Scuba Dream Time

Ni'ihau , the Forbidden Island Trips to Ni'ihau I have learned consist of a very early start to a very long day. The reward is a great day of diving and memories to last. As crew our day officially starts at 5:30 am. Our customers are expected to check in by 6:00 am. By 6:45 am we are pulling away from the dock loaded up for a full day of diving (3 tanks each), breakfast and lunch for customers and crew, plus fishing gear. The trip out took almost 2.5 hours. Its a long way across the channel. Everyone settled in nicely for the long ride. As we finished our channel cross ing Capt Andrew got a bite on one of the fishing lines he had set out. We had managed to hook a huge marlin, estimated at around 500 pounds. He was a beauty there is some brief footage of the catch in the video below. Being aware of overfishing in our oceans, Ryan cut the fish loose but managed to save Capt Andrew's prized lure. After all t he excitement we decided on the best spot for the first ...

Wednesday the South Shore of Kauai started feeling the effects of the south swell that had arrived from the vastness of the Pacific. As a result and with safety in mind we canceled boat dives and shore dives. Safety should never be an afterthought. As a result we had time to go exploring the terrain on this side of the island. With our new jobs, we don't have as much free time as we did with our previous island employer. We decided on the Maha'ulepu Trail right off of Poipu Road on the South Shore. For Hollywood trivia buffs this is where parts of the movie 6 days/7 nights were filmed. The area has incredible sandstone cliffs. Cemented sand dunes were deposited here during the last age and with wind and water erosion have become elaborate sandstone caves. The area has some incredible vistas but so does much of Kauai. You get to see the land and sea meet in a dramatic fashion; no doubt that the south swell added to the drama. It was fun exploring the cliffs and hiking r...