Matt Zimmerman

Diving at the end of the Road – at the base of the Kaena Point Trailhead

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August 19th Club Beach dive

So this past weekend the Oahu Scuba Diving club headed out to Makaha Beach for a BBQ and a couple of dive from the beach to Makaha Caverns, what made this dive special is that the club had the South Seas II moored near the caverns, so divers were able to take a surface interval on the boat and change tanks out there.  Pretty cool event that is free to club members.  If you haven’t joined, you probably should.  Here are a few pics.  Scroll down if you want to read about the Kaena Point shore dive that broke out at this event.

Joining the club

If you are looking for information on joining the club, we do cool events all year long, and you get everyday discounts on boat charters.  It is a great deal.  Here the link to find out more.

Exploration Dive

So I’ve been in the diving industry on Oahu for many years, but I have never jumped in the water off the beach at the end of the road which is the trailhead for Keana Point.  For those of you that don’t know, that is were the road ends and the trail to Ka’ena Point starts.  Turns out there is a reasonable beach entry there if the sure is small.  It is a little bit of a scramble, and I slipped on my butt once, but not to bad over all.  You’ll know you are at the right place when you see the No Parking, Emergency Turnaround signs

 

beach entry at Kaena Point

The entry

road near Kaena Point

Looking back down the road. See the legal parking?

Emergency Turn around signs at Kaena Point

Close when you see these signs

The Kaena Point Dive

So getting in not a big deal, sandy area in waist deep water good for putting on fins.  Then basically you follow the channel that you start in out to sea.  I’m used google maps to see that I went about 1500ft out before turn around.  The coolest part of the dive was at the turn around, and I’m posting that video here.  You can also see that with more air/time there is quite a bit more to explore.  The average depth was probably only 25ft, so make sure you are weighted.  Overall I wouldn’t rate this one of the best shore dives on Oahu, but it did take me 18 years to get here, and it was neat.  Next time, scooter and a rebreather.  Here is the screenshot I took off Google that gave me distance:

dive map of Kaena Point shore dive

The Kaena Point Dive Video

So you can see from the dive map that I turned around when I hit a small wall, about 8′ high, that held a ton of fish.  Got a nice little video clip that I will share.

 

freediver ascending from a dive to the Mahi
freediver ascending from a dive to the Mahi
freediver ascending from a dive to the Mahi
freedivers at the surface in Waianae
freedivers at the surface in Waianae
freediver line diving at the mahi wreck
freediver line diving at the mahi wreck
free diver with green sea turtle at makaha caverns
free diver with green sea turtle at makaha caverns
freedivers on the South Seas II inaugural freediving charter
freedivers on the South Seas II inaugural freediving charter
Freediver with monofin
Freediver with monofin
dive boat south seas to on a freediving charter
dive boat south seas to on a freediving charter

Freediving Charters

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Freediving Charters

Many of you probably know that freediving is a rapidly growing sport, and freediving on Oahu is no exception.  On August 11th, with the support of members of the Oahu Freedivers Facebook group, we organized our first freediving charter through sister company Oahu Dolphin Divers which operates the South Seas II on the Waianae coast.  The trip was a success, and everyone local said they would be back.  We will be able to improve the event with more down lines for line diving, and better surface rigs.  Assuming continued support from the freediving community, these charters will become regular events, monthly for now and more if demand increases.  The next event is Saturday Sept 15th at 1pm departing from Waianae Small boat harbor.  The price is only $40 and participants bring their own personal freediving equipment.  Here is the link if you would like to book the next charter https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/oahuscubadiving/items/102198/calendar/?flow=5615

Future Plans

One request that we received was charters at more modest depths.  As we continue to train new freedivers, this is likely to be in the works.  In the mean time, we have an introduction to freediving event scheduled for Sept 23rd, 2018.  Book that here.

Freedive Training

Currently, we have the option to enroll in a PADI FreeDiver course.  This course takes place on Friday evenings with an academic and pool session, and is followed by an open water session the next day under the supervision of a PADI Freediving Instructor.  This is the best way to get into the sport and learn about the modest equipment requirements for this sport.  Call 808 397 5370 to learn more and enroll in this course.

Trip Report August 11th 2018

The images below are from the inaugural freediving charter.  We first went to the Mahi wreck, were the surface current was a bit of a challenge.  However, about halfway through being there a manta ray came by on the surface.  There was also an eagle ray cruising the wreck, which was visible after you had dove done about 20ft.  We have orginally planned to stay at the wreck for all 3 hours of diving, but after a couple of hours we decided that it would be fun to explore the swim throughs at Makaha Caverns.  Lot of turtles, a white tip, and plenty of freediving under and through the shallow arches and caverns.

David Sanchez

Mind Blowing Tuesday… 4 10 2018

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Well fellow divers as I write this blog entry my mind is still a bit numb from the event of yesterday. So bear with me…

The day began as a blustery Tuesday morning broke while we exited Maunalua Bay. On board the Sea Fox were an excited team of divers consisting of Adam, David, Duane, Joe, Kate, Robert, Taylor, Stacey, Bailley,  and Tom. We decided to drop on our first dive site: LCU.

Landing Craft Utility sits at 90 ft and can host a variety of sea life. It can also make you work hard to see it due to some moderate currents… today she made us work! As we descended down the swim line it was apparent that we were in for some kicking. We dropped down and entered the wreck…

A single 6 ft white tip was lounging inside the wreck… it circled the group a few times and then decided to exit stage left!

After a few laps around the wreck site all our divers ascended safely back to the Fox.

On to the main event!

The Wall. One of my favorite sites due to my recent run ins with Mantas and Monk Seals… its been my year so far! We dropped down to 50ft and proceeded westward as we observed the various fish going through their daily grind.  Now due to my recent Manta action I have a habit of looking out away from the wall, into the open ocean, because that’s where my luck has been. So as I turn to look out I see an object cruising bye about 60 feet away from us…

ME CHASING THE BEAUTY!

 

 

A 30-40ft WHALE SHARK! WHAT THE? I GO NUTS! I start pointing and I put it in gear! My group sees me going in the opposite direction and see the Whale shark and we all give chase! AMAZING! After a few seconds the Whale Shark kicked it into gear and swam off into the blue… I LOST MY MIND! All my divers were happy and fist pumping after this crazy encounter… the rest of the dive was a blur…

Well back to the boat and all the chatter… what a fantastic day to be a diver. Thank you to all our divers for being safe and joining us today… Till we dive again… ALOHA!

Dave INSTRUCTOR

Calli INSTRUCTOR

Kelsey CAPTAIN

LCU 90ft

Spitting Caves 50FT

Water 73*

David Sanchez

Manta Monday ! WOOHOO! 1-29-2018

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A beautiful Monday broke out on Island this morning with a light breeze, sunshine, and a band of fun loving scuba divers consisting of Aaron, Brian, Hannah, Jaya, Jonathan, Stephanie, and Andy. The Sea Fox pulled away from the dock right on schedule and after a brief vote it was decided to try Corsair. As fate would have it the current was RIPPING as it sometimes is, but the luck of Poseidon looked up at us and we redirected to do a double drift: Sea Cave and Spitting Caves!

After a short dive briefing we did a negative entry down to the opening of Sea Cave, and as we entered we were met by two White Tip Reef Sharks:

After a short trip through the cave we exited and caught the current west. Lots of reef fish, and a few White Mouth Eels

Then as we rounded a coral formation the highlight of our day:

A beautiful specimen of a MANTA RAY flying right in front of us: talk about EXCITEMENT!

Well that was CRAZY!

Back to the boat and lots of talk of the awesome sight! After a short surface interval it was on to Spitting Caves:

Again dropping down to the wall sight the current picked up and we were on a fast ride! But we did find time to stop at a few of the sites of interest:

Inside a small cave swam another White Tip Reef Shark

and of course more HONU!

What a fantastic day out in Maunalua Bay! Magical seeing the Manta Ray! Thank you to all our divers for being such safe and friendly divers! Till we dive again! ALOHA

Dave INSTRUCTOR

Joe CAPTAIN

Sea Cave 60 Ft

Spitting Caves 50 Ft

H20 73*