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General Information
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The obvious beauty of the Hawaiian Islands disguises the fact that many indigenous plants and animals are already extinct or endangered. Mostly because of habitat destruction and the introduction of plant and animal species from outside Hawaii. It is clear that human impact has profoundly impacted the life that evolved in complete isolation here for millions of years. Hawaii, as a result of this impact has become known as one of the endangered species capitals of the world. In fact, over 50% of all the endangered species within the US, come from the tiny landmass of the Hawaiian Islands. What makes Hawaii Special? As a former Southern California resident I was one of the many who believed Hawaii to be over rated and over developed. Although there is some truth to the latter, the former could not be further from the truth. To start, the Hawaiian Islands are comprised of eight main islands and are the most isolated island chain on the planet. Right in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. The eight main islands are Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii (which is not the main island. Oahu is) The isolation provides some of the purest breathing air on earth. If you come from any populated area (So Cal), you learn immediately the wonder of clean fresh air. One of the many valuable resources of Hawaii is the phenomenal weather. There is little temperature variability from summer to winter (about 9° F at the coastal areas) Temperatures are usually in the 80’s F with moderate humidity. You will understand very quickly why so many people dread leaving our truly magnificent weather. Many people never leave. I know, I’m one of them. Aside from the weather the terrestrial environment is simply unmatched. The world class beaches here offer black and white and pink and green sand beaches. What else? The tallest sea cliffs in the world (2000 feet plus!), the wettest spot on the planet, the tallest mountain in the world (top to bottom), the worlds most active volcano, we even have a mini "Grand Canyon". You could spend a lifetime exploring all the nuances of Hawaii’s natural splendors and still not see it all. Common activities include hiking, sunbathing, sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, helicopter and plane tours, and of course whale watching, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Diving & Snorkeling We based our shop
on the North Shore of Oahu. Known to surfers around the world as the
"Surfing Capital of the W |
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Oahu | Maui | Hawaii | Kauai | Niihau | Lanai | Molokai | Home |
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orld",
it is less known but equally spectacular for its diving and snorkeling.
The same monster waves that pound these shores through much of the winter
have chiseled incredible and dramatic formations out of the lava underwater.
Steep drop offs, lava tubes, and caverns are among the many features
found in abundance here. Water temperature varies little and is around
78-80° F. The water is usually an indescribable iridescent blue
with visibility from 40 to 100 feet and beyond. Marine life includes
endemic species (life found only in Hawaii) at a very high rate of 20-30%.
There simply is no diving like Hawaii anywhere else. To say that the
diving is better elsewhere is like comparing apples to oranges. The
only way to truly appreciate the magic of Hawaii’s marine environment
is to study the many books on the subject, or to have the company of
an expert guide. In all honesty, many dive operations will simply give
you a tank and basic briefing and off you go. To myself, and our staff
that is a great shame. There is much you will never see if your tour
is conducted this way. We provide detailed briefings with site maps
so you will get the most for your dive.