Scuba diving plane wrecks can be fun and feel a lot like traveling through time. Check out this recent article from the maui news.

WAILUKU - A World War II-era wreck off South Maui first documented in January has been identified as an SBC-2 Helldiver, ditched in Maalaea Bay on a training flight by a Navy pilot in 1944.

Maritime archaeologist Hans Van Tilburg of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dived to the site Saturday and confirmed that it was the plane identified by two groups of private divers separately investigating the wreck. He said the U.S. Navy was in the process of making a plaque to mark the site, which is protected under state and federal law, and that officials may also consider installing a mooring nearby.

Van Tilburg said the aircraft was a rare find, not only because the wreck was almost completely preserved, but also because there are very few Helldivers left in existence.

“I’m definitely impressed,” he said. “It’s remarkably intact. I’ve seen a number of aircraft like this, and this one is very intact. That makes it very special.”

When the wreck was first documented in January, it was initially believed to be an SBD Dauntless dive bomber. But B&B Scuba Maui owner Brad Varney, who first reported the site to government authorities after learning about it from a local fisherman, said he realized after visiting the wreck a second time that it was actually a Helldiver.

Today the plane rests on the sandy bottom of Maalaea Bay in about 50 feet of water, encrusted with coral and surrounded by schools of fish.

read the full article here:

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/530164.html

Are you considering getting a PADI certification on your Maui vacation? Here we will discuss some of the considerations when planning to get PADI certified.

• Is Scuba Diving Dangerous?
  • Naturally, there are risks when ever you enter the ocean. SCUBA has aditional risks to swimming or snorkeling that must be taken seriously, proper instruction, training and certification is recomended and also required before you can rent equipment to SCUBA dive.
  • Maui’s climate and conditions offer ideal situations for training and Scuba introduction
  • With the proper training and a responsible attitude scuba diving can be enjoyed safely. In fact, almost all scuba diving injuries and casualties are the result of recklessness or bad judgment.
• What about health problems?
  • The majority of possible health problems are forms of barotraumas, which are all caused in one way or another by changes in pressure. Other possible risks are associated with higher absorption of gases, while other risks are more mechanical and environmental in nature.
  • If you have existing health problems, please talk with you instructor to see if scuba diving is for you.
• Is the equipment hard to use?
  • Modern scuba diving equipment is easy to use, very reliable and offer unique experiences for different divers and abilities.
  • We even offer scooter dives so you can taxi around the ocean floor and see more wildlife in less time!
• What about Shark Attack?
  • Sharks live in the ocean, there is no question about that, but the fear of sharks is created by hype, hollywood and media sensations.
    

“By comparison, more people are killed by dogs in the U.S. every year than have been killed by shark attacks in the last 100 years.” Hawaii Shark Encounters

“There has never been a reported attack of a scuba diver in Hawaiian waters.” - Maui Shark Info

• Why Maui?
  • Maui has some of the most pleasant year-round conditions for ocean life and scuba diving. There is almost always a good place to dive, if the winds are up on one side we can always dive on the other side. On your first dive you will see turtles and tropical fish everywhere. Maui also has some great ship wrecks and cave dives that are sooo much fun!
• What do I need to get PADI certified?
  
  • If you want to learn to scuba dive, take a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water Diver course, the most widely recognized and respected diving certification in the world. Within a few days, you can be enjoying the underwater world.

    Not sure if a full-blown course is for you? Take a Discover Scuba Diving program at with Scuba Mike and experience what you’re missing. Kids are welcome too. There are a variety of fun and exciting programs available for them as well.

• Advanced PADI certifications
  • If you are an experienced diver and ready to take it to another level, Maui is the place to do it. Feel more comfortable in the water and simply enjoy diving more because you better understand the underwater environment by taking some advanced scuba diving PADI courses:
    • Altitude Diver
    • Boat Diver
    • Drift Diver
    • Deep Diver
    • Dry Suit Diver
    • Diver Propulsion Vehicle
    • Multilevel Diver
    • Night Diver
    • Peak Performance Buoyancy
    • Search and Recovery Diver
    • Underwater Naturalist
    • Underwater Videographer
    • Underwater Photographer
    • Underwater Navigator
    • AWARE Fish Identification
    • Wreck Diver

We love and apreciate the ocean, so remember to always care for it by taking care of the reef, not poluting the waters or the environment in any way possible. Also, don’t use water bottles! They end up in landfills or in the ocean, they need to be trucked around wasting gas and resources while poluting our environment again and again, simply for convenience? Say no to this idiocracy and drink water from a tap, filter, or reusable container.

Aloha, and malama da aina!!!

Every year the Scuba Diving Magazine publishes the top ten dive destinations on the planet, it is something I look forward to reading, as there seems to be a new dive spot that I have yet to discover. SCUBA diving around the world, and planning scuba diving vacations is a fun way to see new places and discover the ocean and sea life. I think you really haven’t seen a place without seeing it from underwater.

If you’re planning a trip to Maui, you are in for a fun and exciting trip. Maui has so much to offer and so many places to see, we invite you to discover Maui from the ocean and learn about this island from another angle.

Mahalo and aloha…

I sometimes get asked “Where is the best Scuba center on Maui?” and my answer is always Pacific Dive in Lahaina. This is a great operation with really good people, they have a dive boat and take people all over the island of Maui and Lanai (ie: Molokini crater). At the Scuba center at 150 Dickenson Street you will find all you need to dive on your own or with a scuba guide.

If your thinking of taking a trip to Maui, you won’t be disappointed. Come join us for a scuba adventure in the underwater world! I am Scuba Mike, you can reach me at 808.250.5494. Aloha!

I found these photos online from Paris Hiltons visit to Maui. It’s good to see that she likes to SCUBA.

Where is the best scuba diving locations on the island of Maui? We would like to hear from you, if you have dived on Maui and would like to cast your vote for the #1 Maui Dive Spot.

Molokini comes to many peoples mind, however, you must factor in the costs associated with charter boats and tour boats, and the masses of snokelers that come by large tour boats. Sadly there has also been damage to the reef and the fish life there because of over use. However, it is a special place, and that back wall is a exciting place to dive.

Other great dive spots are the Five Caves in Makena, Black Rock in Kaanapali, Cathedrals in Lanai, Ulua Beach, Hanakao’o (Canoe Beach), and many more.

Click here for more Maui Dive Locations >

Please comment here with your thoughts!

A lot of people are visiting Maui these days on a shoe string budget and yet they are still having a great time. yes it’s true, you do not need a lot of money to have fun in Maui. As the saying goes, the best things in life are FREE!

If your comming to maui and your thinking “what can I do that will be a great experience but not cost a arm and a leg?” I hope you find my website, as I (Scuba Mike) do not need to charge rediculous ammounts for my personal tours as I do not have the high overhead of a boat or a dive shop, I have a van and top of the line equipment with 25 years of diving experience with a perfect safety record.

I pass my savings on to you while not compromising the awesome experience that you will have underwater in Maui’s beuatiful ocean. So if your looking for a great experience on a budget and you need to find savings and discounts, cruise on down and mention “web special” to get a discounted price for you and your group. You dont have to be cheap to save, dive with the best scuba instructors at http://www.scubamike.net

Aloha!

-Scuba Mike, Maui Hawaii

Are you thinking about trying out SCUBA? Maui is a great place to Scuba Dive because of it’s great water temperatures and easy access to Scuba Diving sites (via Shoredives) with lots of sea life.

Introduction to Scuba

Scuba diving is swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment. Scuba stands for “Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.” A scuba is gear that permits you to execute a range of underwater adventures and activities. Scuba in addition refers to groups of people who engage in or are fans of scuba diving. If you plan to vacation in Maui, you should plan ahead for a scuba lesson as it is an exhilarating experience.

If you have little or no scuba diving knowledge, the Introductory Dive or Discovery Dive courses can help you to obtain the experience you should have to take on scuba diving in Maui. Numerous travelers and scuba diving fans take a trip to Maui and other Hawaii dive destinations and scuba dive there so that they can develop experience and become ready to scuba dive in other more tricky scuba diving spots or locations.

Scuba diving allows you to discover much deeper underwater, rather than simply a few meters beneath the top. Scuba diving provides you the opportunity to come into much closer contact with the underwater environment. Although scuba diving equipment may be heavy, it does not appear so once you are undersea. While you scuba dive, you bring with you each and every one of the necessary scuba apparatus you need in order for you to breathe underwater. Once underwater, you can select to glide underwater by pushing yourself with fins and your personal force. Then again, you are able to use a little mechanical vehicle if you would rather move underwater faster called a DPV, check out our Scooter Dive section for more info.

While scuba diving is still evolving, it already has several universal classifications including recreational diving, technical diving, military diving and commercial diving. There are even more scuba diving categories, however these are the more common ones. Essentially, a scuba diving classification depends on the scuba diver and the gear utilized. Want to know more about scuba?

New years resolution; Scuba diving on Maui is what I want to do in 2009! But you say “Scuba Mike, you go scuba diving every day, don’t you?”. Well I recently suffered an injury which had my foot in a cast for the last month.

Tomorrow the cast comes off, and the ocean is beautiful, calling me to dive deep in the cool, healing Hawaiian waters of Maui.

If you have never gone Scuba diving, Maui is the best place to discover the under water world. With accessible shore dives and a wide aray of ocean life you will have an adventure that just might spark your passion for the ocean and a life long connection to nature.

I wish you all the best in 2009, I hope you remember to malama da aina, malama ke kai. When diving or snorkeling always respect the ocean, the reef and it’s inhabitants.

Aloha!

Let’s go Scuba Dive Maui!