Brief Maui dive report

[thecrab87]

I had to work on Saturday and somehow got committed to taking the boss's son diving on Sunday. He's a greenhorn, so I was concerned about the south winds. The north shore was out, due to the 30 foot surf. We went to the backside, and it turned out OK (actually, the water was perfect). Dove the ranch beach area, picked up some ukus, the biggest was 6#, so I was plenty happy with that. Played with a big one, maybe 20#, for well over an hour, but could never get him in close enough, even with palu. Guess he didn't get that big by being stupid. Had two mus come off, even with good shots, but it happens. I was just happy to have successfully stalked some of the harder reef fish around (mu and uku). The kid was funny, he was all impressed with this 7 to 8# parrot that I speared. I remember being that skinny and green....

[Stodelle]

Willie. Was that Hana side? Where is Ranch Beach?

[thecrab87]

Willie. Was that Hana side? Where is Ranch Beach?

Check your PMs.

[Bill McIntyre]

I remember being green, but I don't ever recall being skinny. :(

[thecrab87]

I remember being green, but I don't ever recall being skinny. :(

Bill-

If I'm diving as well as you are when I'm your age, I'll be EXTREMELY happy. I know a lot of guys your age who can't even walk to the mailbox to get the paper without stopping to catch their breath.

[Bill McIntyre]

Well, my mailbox is right outside the door. :)

[LSUBigL]

I am headed to Hawaii (Maui) on the 31st. I have been scuba diving for about 4 years and spearfish the rigs in Louisiana. I have done some limited freediving on the rigs, mainly just dropping down 15 or 20 feet to shoot mangrove snapper. I have never done any breath-hold training of any kind, but would love to try to do some freediving/spearing while in Hawaii. Is it too risky for me to try (I remember reading about the guy who died a couple weeks ago from SWB) while I am there?

[Bill McIntyre]

I wouldn't think it would be too risky in Hawaii if its not too risky on the rigs. Just dive within your own limits and don't push it. The typical SWB victim is good enough to try to go deep and stay down a long time, and is aggressive.

To use an almost silly example- thousands of tourist kids snorkel in Hawaii every year, and none suffer SWB. It won't happen to you either if you don't try to dive like Willie. I may have more current experience than you do, but I'd die if I tried to keep up with Willie. I'd also die if I tried to emulate a lot of the big time So Cal divers, so I don't, but I still have fun diving within my own capabilities.

(edit) It occurs to me that the preceding might appear to be knocking Willie, and that wasn't my intent. He came and dove with me last fall and is coming again this spring, and I just know that he is a much more capable diver than I am, and he is perfectly safe diving to his depths and for his bottom times. Its just that you and I should not be tempted to do it just like he does.

[LSUBigL]

Sweet..are there areas that can be fished in less than 35 fsw? I doubt that I would be able to do anything deeper than that, given my experience. I would also need to work out the logistics of a trip. Outside of snorkeling equipment, what gear would i need? I think that I would need to get some freediving fins...what else?

[Stodelle]

Most of Maui is in the under 35 foot category. Our island is primarily fringe reefs and there alot of decent fish in this zone.

Are you going to bring any scuba gear because I wouldn't mind bubble blowing when you're here!

[LSUBigL]

I can bring some gear. I have everything I need except tanks. My wife has been certified but has yet to dive, but she only has snorkeling gear and would need to rent some to scuba dive. I'm guessing that there are places there that can hook us up. We would love to do some scuba diving while we are there. How difficult is it to work out the logistics of setting up a dive or two. Should i bring my gun?

[thecrab87]

It's relative, I suppose. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I hang out with a fellow freediver while our sons hit each other in the head and kick each in the stomach (martial arts class). His idea of fun is dive bombing to 120 feet to shoot ukus, which is something that I can't fathom (pun intended!). I'm comfortable working in depths up to 70 feet, but I rarely go any deeper. So in comparison, I feel pretty tame.

LSUBigL, in response to your question, there are plenty of fish to be had at 35 feet and shallower. Being able to go deeper is a help in Hawaii, though, no doubt about it. However, it's more important to be diving in a productive spot.

[LSUBigL]

Thanks for the info. If either of y'all want to hook up for some diving, I've got 7 days of availability and so far nothing on the agenda. We fly in Thursday night, March 31st and don't leave until the following Thursday, the 7th. I'm not sure what days would work best and how much the weather forecast comes into play but my schedule should be fairly flexible because we don't want to kill ourselves with a fast-paced itinerary, and would love to go...just let me know what y'all think..Thanks!

Also, I'd like to get some "must do's" from you guys. A co-worker recently went and did a lot but I'd like to hear from the locals as to what is really important for us to do. Best luau? Best golf course? Best restaurant? etc...

[bakayaro666]

Hello everyone!

Its always good to hear a good dive report.

I'm on the west side and it we are having our spring break here in two more weeks. Which means I've got a lot of time to dive. If anyone wants to go out let me know :) Also this sunday if the weather is clear I'm going out.

I usually don't dive too deep, just head out from the beaches.

[Stodelle]

Gabe, I'm open as well. I will be Kauai bound the last week of March though, but other than that, I should be available. Sorry i didn't call you last week. Had a full sinus meltdown and couldn't talk, work, or dive! How'd you do in yesterday's storm? I heard a bunch of boats got beached!

[bakayaro666]

Yeah, funny thing about it. If you beach your boat here they charge you like 500 bucks a day to get it off the reef.

It poured buckets here yesterday.

Anyways, I'm up for going out on sunday.

[Stodelle]

My buddy and I offered the guy with the grounded boat at lahaina Harbor to float it off the reef for him for only $5k. He turned us down and it is still still sitting there at the almost $100k in fines the state is charging him. Stupid.

I'll give you a call and we'll go out!

[Silent Hunter]

:) Hola Amigos,

Baby sittin and killin fish nothin tops that