Jul

8

There was a time when you probably thought scuba diving was exclusively, truth is nothing else gets you as close to marine life and the aquatic underworld as scuba diving.

Across the globe, there are several notable locations for scuba diving, one of which is Kauai- the oldest and one of the most fascinating Islands in Hawaii. In fact, there are only a few places on earth that can match the majestic beauty and splendour that Kauai is known for. No wonder it is called the Garden Isle. The good thing is, this beauty is evident on land, atop the magnificent hills, at the beach and deep within the oceans and lakes. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, here are the basics.

 

Many have had the opportunity to snorkel, but they find they long to stay and spend more time in the environment with the local wildlife. If you intend to go out on the ocean and take a dive in, Kauai presents a beautiful option as one of the most rugged scuba diving destinations in Hawaii and even beyond for both novice and experienced divers.

Why Kauai?

Kauai, with its neighbour Niihau, are a great scuba diving spot for many reasons. We can talk about their extraordinary underwater topography, crystal-clear visibility and amazing aquatic species that you’re likely to spot. If you do gain access to the privately owned ‘Forbidden Island’ Niihau, just 17 miles (27 km) from the coast of Kauai, you’re sure to find endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal frolicking playfully in their protected habitat.

Monk seal and diver

Advanced divers can enjoy the more adventurous day trips between May and September each year. But if it’s your first time or you’re still learning the ropes, Kauai’s southern shores offer a great opportunity to explore the deep. The underwater terrain in Kauai is unique, with breathtaking sights like caverns and incredible lava tube formations, volcanic ridges, and other mind blowing terrains where you’ll typically find white-tip sharks, rainbow tropical fish and sea turtles. The longnose hawkfish and Hawaiian Turkeyfish are some of the micro critters that abound here too.

Author: Nick Azedeh explore kauai scuba

Favourite spots for amazing scuba diving

  • Sheraton Caverns: This takes top spot for me for the simple fact that it is the most requested dive site in Kauai. With depths reaching 60 feet at some spots and little current, if any, this is a dive spot for divers of all experience levels. The site is off Poipu beach and diving from a boat is the most likely option for you. You’re sure to spot a sight of green sea turtles and blue-stripe snappers as you swim through the exotic, sunlit caverns.

 

  • Vertical Awareness: If you’ve never spotted a Hawaiian monk seal, taking a dive at the Vertical Awareness may just be your best chance. There are just over 1,000 of these rare mammals left on earth and many them are found here. The impressive clarity and jaw-dropping underwater landscape, coupled with sheer drop-offs are some of the highlights of this adventure. Giant trevally, Sandbar sharks and rock-boring urchins are other sights you won’t miss.

 

  • Turtle Bluffs-Fish Bowl-General Store: There is an order to this last spot on our list and it is due to prevailing currents. Sometimes, the reverse is the case. These three are done as a drift dive and you’re sure to be rewarded with sights of caves and overhangs, as well as lots of fish, with some sharks, turtles and black coral trees in your way or gliding through.

 

Some Scuba Diving Services in Kauai

Seasport Divers offers great trips to beautiful locations in Kauai, including the forbidden Island of Niihau.

 

Kauai Down Under Scuba is popular among expert divers and first time adventurers as well.

 

Bubbles Below Scuba Charters offers amazing scuba diving services across the three major areas of Kauai, Niihau, and Na Pali.

 

Garden Isle Divers are big on paying detailed attention to each driver and like to travel with small teams of divers. They are also crazy about fun and adventure.

 

Explore Kauai Scuba, LLC is another which promises the time of a lifetime, 6 divers (or less) at a time.

May

19

Diving at Mabul Island

Mabul Island is a beautiful paradise off the sandy coast of Sabah state, Malaysia. Since 1970 the natives have been engaging in subsistence fishing, but during the mid nineties divers started using it as a vintage point to visiting the nearby Sipadan region. They also discovered Mabul to have clean, calm beaches that are suitable for diving. As a 27 yr old career man, I enjoy coming here every holiday season to play in the revitalizing waters, it makes me feel relaxed, peaceful and in control of my life.
Mabul Island

There are also interesting sea creatures that roam the seas for you to see, I always find it interesting to swim alongside camouflaged frogfish, harlequins and massive schools of salt-water fish. The island is free for deep-sea diving throughout the year. Nevertheless, for great underwater visibility I recommend visitors to come in the dry period which lasts from the month of March to October.

Diving expeditions

The reef area borders a natural continental shelf and has a deep seabed which goes down 28m deep. Moreover, there are numerous dive resorts which operate within the beach area for visitors to take advantage of. During my first diving experience I was able to see various sea creatures for the first time, some of these are bobtail squids, colorful cuttlefish and the rare mimic octopus. Mabul’s reef is a natural ecosystem for diverse breeds of cephalopods. Sea gobies can also be found in these waters with the most popular ones being metallic shrimp, spike-fin and gray sail-fin goby. Most of these creatures are docile and rarely attack divers. However, I still recommend that you should wear a sturdy swim suit when exploring the ocean. Diving in Malaysia is an experience worth trying.

Apart from the usual resorts, there are also backpacker accommodations and home-stays that may arrange cheap diving expeditions on your behalf. The lodging firms may also arrange for special day tours to the adjacent isles. Nonetheless, diving is excellent around Mabul and there’s little reason to go elsewhere for the same services. Divers’ safety from predatory sea creatures is also guaranteed by the Panglima barrier wall.

The Paradise

I really like the Paradise Diving sites which are also popular amongst international tourists; they always have something new for people to enjoy. These spots are covered in pristine coral forests that teem with goldfish, whiptail and sparkled-mask rays. The second of these sites is popular for its Staghorn coral system, which houses the elusive but conspicuous mandarin fish.

Froggie’s Place

This marvelous diving spot features a sloping reef that’s about 14m deep, it offer a sweet diving experience that often brings me back every year. It even gets better where the barrier reef comes to contact with the sand, a marine convergence spot with an irresistible collection of fish and crustaceans. This site got its name from the massive array of frogfish that can be found along the sinuous slopes, the waters are so warm and relaxing that most divers dip in at least thrice in a day. Mabul is a true paradise for muck-divers who love spending time next to the beautiful soft corals.

 

About our new author:

Grace Sumrall is an avid diver from Australia who loves exploring the open ocean. She loves to read and share diving experiences with her fellow divers.

Nov

17

Having been lucky enough to be invited along to speak to one of my modern day heroes, the reality of meeting Scott Cassell was in fact better than I could have imagined. For those who don’t know who Scott is, he is one of the world’s most influential marine conservationists, an oceanographer, a combat dive instructor and a man who has worked with some of the biggest underwater exploratory companies in the world… he’s also a charming and very friendly guy who loves what he does.

Scott recently did a 30 mile dive to try and raise awareness about the decreasing standard of our oceans and to study the shark population while he did so. He is now in the process of doing 3 back to back 30 mile dives where he will not only draw the worlds attention to the sorry state of the seas but where he can carry out a more in depth study of underwater life.

Throughout the interview below, we discussed attacks by giant squid, swimming with sharks, his all important equipment (including his new partnership with Luminox watches) and about his adventures with Sea Wolves Unlimited and the Undersea Voyager Project which he instrumental in. Scott regaled me with stories about hunting undersea poachers, being run over by a boat and generally what it is like to have the ocean as your office.

Watch the full video interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f0WMYZQNSw

Jun

13

How do you know you have the right BCD (Buoyancy Compensation Device) ? And seriously
what could possibly be the difference between one or another you may ask. There
is very little about the BCD in general that many people find attractive or
enjoyable but more a necessity. I understand possibly better than most a BCD’s
function and the reasoning behind it; but the fact remains that the number 1
most disliked piece of gear in many divers kit is the BCD. It’s too restrictive
or clumsy, its too bulky or I just would like tit to have more function than
just holding my tank and helping me trim or float.

These days if your BCD is not bulky; then you feel like you are wearing body armour
underwater or they have so many unnecessary added features that you feel like a
walking Christmas Tree wearing one. The feature of “welds” in the air cell that
causes the unit to “wrap around” you simply gives the manufacturers a method of
adding more crud to the unit and keeps it comfortable. To avoid the cumbersome
feel and bulkiness of a jacket style BCD, you have the option of going with a
back inflation style BCD (my proffered option). Be careful when you go this
route; as you may find that many manufacturers concentrate more on lift than
function;  some BCD’s have enough lift to
raise the Titanic which equates directly with more fabric and more bulk.

To me, the perfect BCD would look like something that you could use easily out of
the water as in, the bladder would perform all that it needs to do (buy a lift
bag if you really want to raise objects other than yourself) it should also
come with just enough strap material to hold the tank on the back and keep it
against my back and connect your essential objects to streamline your dive but
have all that you really need (you really do not need 24 stainless steel D
rings ). Now, I have to admit my Zeagle Stiletto BCD doesn’t quite match that description,
but when compared to many of the units on the market today, it’s pretty darn
close.

It is a very simple, comfortable design that isn’t packed with a lot of needless
“features” and “frills” to make it overly cumbersome. It’s 35lb (16 KG) lift
capacity is still far greater than I need but the folks at Zeagle have figured
out how to make that bladder not quit as obtrusive as most. This for many
divers equates to a piece of gear that is completely functional for most diving
in most waters. I’ll be the first to admit that on warm water dives the padding at the back is quite
comfortable, and welcome, and the 5 stainless steel D-rings are tucked away in
just the right spots to secure an octopus, console/computer, small light or whatever
other trinket you may be taking along on your dive, but never seem to be in the
way or “dangle” excessively.

Zeagle’s integrated weight system is also equally as streamlined and simple. No bulky
pockets at each hip. The finishing touch on this BCD is the fact that it’s a
soft pack design. You can literally roll this thing up into a tiny little wad in your luggage/dive
bag jump up and down on it to compress some space (careful not to step on your
power inflator) and take it out when you reach your destination and it’s ready
to go diving. The bladder has a good pair of access ports for rinsing after
your dives and is overall a simple very functional piece of equipment for many
divers.
All the important information:
Integrated ipcord Weight System – 44 lb capacity (24 lbs Diver releasable – 20 lbs non-diver releasable trim weights for improved weight distribution and
balance)

35-lb (16-KG) lift capacity low profile bladder

Twin tank bands for single tanks included

1000 Denier Material

Two flap utility pockets

Adjustable Cummerbund

5 – stainless D-rings

Adjustable Sternum Strap

SIZES: XSmall through XLarge

So if you are looking for a light weight BCD that has all the features and
functions of a real heavy-weight contender this should be one of the first you
take for a test dive. Zeagle has a list of suppliers on their web page http://zeagle.com/Find-a-Dealer/

Mar

28

It depends on the state and severity of the asthma. I personally would recommend that you obtain advice from a combination of your regular treating practicioner and a qualified specialist diving doctor. I have known of cases of people who had been diagnosed Continued…

Mar

14

Specifically, we're staying at The St. Lucian (Rex Resorts) in Rodney Bay, Reduit Beach, Castries, St. Lucia. I enjoy snorkelling and Scuba diving and was wondering whether anyone knows what this place is like for reef, marine life etc. Continued…

Mar

7

i’m going to be going to thailand where im going on a tour that includes snorkeling (something i never done) and there’ll be coral and fish. can i touch the coral? i’ve heard that coral is very dangerous and sharp and can kill you and dangerous animals live on and in coral .. Continued…

Feb

28

Even if i wear goggles, i still worry if water will get inside my eyes, and pull out my contact lens! Can that really happen when diving? Please advice me. Thanks. Continued…

Feb

21


yes, you can, but i wouldn't really recommend it. you can get a lifevest or something, but still, it's best that you do know how to swim

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Feb

14


Bonaire is supposed to have the best diving in the world. That's pretty much all you can do cos the island's so small. People come from all over the world to dive there so if it's spectacular underwater views you want. I'd go for it

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Feb

14

Trident Dive Guide To Monterey California - Books Videos and CDs - Scuba diving equipment & gear

Over 48 dive sites Detailed maps Color photography Information on marine life and wrecks Includes regions Monterey Bay and Peninsula Carmel Bay Big Sur 72 pages FULL MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY Trident Dive Guide To Monterey California – Scuba Diving Books Videos and CDs Travel Books .

Continued…

Feb

7

Great beaches in Cairns, but yes need to go out by boat.
Green Island is the closest and a great day out. You can get good discounts for locals also.

One day trip – A trip out on the reef to Green Island – I use http://www.greatadventures.com.au – jump on board at the Pier right in town.
$67 for an adult Continued…

Jan

31

do u need to know how to swim to do snorkelling?

i’m 27/m from india . in about 1 week’s time i’m travelling to egypt and want to do a bit of snorkelling there … but i dont know how to swim.

any suggestions ?

what about scuba diving ?

You kind of need to know how to swim, but you don’t need to be an expert at it. Snorkeling merely lets you breathe with your face continually submerged. SCUBA is probably more demanding, you would need to take a course or so.

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Jan

24

Also where can I learn this south India ?

You do not have to be a "stong" or "excellent" swimmer to dive or to snorkel. The important thing is that you are comfortable in the water and aren't claustrophobic with a mask on your face having your nose covered, as you will breathe through your mouth only.

In both scuba and snorkelling you use your legs and the fins on your feet to move, not your hands.

In snorkelling you can we an inflatable vest that will keep you afloat while allowing you to move. In scuba diving the whole idea is to move slowly and not exert yourself. That way you conserve air and get to stay down longer and see more.

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Jan

17

Bottom Crawlers Scuba Dive Shirt Wrecked

font size=’2′ face=’Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif’ color=’#666666′ font size=’2′ face=’Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif’ color=’#666666′ p Wrecked by Bottom Crawlers /p p Premium dive apparel for those who want more than just another dive shirt! /p p It rsquo;s about time that dive apparel pushes forward as the technology of diving has. Bottom Crawlers is working hard to give you fresh, clean, contemporary designs to meet the needs of divers across the oceans. People are buying Bottom Crawlers Apparel because they want to show off their love of the water and diving /p TEC you are going to love this one. If you’re crazy about Wreck Scuba Diving, our Bolder, Strong look gives you a fresh approach to diving! Faded Black, dark on dark. Generous cut, 100% preshrunk cotton, screen printed. /font /font

Continued…

Jan

17

I'm going to Thailand in September and would really like to do some snorkelling/diving, just wondering if anyone knows of any tour companies that operate at this time? Cheers

i spent nine weeks in thailand from august till october 2001 and only in the last 1-2 weeks, the weather on the east coast got so bad, that diving was not really recommended anymore.
until then, it was perfect, even though it started to rain earlier at the west cost, which was why we moved on to the east……

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Jan

11


Definitely, the area between Marseilles and the Italian border.

There are nice spots around Cap d’Agde (also 2 diving clubs).

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Jan

11

Frankos Maps - Books Videos and CDs - Scuba diving equipment & gear

Large water resistant 25.5 x 17 map Side 1: Favorite dive spots. Also shows reef fish scuba & snorkeling spots and some favorite boating locations & much more! Side 2: Details of some of the smaller and more obscure islands Continued…

Jan

10

I'm going with a friend in June, for 2 weeks. We'll skip the discos and loud bars, but we're up for anything else that's not toooo strenuous.
I've extended this, so don't know why it's showing Choose Best Answer. Continued…

Jan

3

Princeton Tec Impact XL LED

Reviewer: James A. , Sunday, January 21, 2007 – View all my reviews Very good backup dive light. I carry mine on all dives even during Continued…

Jan

3

We'd like to go in Carribean or around, 1 week end of May. We'd like to have good food and clear water (we love snorkelling), for under 1200$ (US per person). Continued…

Jan

1

DIVE RITE SIDE WINDER / CAVE REEL 400FT

Continued…

Jan

1

I'm going to be in Houston for a few days and I'm wondering if there is somewhere, either on the coast or inland, within day trip distance that would have good snorkelling.

Not unless you want to go to Corpus Christy or South Padre Island, there is nothing in Galveston.

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Dec

30


just got back from sharm..and i promise your in for a spectacular treat ..we used the savoy and sierra.(next door to each other)..same owner…jettys are all along the beach..both excellent hotels with extremeley friendly helpfull staff.and reasonably priced.or try the scuba diving snorkelling classes at the sheridon.(they have 2 british intructers..say hi to julia for me..).they have recognised qualified instucters.map or maf i think it was called (BRAINS STILL JET LAGGED LOL).most bays i visited had ample safe areas…..the coral reefs are unbelievable like swimming in a giant marine tank..all along the coast there are many dive/snorkeling/swimming shops..choose a registered safe one..happy hols..and enjoy……..rose

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Dec

28

Eagle Folding Knife

Eligible for Free Standard Shipping on orders over $25 Customer reviews see below Stainless Steel Blade Locking blade is half serrated Thumb opening slot Poly-carbonate handle BLADE SIZES: 3″ only FULL MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY Silicone Pump Spray $5.95 Wreck Diving DVD $20.95 Mini Mite Knife

Continued…