Tropical Gear - Northwest Dive Club (2024)

So I am going to Hawaii for my first time in warm water and as a new diver I (of course) have a couple questions. I am planning on doing at least a few dives while I am there and appreciate any advice you all can offer.

-Do I need to buy a wetsuit for the trip? If so what do you recommend? Would a shorty be sufficient or do I need full covering?
-I assume I need to take my own personal gear?
-Any tips about travel?
-I'll probably be in Maui. Does anyone have any spots or dive services they recommend? I am a new diver so nothing too technical. I enjoy any chance I have to get in the water so I don't need to go all "aggro" at this point.

Thanks in advance!

Honestly, if you're only going to be doing a few dives, you could just rent from whatever shop you are at. Personally, I hate using rental gear, because I'm so used to my own set-up and its particulars, but as a new diver you may not notice the difference. If you already have your own bcd, regs ect. and all you need is exposure protection, you could bring all that and just rent the suit. Also, go cruise craigslist and see if you can find anything there in the 3mm or older 5mm (prob closer to a 3mm by now) range. Lots of people buy things for that one trip and sell them a few months/years later when they realize they'll never use them again.

If you're set on buying new, I loved my pinnacle cruiser, and would venture that the breaker is also great value for the money.

I would highly recommend at least a full 3 mm wetsuit, but then again a) I get cold, and b) I learned that, even if I feel pretty comfortable in the water, I start shivering when the wind hits me after the dive, which tells me I was colder than I thought I was. (You're talking to somebody who has given up and dives dry EVERYWHERE, including in Maui . . . )

If you go to Maui, I would recommend two things: B&B Scuba for boat dives (they take VERY good care of beginners) and Shaka Doug for shore diving. There is very good shore diving on Maui, if the surf isn't up, and it is far less expensive than the boats are.

You can rent ANYTHING . . . but I'd recommend taking at least your mask and fins, because those things only work well if they fit well. And make sure your fins will work with whatever booties you are going to wear.

You'll have a great time. Diving in warm, clear water, with minimum neoprene, is SO easy in comparison with diving here!

We are planning on going to Maui. Not sure where on the island we will be staying but with a rental car (and a shower curtain to protect the trunk from wet sandy gear) it seems like it's pretty easy to get everywhere on the island.

We'll probably rent gear unless I can find a screaming deal or end up borrowing some gear. What's the best way to transport your personal gear? Carry on?

in_minsk_we_trust wrote:I'm using a HPX200/Gates and full G10/Fix set-up that can mean me and my wife sneaking 60+lbs on board the flight in our carry-ons.

Check with your carrier though. On our recent flight with Hawaiian they weighed our carryons. 25lbs was the limit per bag. If you're just bringing mask/snorkel/fins/boots I wouldn't think it would make much difference where you pack them.

+1 for B&B. I was searching all over for a DIN/yoke adapter for my regset and Brad, the owner at B&B just let me borrow one for my stay although I wasn't even using his shop. No deposit, no ID, nothing. Class act!

On our recent flight with Hawaiian they weighed our carryons. 25lbs was the limit per bag.

Yeah, worked great when we were living in Egypt and South Africa. Worked on our trip to the Keys recently too, but not expecting too much more leniency now that we live in the States full-time.

Take a wet suit, a 5mm will be great.. you wont regret it! there is no such thing as a "too warm dive"

Depending on your current gear, you might have everything you need.. I dive back plate and wings here in PNW, so I just use a smaller wing for tropics and the rest is the same..

its worth taking your own gear.. just rent tanks and weight.

Maui has AWESOME shore dives! I suggest you just rent tanks from local shops and do a bunch of shore dives and the occasional boat dive. Boat dives are expensive! $150 or more for a 2 tanker..

get the book "Divers Guide To Maui" by a local veteran diver "Chuck Thorne", this book is worth its weight in gold! It has directions, descriptions, facility info and very detailed dive site maps and descriptions of tons of local shore dives..
http://www.nativebookshawaii.com/shop/i ... ts_id=1629

If you stay in West coast (Lahaina/Napiili, etc.) go to Laihana Divers! They are the most professional operation that side of town IMHO..

If you are stying in South (Kihei) go for "Ed Robinson"..

If you PM me I'll give you tons more info per email..

Koos