The Maui Banyan Tree
Maui’s famous banyan tree in Lahaina inspired our dive shop to become Banyan Tree Divers Maui. In 1873, this beautiful tree only stood eight feet tall when it got imported from India and planted in the Courthouse Square. The banyan tree now shades 2/3 of an acre, is supported by sixteen trunks and stands over sixty feet high!
There is so much Hawaiian history to experience during your Maui vacation alongside diving with us. Our mobile dive shop in Lahaina will take you shore diving while celebrating the island. That means all beginners and certified divers can explore dive sites like Airport Beach and Mala Wharf.
Your Dive Shop in Lahaina
Travelers rank Banyan Tree Divers Maui as the best dive shop in Lahaina because of our commitment to three goals:
- Make every Maui scuba diving experience with us safe and unforgettable.
- Protect the coral reefs in Lahaina and the fish that live here.
- Help everyone who joins Banyan Tree Divers Maui to feel like they are scuba diving with family.
What Scuba Divers Might See
The best Maui scuba diving provides you a wide variety of corals and creatures. For example, different species of moray eels are a common sight. The Yellow Margin Moray Eel is an abundant resident that grows as long as four feet. If you have the best of luck, it’s always incredible to find the magnificently colorful Dragon Moray. Or you might see the slightly smaller White Spotted Moray hiding in crevices between the corals. This potential danger is one reason why all scuba divers never place a hand or finger near the reef!
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 finding any turtles here can be hit or miss. But, at any given time, there is most likely at least one turtle hanging out.
Airport Beach does have a few resident Hawksbill Turtles that most often appear during the summer and fall. The Hawksbill is a rare turtle species to see anywhere in Maui!
Twenty-five percent of Maui sea life is found nowhere else in the world. One of these endemic creatures at Airport Beach is the small Hawaiian Damselfish. Scuba divers recognize them by their black and white colors and the barking noises they make. Another local animal is the massive Hawaiian Monk Seal. Adult seals weigh around 500 pounds, but they are very shy of scuba divers. If you are lucky to see a Monk Seal, it’s best to keep a reasonable distance away while you observe your new friend.
Mala Wharf in Lahaina
Banyan Tree Divers Maui visits dive sites near the Maui Banyan Tree, like the excellent Mala Wharf. Also known as Mala Pier and Mala Boat Harbor. Here you are almost guaranteed to see multiple Green Turtles and White Tip Reef Sharks. As if they are not enough, you can also see well-camouflaged frogfish, colorful crabs, and scorpionfish. When visiting this spot, scuba divers need to be mindful that there are consequences for negative interactions in the underwater world. The best way to do this is by maintaining perfect buoyancy control. Take your best underwater photos and videos, but please never touch the corals and marine life. The number one way we can all do this is by watching our fins because kicking coral kills coral.
Maui Scuba Diving Safety Tips
Make sure you enter and exit every dive site legally and safely. You will find that every area has different rules and regulations, so communicate with your PADI professional instructor before assembling your scuba equipment.
Some of the other Lahaina dive sites we visit include 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 Maui is as unforgettable as the marine life. Please make your reservation online by choosing your favorite Maui scuba diving lesson, tour, or PADI course, and let us do the rest. Come scuba diving with us and see the beauty of the island.