part of the day's dive to be accomplished before winds pick up. Maui, like the other Hawaiian islands, really has only two recognizable seasons. Winter runs from October to May and summer from May to October, although only about a ten degree difference in temperature separates the seasons. In general, the summer has more rain and the winter has more wind. During October, southerly winds (Kona winds) can cause high surf and rains on the leeward side of the island, which, as was noted above, is normally calmer. However, some experienced persons who enjoy scuba diving in Maui actually prefer diving in the winter season. During the calm between storms, glassy, flat water occurs for weeks at a time and there are fewer restrictions on where diving boats may go. Expeditions can extend to sites which are inaccessible during the summer season. In winter, water temperatures can be in the low 70s, so a wetsuit is needed. Interestingly, water temperature at the surface is essentially the same as temperatures at 60-80 feet.
It is not surprising that scuba diving in Maui is so popular. Beautiful waters filled with tropical fish and an endless parade of unusual creatures is available for up-close observation. Skilled dive leaders offer instruction to novices and challenges to expand the horizons of experienced divers. Not to mention that the Hawaiian islands are filled with a nearly endless range of adventure and leisure activities to fill the time between dives. After experiencing scuba diving in Hawaii, the only question a visitor may have is to wonder how soon they can return to sample more of the Hawaiian islands' treasures.
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