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Maui's Banyan Tree in Lahaina

A famously large banyan tree in Lahaina. Maui

Maui’s famous banyan tree in Lahaina inspired our dive service that we aptly named Banyan Tree Divers Maui. In 1873, this beautiful tree arrived in Lahaina standing just eight feet tall. The tree got imported from India and planted between the harbor and Courthouse Square. Today the banyan tree stands over sixty feet high with sixteen trunks and can now shade 2/3 of an acre.

There is so much Hawaiian history to experience during your Maui vacation, alongside going for a few scuba dives. So while you celebrate Hawaii, let our dive service in Lahaina set up your shore diving lessons and tours. You can book with us knowing that every beginner and certified diver gets to explore the best Maui dive sites like Airport Beach in Ka’anapali, Olowalu Reef, and Mala Wharf in Lahaina.

Your Dive Service in Lahaina

Travelers rank Banyan Tree Divers Maui as the best dive service in Lahaina because we commit to three goals:

#1 Set up safe and unforgettable Maui scuba diving experiences.

#2 Protect Lahaina’s coral reefs and the fish that live there.

#3 Help everyone who joins our scuba diving community feel like they get to dive with family.

What Scuba Divers Might See

The best scuba diving in Lahaina, Maui provides a wide variety of corals and creatures. For example, different species of moray eels make for a common sight as you dive along the reef. The impressive Yellow Margin Moray Eel species lives at Airport Beach and can grow up to four feet long! If you have the best of luck you could find the magnificently colorful Dragon Moray, or you might see the more plentiful White Spotted Moray hiding in crevices between the corals. Moray eels move fast and bite even faster, one reason why all scuba divers never place a hand or finger near the coral reef!

Turtles at Airport Beach in Kaanapali

Of course, most scuba divers visit Maui to see the giant Green Hawaiian Turtles that live near the shore. In Kaanapali, Airport Beach provides you with a massive dive site, so if you go the wrong way finding turtles here can be hit or miss. But on any given day, you should encounter at least one turtle!

Airport Beach does have resident Hawksbill Turtles who most often appear during the months spanning the seasons of summer and fall. The Hawksbill represents a rare turtle species that most people don’t get to see anywhere in Maui!

You cannot find Twenty-five percent of Maui’s sea life anywhere else in the world. One of these endemic creatures is the small Hawaiian Damselfish. Scuba divers recognize them by their black-and-white colors and barking noises. Yes, these fish bark at you if you dive too close to their eggs! Another local animal is the massive Hawaiian Monk Seal. Adult seals weigh around 500 pounds and they are not shy around scuba divers. If you are lucky to see a Monk Seal, for your own safety please keep a reasonable distance while you observe your new friend.

Mala Wharf in Lahaina

Banyan Tree Divers Maui even offers lessons and tours at dive sites near the famous banyan tree in Lahaina, like the excellent Mala Wharf. Also known as Mala Pier and Mala Boat Harbor. Here you are almost guaranteed to see multiple Green Turtles together with White Tip Reef Sharks! As if that’s not enough, you can also see well-camouflaged frogfish, colorful crabs, and scorpionfish. When visiting Mala Wharf scuba divers need to always remain mindful of the consequences of negative interactions underwater. You can do your best to limit any negative moves by maintaining perfect buoyancy control at all times. Of course, take your best underwater photos and videos but please never kick or touch the corals and marine life. If you do not have excellent buoyancy control then don’t scuba dive with a camera or GoPro.

Maui Scuba Diving Safety Tips

Make sure you enter and exit every dive site legally and safely. Every location has different rules and regulations, so communicate with your PADI professional instructor before assembling your scuba equipment.

Some Lahaina dive sites only be visited when you have a professional guide. These spots include Mala Wharf, North Airport Beach, Black Rock, Kapalua Bay, Kaanapali Reef, West Maui Turtle Town, and Olowalu Reef (Mile-Marker 14). Each location has its own safety rules to follow, so we provide guided shore diving tours.

Banyan Tree Divers Maui wants to make your trip to Lahaina as unforgettable as the marine life. Please make your reservation online by choosing your favorite scuba tour or PADI course, and let us do the rest.