If you want to hit all the most beautiful dive spots in Kauai, take a trip underwater with the crew at Bubbles Below. Set in South Shore Kauai, this popular scuba charter company got its start in 1984 by treating guests to trips out to Niihau. Since then, they’ve added many more year-round adventures to their offerings, allowing you to dive along Koloa Landing and the Napali Coast as well. They even have twilight dives, so you can see the ocean wonders under the moonlight.
PADI dive masters, captains, and other professionals will take you on all your excursions, so you can have a great time while staying safe. Unless you’re diving from shore, you’ll hop on one of their two impressive watercraft. Large groups go on their 36-foot lightning fiberglass radon, the Kaimanu, while smaller groups hop aboard the Dive Rocket, a powerful catamaran.
The charter crew at Bubbles Below provides all the gear you need, too, so you can just focus on getting in the water and seeing all the marine life all around. Since the trips usually last 4 to 12 hours, they bring in a catered lunch as well, helping you stay fueled up for all your adventures.
You must have your certification to go on their most popular dive adventures, but they do have a couple of options for beginners. If you just want to get a taste of the fun and excitement, sign up for their Discover Scuba Divers program. On that trip, you’ll go on a low-key exploration of Koloa Landing to see if scuba diving is right for you.
If you fall in love with the hobby, sign up for their Scuba Classes at Bubbles Below to earn your certifications. With help from their instructors, you can earn your Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver certifications. They have nitrox courses and divemaster training as well if you want to go all out.
The most popular adventures at Bubbles Below are:
Kauai Two-Tank Dive
If you want to see colorful fish, sea turtles, and many other types of marine life, you cannot go wrong with the Kauai Two-Tank Dive. On this five-hour trip, you’ll visit at least one of the 30 nearby dive sites while learning about the ocean from a naturalist.
Niihau & Lehua Scuba Adventure
A nod back to their humble beginnings, the 12-hour Niihau & Lehua Scuba Adventure allows you to explore the power of nature up close. You’ll get to see all the lava tubes, arches, and sea caves around the island, plus plenty of marine life as well. A complimentary photo of you at the Lehua Crater Keyhole will cap off the trip, allowing you to take home a wonderful memento.
Napali Coast/Mana Crack
Only available to advanced divers, the Napali Coast/Mana Crack tour takes you all along the quickly-eroding Napali Coast shoreline where you can see nature in action. As long as your group has six or more people, you can also explore the Mana Crack, which is a stunning sunken barrier reef stretching over 11 miles long.
Be sure to schedule your lessons and dive excursions at Bubbles Below for the beginning of your trip to Kauai. You’re likely to walk away with a hunger for more, so that move will leave plenty of time for even more adventures. Since they have so many different dives available, you can come back for a new experience each time and see all the island waters have to offer.
Insider Tips:
-Wondering what creatures you saw during your dive? Flip through the photos in their binder to get another glimpse at the marine life or just ask your divemaster for the details.
-Bubbles Below regularly hosts private events, so just let them know if you’d like their help celebrating your next special occasion.
-Children under age seven cannot accompany you on the charter.
-When diving Niihau, East Side Walls, and Mana Crack, divers under age 15 must hold their advanced certification and have at least 50 dives under their belts