Scuba Diving FAQ

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Diver observing a turtle from behind
Fish sitting on top of coral
  • Do I already need to be certified to go SCUBA diving?

  • No! If you have never tried diving before and want to see what it’s all about, Banyan Tree Divers offers the Introductory Scuba Dive for $99 per diver. The cost includes all of your diving equipment. Covering just two short hours, you practice diving in shallow water and then complete your first scuba dive in the beautiful waters off of Maui.

  • Should I book in advance?

  • Some advanced planning is helpful to secure your preferred date and time, especially if you will be completing a dive course. However, we can often accommodate last-minute bookings, so call us at 808-446-6099 even if you want to start diving today!

  • Do your prices include all of the diving equipment?

  • Yes. All of your diving equipment is included in the cost.

  • How do I reserve my booking?

  • Banyan Tree Divers requires a credit card or Paypal deposit to secure your booking. Click here to book now.

  • Do you conduct both shore and boat dives?

  • Banyan Tree Divers focuses on shore diving. You do not need to get up early and spend half your day diving from a boat to see Maui’s best dive sites. In fact, most of the dive sites that boat diving companies utilize are accessible from shore. If you want to explore diving on Maui like a local, then let Banyan Tree Divers show you our favorite spots with the convenience of parking your rental car and entering the water from shore.

    UPDATE: 2017

    Banyan Tree Divers has teamed up with Makai Adventures to provide high-end private boat diving and snorkeling excursions to various Maui diving locations. Contact Banyan Tree Divers or Makai Adventures for more information.

  • I am interested in a scuba certification. How long does that take?

  • Most PADI scuba certification courses can be completed in two to three days, with the exception of PADI Scuba Diver, which only takes one day. PADI Open Water Diver requires a minimum of two days.

  • I am already certified. What courses do you offer for divers beyond the PADI Open Water Diver level?

  • For certified divers, the next step is earning your PADI Adventure Diver certification or PADI Advanced Diver certification. These training dives focus on developing your skills allowing you to explore specific aspects of diving. The Adventure Diver course is a combination of any three training dives from the Advanced Diver course, and may be completed in one day. The Advanced Diver course is made up of five dives and requires a minimum of two days to complete. For this course, both the Deep and Navigation dives are compulsory. The three remaining dives are electives, such as Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist, or Underwater Photography. The Advanced Diver course is a pre-requisite for the PADI Rescue Diver course. The training dives may also be applied toward PADI Specialty Diver ratings. For more information about courses beyond the Advanced Open Water level, please contact Banyan Tree Divers.

  • When are the best dive conditions on Maui?

  • We are lucky to have excellent dive conditions all year. Yes, it’s always possible to dive here! An exceptionally special time to dive is during the six months from December to May when thousands of Humpback Whales migrate home to Maui. The whales safely spend the winter months here, mating, giving birth, and socializing, while we enjoy listening to their songs throughout every dive.

  • How many divers do you take at once? Are the groups large?

  • Banyan Tree Divers wants our guests to enjoy a private diving experience, so we keep our group sizes small. Also, diving in large groups can lead to hazardous interactions with the marine environment.

  • Are there any hidden costs?

  • No, all dive equipment is included in the cost. There are no hidden costs.

  • My scuba certification card is missing, will I still be able to dive?

  • Yes, absolutely! If you are PADI certified and forgot to bring your certification card, then it’s easy to look up your PADI profile online. We recommend you download the PADI app on your phone, so your proof of certification is always with you!

    If you were certified by a scuba organization other than PADI, and do not have your card, please provide your log book as documentation. If you are unable to produce either a log book or card, then you may still dive. We will conduct a Scuba Refresh Dive tailored to your current ability.

  • I am already certified, but some of the people in my party are not. May we dive together?

  • Yes! Divers of any level may dive together because we are always able to keep dives fairly shallow, reaching a maximum of about 40 feet.

  • What is your cancellation policy?

  • Banyan Tree Divers kindly requires a minimum of 48 hours for any cancellation. Cancellations due to poor weather conditions are at the discretion of Banyan Tree Divers.

  • Do I need clearance from a doctor to scuba dive?

  • Not usually. If you are 10 years or older and in good medical condition you will most likely not require a clearance from a doctor to scuba dive. All uncertified divers are required to fill out a medical statement. Click here to view this form. If you must answer “Yes” to any medical question, then a clearance from your doctor is necessary before you begin your diving adventure.

  • How long must I wait before flying, zip-lining, or driving up to Haleakala Crater?

  • One dive requires a minimum surface time of 12 hours before ascending to altitude. After two or more dives, a minimum surface time of 18 hours is recommended.

  • I already completed some parts of the PADI Open Water course. Will I be able to finish the Open Water training dives with Banyan Tree Divers on Maui?

  • Yes, absolutely. We will complete the PADI Referral course with you on Maui. All you need to do is provide Banyan Tree Divers with your online PADI e-Learning course results or referral paperwork from your previous instructor. We pro-rate your course cost accordingly.