Choosing a scuba diving company is about more than picking a dive site. The instructor, group size, communication, and how comfortable you feel in the water can make a big difference in your experience.
Banyan Tree Divers works with first-time and certified divers in Ka’anapali, Lahaina, and West Maui. On this page, you can read feedback from guests who have joined us for beginner scuba diving, guided dives, private experiences, and PADI training.
The reviews below come from real guests and reflect their individual experiences. Every diver and every day in the ocean is different.
What Our Divers Say
We did two 2-tank dives with Simon and it was so much fun! Both airport beach and mala pier dive sites were incredible. There was so much to see! Tons of coral and fish plus we saw an eagle ray, eels, at least a dozen turtles and two sharks! These were our first dives since we got certified and Simon made us feel totally comfortable and at ease. It was a great experience. We would totally do the same dives again the next time we are in Maui. 100% recommend for great scuba diving in Maui.
— Sarah W, Google Review
We got into Maui right after tropical storm Lala. After a few days the water cleared and we decided to go on a dive. I called the owner to make sure things were up and running and he was great, we got a dive the next day. Our guide was Sean and he was awesome. Did the safety brief and dove airport beach. Dive was beautiful. We enjoyed the dive so much we decided to do a second with Sean same day, so we dove Mala wharf, this was 100% beyond worth it. It was incredible, Sean knew exactly where some cool finds were. He took us right up to a sleeping reed shark, we even got to see a frogfish because he spotted it! We saw so many turtles we lost count and spotted a couple of rays and so many different fish I can’t list. Overall an excellent dive and if you have the chance do a double dive because Mala wharf is a must not miss.
— Elliott D, Google Review
This is a great dive shop that deserves 5 stars for customer service. They were great at communicating and setting up a last minute dive for me. I did night dives with Sean Carpenter and he was an excellent instructor!
— Matthew M, Google Review
Just finished an amazing vacation which included a number of dives with the amazing team at Banyan Tree Divers. If you are looking for a Maui dive experience catered to your specific needs, look no further. Banyan Tree will ensure divers of any skill level (yes even those who have never tried before) have an amazing experience right from the shores of beautiful Maui. You will come away a better diver with a new sense of amazement and appreciation of the delicate ecosystem that sits just off shore. Banyan Tree has safely certified all 4 of my children and they take a wonderful appreciation of the underwater beauty of Maui. There are times you find a company that really cares about what it does and that shows through in how they conduct business. Banyan Tree is one of those companies. Enjoy shore diving on Maui’s west side. Safe. Friendly. Educational. Fun. We loved it.
— Chip L, Google Review
Such a magical experience. Simon, our instructor was a lovely patient pro who catered to our groups different levels of confidence and experience. We had a blast!
— Elinor D, Google Review
Stayed at The Westin Nanea in Ka’anapali and booked a shore dive with Banyan Tree. Small group, and our instructor, Sean Carpenter, was excellent. Logistics were as easy as it gets — we met about 100 yards from the hotel, gear was already staged and in great shape. Anyone staying at the Westin in Maui, this is about as convenient as a dive can be. Sean gave me personalized coaching on air consumption during the dive, not just generic instruction. He clearly knows the local marine life well, and it’s obvious the whole Banyan Tree team genuinely cares about the reef and the animals, not just running people through a checklist. Price was very reasonable for the quality of instruction and gear. I’m staying a few more days and already planning a second dive with them. Highly recommend.
— Blue Jay, TripAdvisor
Had a wonderful time learning the new world of scuba diving! This was my first experience with scuba diving, and Sean was exceedingly patient with me as I adjusted to skills in the water, making the learning process more enjoyable and easy-going. Sean was great at monitoring the skills we had to complete and still needed to accomplish, keeping us on track with completing the certification on time. Equipment was well maintained, and the location was the best I could ask for! Even practicing skills in the water was breathtaking, with reef fish swimming all around you. For our final dive, Sean took us to a secondary location with a sunken pier that had amazing schools of fish, sharks, turtles, and more! There is no better place to get a certification for the first time. If you are considering the photo package, it is a great addition for someone who may be experiencing the beautiful underwater scenery for the first time! The videos Sean recorded are wonderful and will allow me to look back and remember this amazing experience. Thank you, Sean!
— Olive J, TripAdvisor
Reviews From First-Time Scuba Divers
Trying scuba diving for the first time can bring plenty of questions—and sometimes a few nerves. Many Banyan Tree Divers guests arrive with no previous scuba experience and want an instructor who explains the process clearly and gives them time to get comfortable underwater.
My first time scuba diving. I chose Banyan Tree. They had great communication. Diving Instructor Simon was perfect…. Calm, informative, gave great instructions. I’ve done lots of snorkeling and am comfortable in the water. Simon stayed close the entire dive, checking in often and making sure I was ok and that I remembered all the stuff he taught us. Safety is very important. He made me feel very comfortable and safe the entire experience—which was wonderful!!!! Thanks so much!!! Can’t wait to do it again!
My wife and I are both certified but haven’t done a dive in years. We also had our 16 year old daughter with us who was diving for the first time. Sean was great at getting us all ready to confidently dive in a short period of time. We saw a couple turtles and a lot of fish at the first site. The second dive stole the show. So many turtles, different varieties of fish, a reef shark, and a couple eagle rays. We will definitely dive with Banyan Tree Divers again when we are in Maui in the future.
— South Texas Poker, Google Review
The whole experience was great. Our dive leader who I believe was named Simon was amazing and embodied pretty much everything id think a surfer would be: laid back, encouraging, fun, and patient. We saw some manta rays and tons of fish and coral. He made it easy for my brother, step dad, and myself to dive for the first time and my mom hadn’t dove in 40 years. Definitely a 10/10 experience and would definitely do it again. Plus, Simon has a pretty cool YouTube channel that he uses to capture relaxing videos that you can put on in the background.
Interested in trying scuba yourself? Our Beginner Scuba Diving experience in Ka’anapali requires no previous scuba experience or certification and is limited to a maximum of four non-certified divers per instructor.
Reviews From Certified Divers
Certified divers often look for something different: a knowledgeable local guide, an appropriate dive plan, small groups, and help choosing an experience that fits their recent diving history and interests.
Amazing experience and top tier service from the team and Banyan Tree Divers. We signed up for the two tank shore dive and we visited the Mala Wharf and Airport Beach for our dives. Whether you’re geared up or on full rental, the team takes care of all your gear. Full valet service, making experienced divers just as comfortable as new ones. The Mala Wharf dive was spectacular. The Dive Master provided realistic expectations regarding the visibility and surf conditions. Once everyone felt comfortable and understood we went for the dive and the results were well worth it! The wreck of the old wharf provided a surreal backdrop for the underwater world that blossomed from the devastation. Lahaina always seems to preserve. More sea turtles than you can count, moray eels, schooling fish, even packs of fish hunting the schools. At airport beach we saw beautiful colorful coral and Eagle Rays swimming across providing a majestic view of what the underwater world gives you. Shane was a great guide and Kevin goes out of his way to ensure you have everything you need. A great experience made possible by an even greater team! Highly recommend for new divers and experienced alike.
— Red Ace, Google Review
Sean was our instructor and we had a blast with him. Very informative and fun guy. Kevin was also very pleasant to work with on the booking. Thanks guys!
— Austin G, Google Review
Simon took us out to dive at Kahekili Beach Park. He went over all the important details and made me feel very safe and comfortable. He made sure to point out all the fish, turtles, and eels so we didn’t miss anything and took pictures along the way. We had so much fun and would recommend him and the Banyan Tree Divers team to everyone!
— Geneveive C, TripAdvisor
Certified divers can compare our guided Maui scuba diving experiences, including Ka’anapali reef diving, Mala Wharf, refresher dives, and night diving.
Private Scuba Diving Reviews
Some guests prefer having an instructor dedicated exclusively to their own group. Private scuba diving can be especially appealing to couples, families, nervous first-time divers, and groups with different experience levels who want a more personalized pace.
We did a private dive. The guide was incredibly helpful and patient with my inexperience. This was my first ocean dive after my certification and it was amazing. I felt extremely safe and we were able to see some beautiful ocean wildlife.
— Jeremy W, Google Review
We are repeat divers with Banyan Tree Divers, having first done the introduction to scuba diving years ago, then working with Banyan Tree for our certification dives a few years ago, and now returning again as certified divers for a private 2-tank dive with Caitlin. It was a great trip. She took the time to answer some refresher questions regarding diving as it had been 2 years since our last dives. That was super helpful and helped us get off to a solid start. We visited two locations that were absolutely awesome. The sea life was great — turtles, fish including an amazingly large puffer fish, eels, etc. We even saw a slumbering reef shark. All in all, it was a great day. We’ll be back to see Banyan Tree Divers again!
— Erin S, TripAdvisor
Learn more about Private Scuba Diving in Maui.
PADI Scuba Certification Reviews
Learning to scuba dive is a very different experience from taking a single recreational dive. PADI students spend time learning new skills, building confidence, and completing the training required for their certification.
My fiance and I just received our certification from Banyan Tree and we highly recommend. Kev was super communicative beforehand and ensured we were set up for success. Shane was an excellent teacher and we felt very confident working with him. The two dive sites were stunning! We will be back.
— Maggie B, Google Review
My family and I had the most amazing experience getting our PADI certification with Caitlin. I was very nervous about some of the skills, and she had so much patience and coached me through everything. I don’t think I could have don’t it without her, and I feel so much more confident in my skills! I would recommend this company to anyone diving in the area, at any level.
— Hollie M, Google Review
Explore our PADI scuba certification courses in Maui.
What Guests Often Mention About Banyan Tree Divers
Every review reflects one guest’s individual experience. Still, several themes appear frequently in feedback from Banyan Tree Divers customers: patient instruction, small groups, clear communication, personalized attention, and instructors who help divers become more comfortable in the water.
Those are also the principles that guide how we approach scuba diving in Maui. Whether someone is taking their first breaths underwater or is already an experienced certified diver, we want the activity to match their training, comfort level, and goals.
Read More Banyan Tree Divers Reviews
Want to read more guest feedback before booking? You can view additional Banyan Tree Divers reviews on the independent review platforms where our guests have shared their experiences.
READ REVIEWS ON GOOGLE
READ REVIEWS ON TRIPADVISOR
READ REVIEWS ON YELP
Ready to Go Scuba Diving in Maui?
Guest reviews can help you understand what diving with Banyan Tree Divers is like, but the right experience still depends on your certification, comfort level, and goals.
If you’ve never scuba dived before, start with our Beginner Scuba Diving experience. Already certified? Explore our guided Maui scuba diving options.
