Discover Scuba Diving in Kihei, Maui – No Certification Needed!

No prior experience is needed! This dive is designed for first-time or non-certified divers who want to try scuba diving without committing to a full certification course. You must be able to swim. A PADI Instructor will guide you through the basics before you dive. However, since this is not a certification course, you won't be able to scuba dive on your own afterward.

Please complete the short PADI Discover Scuba Diving eLearning program and the medical history questionnaire before your dive day. Depending on your answers, you may need a physician's release to participate. Please take care of this early, as no refunds are given if you arrive without your required paperwork.

After completing your eLearning, you'll meet us at the shop at 7:00 AM to get fitted for your scuba equipment and review what to expect. At the dive site, your instructor gives you a safety briefing and teaches you the basic skills you'll need, which you'll practice in calm, shallow water. Once you're comfortable, your instructor leads you on a guided dive along one of South Maui's reefs.

We recommend two dives! Most people find they're much more comfortable on their second dive, which makes it easier to relax and really enjoy the reef.

We keep a maximum of four divers per instructor, so you'll get plenty of personal attention throughout your experience.

Yes! The minimum age is 10 years old. Kids ages 10–11 book the Child Introductory Diver option, and ages 12 and up book the Adult option.

Yes. Certified divers are welcome to join the Introductory Dive as a refresher. If it has been more than five years since your last dive, this is the dive we recommend before joining a guided shore dive.

Diving with a cold, significant nasal congestion, an ear infection, or difficulty equalizing pressure can increase your risk of ear and sinus injuries. Even if you feel well enough for other vacation activities, you may not be fit to dive. Never force your ears to equalize or rely on decongestants simply to push through a dive. If you're experiencing symptoms, contact the outfitter before your scheduled experience and seek medical guidance when appropriate.

Certain medical conditions require additional evaluation before scuba diving because changes in underwater pressure can affect your lungs, ears, sinuses, and other parts of your body. Conditions that may require medical clearance include asthma or other breathing difficulties, heart conditions, a history of seizures, certain ear or sinus problems, previous lung injuries, and some recent surgeries. Certain medications and other health concerns may also need to be reviewed. Having one of these conditions does not automatically mean you cannot scuba dive. However, you may need a physician to confirm that diving is appropriate for you. Always answer the medical questionnaire accurately, even if your condition is well controlled or hasn't caused problems recently.

You can dive with a beard or mustache but it can prevent a tight seal between the mask and your face, which may cause water to leak in. It is often recommended to shave at least your mustache before diving. If you'd prefer not to shave your mustache, please bring petroleum jelly or chapstick with you. If you coat your mustache in that chapstick or jelly, it may be able to seal and prevent water from getting in.

You can't wear glasses with a snorkel mask, but contacts are totally fine and often the best option for seeing clearly underwater. If you have a prescription mask, feel free to bring it, or prescription masks can be rented at the shop for an extra fee. Fun fact: everything appears about 25% larger and closer underwater, which helps visibility a bit even without correction, but for the sharpest view, contacts or a custom mask will give you the best results.

Yes, we recommend booking ahead. Our groups are intentionally kept small, so spaces are limited — once a space is reserved for you, it may no longer be available to another guest.

Yes. Transportation is not included, and you're responsible for getting to and from the shop and the dive site. For most dives, you'll meet at the shop at 7:00 AM to get fitted for your gear, then follow your guide to the dive site in your own vehicle. Some dives meet directly at the dive site — your booking details will let you know where to go.

Yes. Our dives require at least 2 participants to operate. If the minimum isn't met, we'll reach out to reschedule your dive.

South Maui's reefs are home to a wide range of tropical reef fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, rays, and eels, along with fish species found only in Hawaii. Divers have also spotted spotted eagle rays and frogfish with our guides. Every dive is a little different, and seasonal surprises do show up! During the winter months, humpback whales visit Maui's waters, and you may even hear their songs while you're underwater.

Most of our shore dive sites have easy, sandy entries — usually just a short walk across the beach — leading to coral reefs at comfortable depths of around 40 ft (12 m). Because you enter from the beach, there's no boat ride involved, which makes shore diving a great choice if you're prone to seasickness. Your guide selects the dive site each day based on current ocean conditions and the experience level of the group.

We dive a rotation of South Maui shore sites, including popular spots like Makena Landing and Ulua Beach. Because the site is chosen on the day based on ocean conditions, specific dive sites can't be guaranteed.

Maui offers diving year-round, and mornings are typically one of the best times of day to get in the water. Morning conditions are often calmer, and the reefs are quieter before the rest of the island gets moving.

Every dive is led by an experienced PADI dive professional. Our shop has been part of Maui's diving community since 1999 and is a family-run PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center. Our team's backgrounds include professional scuba and freediving instruction, boat operations, and marine science, along with countless hours exploring Maui's waters.

Common sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm coral reefs, as the particles are small enough to be absorbed by corals, causing toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens are formulated without these harmful chemicals. Reef-SAFE sunscreens go a step further by using non-nano particles, which are too large for corals to ingest, helping to preserve marine ecosystems. Please avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Consider wearing sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeve rash guards, as an alternative to sunscreen. If you choose a mineral-based sunscreen, ensure it is labeled 'non-nano.'

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

• A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000 ft (305 m) interval of 18 hours suggested.
• Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 24 hours is suggested.
• Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

Any activity that brings you above 1000 ft (305 m) can trigger the Bends/Decompression Sickness. Please check your hike elevation to ensure that at no time you will be going up in elevation. If the hike does go to elevation, you must treat it like a preflight interval as listed above in the flying FAQ.