South Island Boat Adventure Dive

Experience Adventure from the South Side of Island in Poipu!

Dive Kauai Operates TWO Different Vessels for this Dive Tour

For a majority of our boat dive tours, divers will be aboard our 26 ft. SeaCat Premium Catamaran called the “Ho’onui”. This vessel is approved for up to 6 divers to ensure everyone has a unique, more intimate and memorable dive experience.

From time to time we will also use our 25 ft. Zodiac Rib (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) called the “Hokupa’a”.  This vessel is approved for larger groups (typically 8 divers of the same group) and allows us to provide combo tours of diving and snorkeling for private charters.  When we use for regular tour use, however, we will keep the capacity to 6 divers to again ensure a unique, more intimate and memorable dive experience for all aboard.

Your detailed confirmation email will outline which vessel your tour is scheduled to be on for your particular day.  Not to worry, the tours are exactly the same, the only thing that is different is the type of vessel used.

Boat Diving at its finest with Dive Kauai

Dive Kauai is based out of and departs from the small boat harbor in Poipu on the south of the island.  This is a perfect location for us to have easy access to 13 of the most pristine and exquisite dive sites on Kauai.  Due to the ever-changing water conditions of the island, we will NOT be able to identify or promise which dive sites we will visit for the day. The captain and crew will use their vast knowledge of the conditions and island to pick the best sites for the day based on their observation and experience.  Approximately half of the dive sites could be classified as “Topography” dives, meaning collapsed lava tubes or lava formations.  The other half would be classified as “Reef” dives.  When conditions warrant, we will do our best to pick one of each category of dive site for your 2 tank dive with us.

The most popular dive site on Kauai’s South Side is called “Sheraton Caverns”.  Therefore, we do get to this site quite often, however, conditions may not always warrant this in which case the expertise of the captain and crew will ensure you get to another equally enjoyable site on the tour.  If you want to all but guarantee being able to dive at Sheraton Caverns while here on Kauai, please consider our SCOOTER DIVE.

Divers on our boat dive adventures will encounter the occasional dolphins, an abundance of exotic Hawaiian reef fish, and beautiful hard coral formations.  Let’s not forget, one of the most exciting creatures we will encounter is the Honu; i.e. the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.  Being a Marine Protected Species, the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles have come to thrive in the beautiful Kauai waters.  Though we will never guarantee seeing one on the off chances that they are not present at the sites we go for the day, it typically is a matter of how many will we see for most days.  In addition, during the months of December through March, we are also fortunate to hear the sound of Humpback Whales singing during our dives!

There is so much to see and experience on these southern coast dives in terms of pristine reefs and off-shore caverns that diving in these areas becomes a true pleasure.

The fish in these areas are plentiful, the reefs are gorgeous and the weather is almost always sunny and beautiful.  Our captain and crew look forward to sharing their passion and knowledge of marine life and island history with you!

What does “Experienced Divers” mean?

Mainly during our summer months (April through September) water conditions on the south side of the island can become a bit “bigger” regarding waves/swells.  This has just become a part of life for us, however, for the enjoyment of everyone on board we like to set proper expectations and preface this time of year people need to be more prepared to dive in “bigger water”.

“Experienced” typically means you have at least 20 logged dives under your belt OR you have been diving in the last 6 months.  We mainly are trying to prevent someone with little dive experience or someone with an extended period of time since their last dive from boarding the boat and becoming “that diver” who is not prepared for our bigger water conditions and slows the trip down.  No one wants to be “that diver” and no one wants to dive with “that diver”.  On occasion, we will have a “Beginner Boat” for newly certified divers or restricted divers.  These don’t have the same prerequisites.

If all of your dive history has been in the flat calm bath water like conditions of Mexico or the Caribbean, then we would STRONGLY suggest joining us for our SHORE DIVE tour before joining the boat.  This will allow you to experience our water conditions in a little more protected area of the shore dive and get your gills about you before heading onto the boat.  Plus you’ll get to see our beautiful shore dive location at the same time.

As a general rule, if it’s been more than 2 years since your last dive, please consider joining us for our REFRESHER/REACTIVATE  Dive tour before joining the boat.  Again, ease your way back into diving and get your gills wet before heading onto the boat.

Now we are fully aware that this is just a recommendation and will never tell someone “no” unless they are not certified divers from joining us on our boat dives, however, our dive staff and captains do have full authority to set someone on the boat and prevent them from diving should they see anyone being “that diver”.  Should this happen, we will be unable to offer a refund of any kind for the tour.  Just want to properly set expectations for this dive tour.

Should you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to call our reservations team before making your reservation for this dive.