Dive Review of Dive Makai/Outrigger Keauhou Beach in
Hawaii/Kona

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Dive Makai/Outrigger Keauhou Beach, Aug, 2006, by Jim Schoeneck, CA, USA . Report 2742.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Dive Makai seems to have smoothly transitioned from the prior ownership to Mike and Kimberly (the new owners). Crew was outstanding, both on top and in the water. Probably the best dive briefings I've ever had, with not only a focus on what we might see and should be looking for (complete with fish book or custom pics), but also discussion of what fish behaviors to look for. Underwater, Mike, Todd, Mark and Lydia had great eyes to find the interesting stuff and took time out when the bigger animals (like a squad of spotted eagle rays, some manta rays and a pod of dolphins) came to see us. During a dive with Lydia, we found both a blue stripped butterfly fish (rare and found only in Hawaii) and a white margin eel. Mike did a great job of getting people back to the boat that had modest air consumption skills and then took us on a second tour of the dive for another 30 minutes plus. Overall, we were able to stay underwater for an average of over 70 minutes a dive, even though we often had hit 80-110 feet. For those without great air consumption skills, the crew was quite willing to help teach some techniques. Each day out of the harbor, the crew would ask what we wanted to see and generally delivered, including a Harlequin Shrimp, leaf scorpion fish, dragon wrasse and a frogfish. Overall in 3 days of diving, we counted 16 species of butterfly fish and 10 types of eels. We saw 20+ spinner dolphin while diving, a school of over 100 Heller's baracuda, 7 manta rays, 6 eagle rays, and more nudibranchs than I could count, including the largest Spanish Dancer I've ever seen (10-12 inches). The only downside is that the boat does not have a head on board, so you get to jump in the ocean or step down the ladder when nature calls. Tom, who does the reservations, was quick to respond and very, very helpful both before we got to Hawaii and on island. We dove with the previous owners, Lisa and Kendra, and as I mentioned, Mike has done a great job to keep up the traditions of Dive Makai. He's also added regular Manta Dives to the schedule, which was great (last time we had to drag our equipment and go with Jack's to do the mantas). Overall, a great dive trip with a great bunch of people.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Caribbean, Mexico, California, Hawaii
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	78-82°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	70-150 Ft/ 21-46 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	130 ft recreational diving limit only; air, be back on the boat with 300 psi (steel low pressure tanks), diving as long as you want or can
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	dedicated, protected rinse bucket. good handling of cameras when getting in and out of the water

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Dive Review of Dive Makai/Outrigger Keauhou Beach in Hawaii/Kona

Dive Makai/Outrigger Keauhou Beach, Aug, 2006,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Dive Makai/Outrigger Keauhou Beach in
Hawaii/Kona