SOUTH MAUI - Maui: Including Molokai and Lanai - page 280

lokini Crater three times per week, and the second dive is either along the shoreline of
Maui or at the St. Anthony wreck off Kihei. Rates for a two-tank dive are $139, and BC
and regulator rental is an additional $20. Snorkelers are allowed to accompany divers for a
reduced rate of only $80, and this is a good option for the novice to intermediate diver who
wants to explore in the 65-70 feet range. In addition to providing a good trip, an added
perk of booking with Maui Dive Shop is that they provide complimentary transportation
from your hotel to Ma'alaea Harbor. If you're driving yourself to the harbor, check-in is at
6:30am at the store in the Ma'alaea Harbor Shops.
For a few dollars less, Maui Diamond II offers 2-tank trips to Molokini and the South
Maui shoreline for $129, and BC and regulator rental is an additional $15. If you aren't a
certified diver, you have the option of partaking in a Discover Scuba Diving introductory
class in which you will snorkel at Molokini and then dive with an instructor at the second
spot along the shoreline. The rate for the snorkel and introductory dive combo is $145, al-
though the price is inclusive of all your equipment. This boat is a little older and a little
slower, but they feed you well, so the added transport time can be devoted to digestion.
KIHEI
Dive Sites
The only real dive site in Kihei is the St. Anthony Wreck off the south end of Keawakapu
Beach. Maui Dive Shop offers dives to this part of a massive artificial reef system twice-
weekly as part of a two-tank excursion combined with Molokini.
Rental and Shore Dive Operators
If you're a certified diver who needs to rent some gear, get some gear serviced, pick up
some tanks for a shore dive, or book a guided shore dive with an instructor, there are
a number of different retail operators throughout Kihei. My top pick in Kihei is Maui
Dreams (1993 S. Kihei Rd., 808/874-5332, www.mauidreamsdiveco.com , 7am-6pm
daily) in the shop is across from the southern end of Kalama Park. These guys love to dive,
and they offer a full range of excursions from scooter dives ($99) to night dives ($79) to
regular introductory dives if it's your first time trying the sport ($89). Guided shore dives
for certified divers are $69. Maui Dreams is also the only PADI 5-Star Instructor Develop-
ment Center in South Maui, which means they train instructors. At $399 the certification
courses are more expensive than others, and it's $499 if you haven't already completed the
academic portion online (PADI E-learning).