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Hawaii Dive-O
08/24/2008 - By Staff Writer Amazing dive sites and terrific year-round weather? It’s easy to see that the good old standard of Hawaii as vacation destination is, indeed, the gold standard.
The biggest challenge with visiting Hawaii to dive, many say, is forcing yourself back on the airplane to return home afterwards.
Despite its unique tropical locale, the fact that Hawaii is a US state means that planning a scuba trip is easy and paperwork-free for American citizens. There’s no money to exchange, foreign language to translate, or passports to update. And “the Aloha State” has everything to offer: miles of gorgeous white sand beaches, active volcanoes, tropical rainforests, spectacular sunsets, and, of course, fantastic diving opportunities in warm, clear water.
Thanks to geographic isolation, a sub-tropic location, and the geological youth of the islands, Hawaii’s marine life and topography are uniquely distinct. Features of the area include dramatic lava formations, terrific underwater visibility, and a high likelihood of encountering sea turtles, sharks, and manta rays.
The incredible diversity of marine life in Hawaii’s waters will astound even the
most experienced diver. The abundance of tropical fish species which are found nowhere else on Earth, combined with innumerable dive sites and guides, makes for a scuba paradise.
Nearly all of the diving in Hawaii is based from the four main islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Each island offers its own particular blend of life and excitement—both below and above the waterline.
As the biggest tropical island in all of the Pacific, the Big Island of Hawaii has a greater land mass than all the other Hawaiian islands put together. What’s more, thanks to the most active volcano in the world, it’s still growing. The best dive sites on Big Island are on the western coast. The waters here are usually calm and crystal clear, with visibility of 30 meters (100 feet) or even more. This area offers divers views of lava tubes and caverns, Hawaiian reef lobsters, crimson soldierfish, green sea turtles, coral reefs, and an area known as “Manta Ray Village” (I bet you can guess why).
Divers on Maui are drawn to the Molokini Crater, which features a 120 meter (400 foot) sheer vertical wall to explore. The inside of the crater is its own habitat, with numerous tropical plants and fish sheltered in its calm. The area around Lanai offers a number of underwater caverns, caves and archways—including First and Second Cathedral. The Cathedrals are magnificent two-story grottoes full of elaborate coral and sponge growths. The innumerable nooks and crannies of the Cathedrals house several types of crabs and fish. Effects of light piercing the porous ceiling of the grottoes are a siren call to underwater photographers.
Hawaiian stingrays, porcupine puffers, lemon butterflyfish, blue-stripe snappers, and eagle rays are just a few of the creatures divers encounter around Oahu’s many shipwrecks and offshore lava formations. The 800 ton wreck Mahi and the YO 257 both feature forests of sponges, cup corals, and hydroids.
The part of Kauai that rises above the waterline is famous for its sheer cliffs, dramatic mountains, cascading waterfalls, and lush tropics. Underwater, Kauai is equally wild and fascinating. Mana Crack is the place to go to see hammerhead and black-tip reef sharks, while Oceanarium features a dramatic wall with boarfish, morwongs, and black coral trees. Diving in this area is only advised during the summer months.
Aside from all the conveniences on the Hawaiian islands, travelling there is itself a snap. There are non-stop daily flights available to Honolulu from many locations in the continental US. Inter-island travel is a snap, thanks to frequent daily flights and boat trips between sites. Factor in the terrific year-round weather and it’s easy to see that the good old standard of Hawaii as vacation destination is, indeed, the gold standard.