Hawaii scuba diving charters, Hawaii scuba diving frequently asked questions Honolulu

What do you recommend for Motion/Sea Sickness?

We recommend Bonine. One pill the night before and then again one pill the morning prior to diving. Everyone who has taken it so far has been super happy with the results but, (disclaimer) as with any medication please check with your doctor prior to taking as results/reaction/dosage may vary. Available at Wallmart, ABC stores in Waikiki, and others for about $5.00

What is the boat like, and how many people will be on it?

The custom built Catamaran, the Kahala Kai catamaran, is a 40-foot twin hull Coast Guard certified vessel with a 20-foot beam. The Catamaran charter boat is fully equipped for comfort, safety, and close to the dive sites for quick trips. Some days its only two people but the weekends are usually busy, the Max cap is rated for 30 passengers, but that's rare. Really, its plenty of room because its a catamaran and twice as wide as the other scuba diving boats on Oahu.

What should I bring with me when I dive?

Wear your swimsuit, and bring along a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and payment. If you're a certified diver, bring your certification card and log book. If you’re a student, bring your crew pack each day.

Can I bring a non-diver along on the boat when I dive?

Yes. We do allow riders to come along with a diver, but The rider will need to pay for his or her boat seat at a substantial discounted rate.

What are the diving conditions like?

Diving conditions are good year round. Water temperature ranges from 78°F (25°C) in winter to 80 °F (26°C) in summer. Visibility varies somewhat from day to day and from one dive site to another, but is typically 80 to 120+ feet (24.3 to 36.5+ m). If conditions are too poor at one dive site, we can often move to an alternate dive site. Because we believe the only fun diving is safe diving, we will cancel charters on the rare occasion that the surface or diving conditions present safety concerns.

Do I have to have a diving certification to go diving?

Beginners or First time scuba diving participants aged 10 and older can go on two shallow (to 40 feet) introductory Discover Scuba dives, each at a different dive site. There are no study guides or tests to worry about, we'll teach you what you need to know with a few quick skill lessons before you enter the water, and an instructor will closely supervise your dives.

How soon can I fly after I dive?

Divers Alert Network currently recommends waiting 18 hours after diving before you fly in commercial aircraft. You can review the DAN recommendations online at this link -
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=54

Do I need to be a good swimmer to go diving?

You should be able to swim, and it’s very important that you are comfortable in the water.

How many people will be diving with me?

You'll dive with no more than 4 other people in addition to your guide or instructor.

Do you provide transportation from Waikiki?

Yes, We provide complementary round trip transportation from all Waikiki hotels for all of our customers.

Were are you located?

In Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. We work out of the Kewalo Basin boat harbor on Ala Moana blvd. & Ward ave. We work off the boat to enable the lowest prices for our customers.

Check *** Driving directions & Map *** for more information.

How long of a drive is it to the boat from Waikiki?

The boat is located at Kewalo basin Harbor on the south shore of Honolulu, about a 5-10 minute drive from Waikiki.

How far in advance should I make my reservation?

We recommend making reservations at least a few days in advance. If there are still boat seats available, we can take reservations up until 9 PM (Hawaiian time) the evening before you wish to dive.

What is your cancellation policy?

We do ask out of common courtesy that you call us at least 12 hours in advance if you decide not to make the dive. Because we provide staffing with you in mind, we would appreciate the advance notice so that we can schedule the staff accordingly and our instructors are notified in advance if they are not needed.

Do you take credit cards or checks?

To ensure you the lowest prices available, we currently only except CASH.

How long will it take to get my basic certification?

The standard PADI Open Water diver Certification Course takes three days (We also offer an Express 2-Day course).

Do I have to do my course on certain days?

You can start any course on any day, and multi-day courses can be spread out over time – they don’t need to be done on consecutive days. We can work with you to complete your course on a schedule that’s convenient for you.

Does the basic certification course have a swim test?

Yes. During the basic Open Water Certification Course, you will complete a swim test: either 200 yards using any style or 300 yards wearing mask, snorkel and fins. You will also show that you can float on the surface for 10 minutes.

I did my course work and pool sessions already. Can I get my certification dives with you?

Yes. If you did your classroom and pool work within the last year, you can complete your 4 open water certification dives with us. You will need to bring a referral form signed by your instructor and your logbook each day.

What are the advantages of getting the Advanced Open Water certification?

One advantage is that Advanced divers can dive to 100 feet with a buddy. More importantly, the course will help you improve your diving skills while learning new ones, increasing your comfort levels and confidence, all which contribute to safe diving.

During the Advanced Open Water Certification course, you will learn about underwater navigation and about certain types of diving, such as deep, wreck, boat, multilevel, and drift diving. You can also choose to focus on particular diving interests, such as underwater photography.

Can my child become certified to dive?

Children aged 10 to 14 can participate in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program or earn their Junior Open Water Diver certification. Advanced courses are available for kids aged 12-14.

Can I get private or semi-private instruction?

Yes. Please contact us for details and a price quote.

Can children go diving?

Kids aged 10 to 14 can participate in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Program (First Time Dive) or earn their Junior Open water Diver certification. Advanced courses are available for kids aged 12-14.

Is it OK if I don’t have a dive buddy to go with me?

Yes. That’s what we’re here for! An experienced guide or instructor who’s familiar with the dive sites will lead groups of up to 4 certified divers, students or first time divers on each dive.

How long are the dives?

Deep or Shallow dives are planned to the No Decompression Limit or air consumption, whichever comes first. We expect divers to be back on the boat with 500 psi of air left in their tank. We use tanks that hold 80 cubic feet of compressed air @ 3000 psi.

How do you decide which dive sites to visit?

The captain and your diving crew will consider the needs and wishes of our customers and evaluate the present surface and diving conditions to choose the best Hawaii dive sites for each charter.

Can we get married underwater?

Yes. Please contact us well in advance with details on the date and the number of people in your party, including the number of people who will be diving and each of their certification levels. Also, let us know of any special requests. We'll get in touch with you about the cost.