Kihei Scuba Diving Tours

Kihei Scuba Diving Tours - What to Know

Kihei scuba diving tours are boat dives for certified divers. Most trips leave from Maʻalaea Harbor, about 5 miles (8 km) north of Kihei, on a 46 ft (14 m) Coast Guard–certified dive boat. The boat is licensed for many more people, but charters usually carry around 22 guests, and divers are split into small groups of 4 to 8 by experience level, each with its own guide. You'll get a full dive briefing, help with weighting, and a guide who knows where the turtles, eels, and sharks tend to be.

Most trips are two-tank charters, meaning two dives at two different sites. The classic choice is Molokini Crater, with a first dive inside the crater and a shallower second dive at a nearby turtle site. Other days head to less-visited West Maui reefs and wrecks, the Molokini Backwall for advanced divers, or across the channel to the Lānaʻi Cathedrals. Private charters can also take your group to Lānaʻi or to Mokuhoʻoniki off Molokaʻi, known for hammerhead sharks.

Masks, fins, and wetsuits are included, and BCDs and regulators can be rented. Tanks, boat transport, two guided dives, and snacks and drinks on board are included, and Nitrox is available for certified divers. Bring your certification card and complete a medical questionnaire before your dive. If you haven't dived in a while, a refresher or one of the scuba shore dives in Kihei HI and the rest of South Maui is a smart first step.

Why Choose Kihei Scuba Diving Tours

Location is the big reason so many divers choose scuba diving Maui Kihei trips. Kihei sits on Maui's sunny South Shore, a short drive from Maʻalaea Harbor and the quickest jumping-off point for Molokini Crater, which has been a Marine Life Conservation District since 1977. The crater's crescent shape shelters its inner reef from swell, so conditions are often calm and clear, with visibility that regularly reaches 80 to 100 ft (24 to 30 m). That's rare clarity for shallow reef diving.

The variety is the other draw. In one trip you can drift a deep wall, swim through lava caverns lit by sunbeams, or explore a coral-covered pier and shipwreck. Marine life includes green sea turtles, whitetip and gray reef sharks, moray eels, octopus, frogfish, nudibranchs, and reef fish found only in Hawaii. Water temperatures range from about 75°F (24°C) in winter to about 80°F (27°C) in late summer, and from December through April you may hear humpback whales singing during your dive.

Where to Go: Kihei Scuba Diving Tours

Scuba diving Kihei Maui charters cover a wide range of sites, all reached by boat from Maʻalaea Harbor. Your outfitter chooses the best sites each day based on wind, swell, and current. Here are the main areas you can dive:

• Molokini Crater (Inside) – The most popular dive near Kihei. Boats moor in a protected corner of the crater, and dives reach up to about 90 ft (27 m) over coral and sand, with reef sharks, eels, and schooling fish. The second dive is usually a shallower 30–50 ft (9–15 m) site known for turtles.
• Molokini Backwall – An advanced drift dive along the outside of the crater, where the wall drops into the deep blue. Expect strong currents, visibility often over 100 ft (30 m), and a safety stop in open water with no line to hold.
• Lānaʻi Cathedrals – Across the ʻAuʻau Channel, often with dolphins along the way. First and Second Cathedral are lava tubes with arches, swim-throughs, and skylights that send beams of sunlight into the water.
• West Maui Reefs & Wrecks – Māla Pier, a collapsed pier now covered in coral, the Carthaginian shipwreck at about 97 ft (30 m), and reefs along the Pali coast. Afternoon charters often visit two coastal sites with shorter boat rides.
• Mokuhoʻoniki (Molokaʻi) – A remote seabird sanctuary off Molokaʻi's southeast tip, known for schooling hammerhead sharks. Offered as an advanced private charter on select days.

Types of Kihei Scuba Diving Tours

Scuba Maui Kihei outfitters offer range from relaxed reef dives to remote expeditions. Here are the main types of tours:

Two-Tank Group Boat Dives

The most popular choice, with small groups of 4 to 8 divers per guide. Options include Molokini Crater, the "Wild Card" trip to less-visited Maui sites, Māla Pier and the Pali coast, and a shorter afternoon coastal charter. Groups are organized by experience, so newer and seasoned divers each get the right pace.

Advanced Boat Dives

For experienced divers who want a challenge. The Molokini Backwall requires at least 40 logged dives and a dive within the last 6 months. These trips call for quick descents, strong buoyancy control, and comfort in current and blue water.

Private Scuba Diving Boat Charters

A scuba diving boat charter in Kihei HI gives your group its own boat for up to 6 passengers. Choose a Lānaʻi Cathedrals two-tank trip, a three-tank Lānaʻi expedition to rarely visited sites, or the Mokuhoʻoniki hammerhead dive, which requires at least 25 logged dives and a dive in the last 3 months. Snorkelers can join private charters too.

Benefits of Kihei Scuba Diving Tours

Diving with a local guide means you see more and worry less. Guides know each site's currents, entry points, and hiding spots for octopus, frogfish, and nudibranchs. They help you dial in your weighting for salt water, lead you safely through swim-throughs at Lānaʻi, and keep the group together in current. Small groups mean less impact on the reef and more personal attention, and with tanks, weights, and most gear provided, you don't have to travel with heavy equipment.

Top Tips for Kihei Scuba Diving Tours

• Plan flights and high-elevation trips carefully. Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines require a minimum 18-hour surface interval before flying or driving above 1,000 ft (305 m) after a single dive, and at least 24 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving. The minimum allowance is waiting 18 hours before flying or driving/hiking to any elevation above 1,000 ft (305 m), but we strongly recommend waiting the full 24 hours before flying. Please take this extremely seriously — failure to follow these recommendations can result in serious injury such as decompression sickness (the Bends). Two-tank charters count as multiple dives, so visit Haleakalā (10,023 ft / 3,055 m) and Upcountry Maui before your dive day.
• Bring your certification card. All boat dives are for certified divers. If you're doing an advanced dive, bring your logbook too.
• Refresh your skills if it's been a while. If it's been more than two years since your last dive, plan a refresher, a guided shore dive, or a private guide before your boat dive. A shore dive is also a great way to dial in your weighting if it's your first ocean dive.
• Finish your medical form early. Some answers require a doctor's written release. Email it to the outfitter ahead of time and bring the original. Divers who need a release and arrive without one can ride along but can't dive.
• Arrive early for gear fitting. Give yourself time to get your mask, fins, and wetsuit sized. If you use a DIN regulator, ask about adapters ahead of time or bring your own.
• Master your buoyancy. Many sites, especially the Backwall, require excellent buoyancy and safety stops without a line. Keep fins and hands off the coral at all times.
• Pack light. Each diver gets a dry bin under their seat, and there's no cooler space on board. Bring a refillable water bottle and snacks that don't need to stay cold. Keep paper products out of the marine head.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii bans sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Choose a non-nano mineral sunscreen, or cover up with a long-sleeve rash guard.
• Book mornings for calmer water. The trade winds usually build in the afternoon, so morning charters tend to have the smoothest rides and best conditions.

To learn more, explore these TripOutside stories:

• Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving for Beginners – Learn what to expect on your first dives, including certification basics, gear, safety, buoyancy, and tips to help you feel more confident before diving in Wailea and Makena.
• Scuba Diving Destinations You Can Feel Good About Visiting – US, Caribbean & Mexico – Explore standout dive destinations with an emphasis on responsible travel, healthy marine ecosystems, and unforgettable underwater experiences before planning your Wailea and Makena dive.

Other Maui Adventures

Kihei's long string of beaches and calm South Shore water make it easy to fill your days between dives. Just remember to save Haleakalā and other high-elevation adventures for before your dive day. Here are other adventures in and around Kihei:

• Scuba Lessons & Snorkeling – Get certified or brush up with Maui scuba diving lessons, or join non-diving friends on Molokini Crater snorkeling tours.
• Surfing, Kiteboarding & Wing Foiling – Learn at The Cove with Kihei surf lessons, or ride the trade winds with Maui kiteboarding and Maui wing foiling.
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding – Paddle calm morning water with Kihei paddleboarding lessons and rentals.
• Kayaking & Outrigger Canoeing – Explore Turtle Town on Maui kayaking tours, or try a traditional outrigger canoe tour.
• Hiking – Explore Haleakalā and Maui's waterfalls on Maui hiking tours. Book high-elevation hikes before your dive day.
• Mountain Biking & Electric Biking – Coast down Haleakalā or ride the coast on Maui mountain biking tours or with Maui electric bike tours and rentals. Haleakalā rides start high on the mountain, so book them before you dive.

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