We could (and probably will) spend a lifetime learning about what goes on underwater and barely scratch the surface of this endlessly fascinating world. A competitor gave us an unintended compliment while talking with several of our divers. He said, "They dive like old ladies - they go so slowly. And we don't make you listen to any ‘lectures’-we get you out there and back for lunch". Our divers commented, “He just didn't realize that those are two of the neatest things about Dive Makai that keep us coming back for more”!!!

At Dive Makai, we are also committed to conservation of the oceans and Hawaii’s reefs. Again, education is a key component. Handling critters like octopuses or poking at eels can provoke the animals’ defensive mechanisms that come at a serious physiologic cost to the animal. Consequently, in our briefings we stress a “look but don’t touch” ethos for divers. Also, most people don’t realize the impacts that things like coastal development and runoff can have on fragile ecosystems like coral reefs. Or the overall detrimental impacts of over fishing, improper anchoring, and alien invasive species. Besides talking about these things to whoever is interested, Dive Makai proudly supports the work of the Big Island Reef Fund and the Malama Kai Foundation. (http://www.malama-kai.org/birf/index.htm)

 

OUR PHILOSOPHY

At Dive Makai Charters our basic philosophy is to make every dive fun. Of course almost any day underwater is a good day, so we are constantly looking for ways to set our dives apart from other dive operators.  It is our experience that people enjoy almost any activity more when they are learning, in a fun kind of way, about whatever it is they are seeing. So, to make your diving even more fun, we try to send you home with at least one tidbit of information that you didn’t know before. To facilitate this we have developed our “Read The Reef” program, in which we endeavor to pass on our observations over the years about who’s doing what to whom, and why.  The first step is our dive briefings, which have been raved about in review after review. Our colorful book of Kendra's photos, our onboard library and an encyclopedia of hand signs illustrate the special things we're looking for. People love finding out what's really going on down there - who's courting, mating, hunting and fighting. For instance, did you know that:

· Trumpet fish have “fleas" and can change colors from their plain outfits to one of striking stripes or plaid?

· Many fish can change colors completely and you can catch them doing it?

· 27% of the species of fish that you'll see here are unique to Hawaii?

· Many juvenile fish bear no resemblance at all to the adults they will become?

· Cleaner wrasses set up "beauty parlors" all over the reefs?

· Some scorpion fish shed their skins?

· Some fish form "reef gangs" and spend their days marauding and raising havoc?

· Turtles go to cleaning stations where we can see them having their shells cleaned of algae by surgeonfish?