Aussie Diving Hawaii

[Reg]

We would like to plan a trip to Hawaii for some diving. What is the best time to go for good Visibility, comfortable water temp and a few crowds?

Any Advice would be great.

[Zenagirl]

Depends on which island you're going to. If you go to the Big Island, Kuai, or Lanai crowds aren't usually a problem ever because they aren't big tourist islands and don't have as many resort areas, etc.

If you go to Oahu or Maui, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, May through mid-June, and mid-September until mid-November are all good choices. You want to avoid any American school holiday: Christmas/New Years, March/April (spring break season), and mid-June through mid-September (summer break). That's when the families are out in force.

January-March is considered "rainy season" so viz can be down during that time, but it's humpback season in Maui County, so the whale song and sightings are worth the risk IMO.

[Travelnsj]

Originally Posted by Reg

We would like to plan a trip to Hawaii for some diving. What is the best time to go for good Visibility, comfortable water temp and a few crowds?

Any Advice would be great.

Why would you go to Hawaii for diving?......there is much better diving on the GBR. Go to Heron Island one of the most Beautiful Islands I have seen anywhere and good diving......Unless you are going for the Manta Dive in Kona...the diving in Hawaii....is just OK.....Yap would be closer to you for the Mantas.

[gbrdiver]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

Why would you go to Hawaii for diving?......there is much better diving on the GBR. Go to Heron Island one of the most Beautiful Islands I have seen anywhere and good diving......Unless you are going for the Manta Dive in Kona...the diving in Hawaii....is just OK.....Yap would be closer to you for the Mantas.

Geographically Yap is very close to Australia...practically, getting there is akin to goat copulation. Fly to Cairns, then a 1:30am flight to Guam (2 times a week), a 40 hour transit (if you leave Thursday, otherwise it is 3.5 days)...then there is getting home! In fact the Continental schedule makes it faster to fly to Hawaii, thence Guam to connect to Yap! Where they will send your dive gear will be another story. Packages ex Australia to Hawaii would also be half the cost of Heron Island (which I agree offers fantastic diving). Just answering the question as to why Aussies may (and do) consider Hawaii.

[Reg]

Was considerng going around May 2008 and we wanted to do a bit of a mixed holiday with some 'good' diving and some other local activities.

I've been considerng Hawaii as gbrdiver suggested flying outside of OZ can sometimes be cheaper than domestic flights.

Mantas would great are there any wreck dives.

[DiverBoy100]

winter month are great diving but the water is kind of rough but there is always good vis out here on the big island...it is also less crowed between mid of jan through the begenning of march

[Travelnsj]

Originally Posted by gbrdiver

Packages ex Australia to Hawaii would also be half the cost of Heron Island (which I agree offers fantastic diving). Just answering the question as to why Aussies may (and do) consider Hawaii.

Although it may be half the cost to go to Hawaii.....remember you get what you pay for. I have dove The Big Island, Oahu and Maui....the diving is just OK....great vis....all fished out unless you want to go to some deep spots of 120' or more where the Tigers and Hammerheads hang out....The Big Island is my fav but only for the Manta dive.