Maui, smaller Kahoolawe and the Molokini Crater offer excellent diving along volcanic walls and rocks.
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Also named the Valley Island; Maui is home to two huge dormant volcanos named Mauna Kahalawai and Haleakala which means house of the sun. From its largest city Kahului you should try driving along the north coast to Hana which is one of the most scenic valley drives in the world. Kahoolawe or the sacred island is uninhabited which used to be green and forested. Cattle have drastically reduced it and in 1939 the US Navy used the island for bombing practices, lowering its forest even more.
Maui is famous for its whale watching tours in winter when hundreds of Humpback whales have migrated from Alaska to the shallow waters in the Au'au Channel to breed their young. Haleakala National Park is a perfect spot for biking, camping, hiking and seeing some spectacular sunrises and sunsets in some of the world's most diverse landscapes. The most touristic area's are in the southwest at resort towns such as Wailea, Makena, Kihei and Ka'anapali. Hula Bowl in January and the Aloha Festivals in October offer enough annual entertainment for locals as well as visitors. Hookipa Beach is known for surfing some of the biggest waves in the archipelago. Other sightings are Puu Kukui , which is Maui's highest peak and Makaluapuna Point in Honokahua Bay with its strange and rough looking volcanic rocks referred to as Dragon's Teeth .
Diving is best at the western leeward side where winds cannot produce coral damaging swells and kicked up sand to lower visibility. From La Perouse Bay in the south all the way up to Kapalua, the northwestern largest town, you will find brilliant pristine diving. Diving along the windy southeast shores and remote northern shores can be well worth the effort but are not often dived by recreational scuba divers who just want to enjoy some dives. Molokini Crater is a crescent moon-shaped underwater crater between Maui and Kahoolawe with its south hills reaching the surface offering very steep wall dives literally into a volcano's cone. Diving around Kahoolawe is mostly done around its south shores. Because of the military this is the place where you can still find ammunition and shells. Be aware though as there might be bombs still ready to explode.
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The best dive sites and top diving locations in Maui & Kahoolawe rated by divers since last year.
- Hidden PinnacleRated 10.0, 1 ratings
- Tank and Landing CraftRated 10.0, 1 ratings
- St. AntonyRated 8.0, 1 ratings
Editor: Lars Hemel Have fun breathing underwater, but breathing above water is even more important!
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