Mike Severns Diving

I recently went through my certification for scuba diving on Kauai. My friend suggested I look into scuba diving on Maui for my upcoming trip as it is whale season and offers some good diving options. I immediately started researching options in the general vicinity of where I would be staying and Mike Severns diving came up several times with great reviews, small groups with a dive master, great information about the area and sea creatures that might be seen. After checking out a few places with good reviews and hearing different thoughts from local divers my boyfriend (who has logged hundreds of dives, more than my handful) called a few places including Mike Severn’s company to ask some questions, get pricing, and a better feel of the companies and options. We ended up taking the last 2 spots on a 6am boat trip the next day with and wow! We were so happy we went diving with them. The boat crew and dive masters made me feel so welcome and comfortable even before we got on the boat. As it was my first dive not in the discovery dive (which I did in Costa Rica) nor in certification classes (Kauai) I do not have too much to compare it to or specific information to give as other more experienced divers might. However, I had seen a couple of bigger boats with more people go out on the water in Maui and was first very pleased we only had 12 people with 2 dive masters, so 3 groups of 2 per dive master. And we got out earlier than many other boats. When whales came near to the boat or us to them, of course we had to stop within so many feet, so we did, and when they kept coming closer to dance around the boat, they asked if anyone wanted to put on a mask and put their head under water… I jumped up and got to see a mamma and calf playing together underwater while one of our dive masters held my feet — as I was so exicted and hurrying to put my chest down on boat and my head underwater, i forgot to take off my jacket — both AJ and Pauline helped me take it off and get my head underwater without losing or breaking the enthusiasm! An epic start already. Andy is an awesome, jovial captain — he was really tracking whales swimming under water and telling us where to watch and how to look for them from above the water. Warren is a super friendly and helpful deck hand (and diver) — and not that I mind turning my heavy soaking wet wet suit around but he took it from me when I got it off before I even had a chance to switch it from inside out, just a sweet bonus. Everyone helped to make sure my fits for things down to my fins and booties were good, they even talked to me about the best mask to use and not use as a new diver. Super helpful and informative. Patricia and AJ showed us so many special creatures near the reefs and on the sandy, rocky bottom of the ocean. They went over a basic diving safety review/​signals/​unique things about their gear, told us what to expect underwater, what signals they might use for different creatures, what to do if we did need their attention, what to do if we wanted them to come look at something we found under water. It was both community oriented and personalized, an awesome true first dive. Andy, Warren, Pauline, and AJ were such a joy to dive with and so knowledgeable about the area and added so much more to the epic dive experience itself. Pauline and AJ showed me new things in the ocean and made sure those of us who were looking at what they were showing us really were seeing the various creatures and ideas they were pointing out, even going over it all when we got on board. showing us what and how lobsters eat certain clams, what to look for ourselves, how to spot hard to spot creatres, and more. The equipment and gear was good, like new. The boat was super comfy too, equipped with a toilet and stocked with drinks and snacks. I felt super comfortable to ask questions from needing to use the bathroom (boat had to be in a safe spot) to are my fins tight enough to what size are whales when they are born, great to be with people who love what they do and love helping others to have these experiences too! The price was so good and so affordable. Gave them hugs afterwards and really look forward to diving with them again on Maui.

This dive company is excellent! Dove Molokini and St. Anthonys. I dove the same sites with another operator previously and would definitely recommend Mike Severns over the competitor.
Small boat with just 7 people on my trip which was perfect. Two dive guides (AJ and Pauline) were fantastic and made sure to point out a ton of stuff. Even as an experienced diver I appreciate having a knowledgeable dive guide.
The gear was also in excellent condition. Scuba pro fins are the best and I’ve never seen them used as rental fins. The setup is much better than most dive operators with a streamlined second stage and an integrated computer on every console.
I would highly recommend this company!

We went to Maui for two weeks and diving with Mike Severns Diving was the best part about the trip. We dove with a few other outfitters earlier in the trip on the island but MSD rose to the top. We loved them so much we canceled some other activities to dive an extra day with them.
Why did we like the experience?
1) We dove where conditions were best. Warren or Pauline would come around at the start of the day and ask where we wanted to dive and what we wanted to see. Typically each day will start with its first dive out on Molokini then go from there pending on conditions. I loved this because if it was a high swell day, we would avoid low-​vis dives. Other outfitters we went with had set sites and we dove them even on very poor days which was not a lot of fun.
2) We got to put our learning hats on.
Maybe I’m a complete dork but I love learning. Warren & Pauline both gave extensive dive briefings on what we would see at the dive. Even better they would go into detail about animal behaviors. From how an Octopus builds its nest, to how cleaning wrasse massage other fish with their fins while cleaning them. Everyone on the crew (Pauline, Warren, AJ, and Andy) helped us identify fish we would see and answer any questions we have.
3) The best surface intervals ever
If you dive in the winter with MSD you are in for a treat between dives due to the whale migration. Sure this is not unique to MSD but still pretty awesome! We saw a calf breach maybe 10 times in a row, almost like it just learned how to do it and was showing off to mom, so cool! The crew is also a ton of fun and getting to spend time talking about the past dive was a huge help for us.
4) They love diving and want you to have a great time on the island
Seriously, it is obvious that this crew loves diving to its core. You can hear it in the way they talk about sites and what we will experience and see it in their excitement when they come across a leaf scorpionfish or a devil scorpionfish. Plus you should just ditch any guide book you have and ask the crew for recommendations. They did not lead us wrong in recommending good lunch & dinner spots, great places for drinks, and even awesome beaches to visit.
If you’re looking for a passionate dive crew on your next visit to Maui, this is it! They will bring you to the best sites for the days conditions and try and show you sea life that you are interested in. I cannot recommend these guys enough. We will be back!

What can I say, Captain Andy, Molly, AJ, and my guide Warren were just top notch. Don’t expect rock star treatment here. Only those who love diving and diving alone should sign up with them.
The Molokini dive is not for everyone even though it’s very tourist site. The dive requires you be at the harbor by 6 am… YES not kidding. On the day of my dive, it was a cold 60 degree day and rainy. When we arrived, we were greeted by the Captain and was given instructions right away. They wanted to get us on the boat and in the water ASAP because it was such a cold day. We were very appreciative. After getting on the boat, we were provided with full length wet suits and rain jackets to stay warm. Upon arrival at Molokini, we were quickly divided into two groups one to follow Dive Master Warren and the other group was AJ. They had a book of all the marine life you may find in Molokini. After they went through that they went through all the safety instructions. My girlfriend was a brand new certified diver so Warrant wanted to keep her close. Molokini was a beautiful site, much more than I expected. We saw a bunch of trumpet fish and eels. There were also a lot of white corals.
The 2^nd dive site was St. Anthony off of Wailaia. The site is a preserve where biologist are trying to cultivate corals. They sank an old fishing boat (kind of like the one in Jaws) it was really eerie and hundreds of old used tires. Quite a lot of corals have already been developing all over. It was so interesting. At this site, we saw a lot of frog fish and sea snails.
Hats off to the crew for a fantastic morning of diving. They not only provided a fun day, they also provided great snacks. DO NOT pass on the sweet buns. They are just out of this world. One recommendation, if you can add onion soup to that snack list, I’d highly recommended.

We were in Maui in November and decided to try out Mike Severns Diving. In the past we have dove with a great operator out of Lahaina and we asked their recommendation for a similar operator out of Kihei and they recommended Mike’s.
I reserved our spots a few weeks before our trip by calling the office. I always had a hard time hearing and understanding the person on the phone at the office, it was a bit of an awkward experience. I do have to say the office was great about working with us when we had a sudden change of plans with our dive companion, so they were great with that respect.
The captain and crew were great, funny and very welcoming to everyone. They tried to take into account everyone’s experience when picking dive sites for the day. It was nice because we had the chance to dive some sites we had never gone to before. Unfortunately my husband found himself having to pull some people in our group off of the delicate reef because they could not control their buoyancy and they were struggling. This is not a reflection of Mike’s just the people who happened to be in our group that day.
I think Mike’s is a great operator for those looking for a bit of a slower pace and less challenging experiences. This would be a good operator for a first time diver or maybe if you have not been diving for awhile.

This is one the top dive operators that I’ve ever gone out with. I enjoyed the extra time spent explaining the dive site and possible fish behaviors we had the possibility to witness. The dive master also was attentive and noticed some divers has fogging issues on the first dive and provided soft scrub to ‘cure’ it. Coconut muffins were a nice touch, so were the loaner jackets to warm up with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Mike Severns

Had a great 3 days of diving with AJ, Warren, and Capt. Andy. They really take time to tell you about cool critters and dive locations. Probably the best at that we’ve dove with over the last 15 years. Great sense of humor (s) and really friendly & helpful. Would definitely dive with them again in the future. Would have dove more this trip but I have a bad shoulder which started acting up (going for surgery 1^st week of Nov.) so I only got to go out ½ the number of dives we had planned. These guys really make a effort to take you places you want to go and I think you’ll really be happy when all is said & done.

Looooved this operation. My only complaint is that ear problems kept me at the surface for most of my Maui trip, so I only got to dive with them one day.
We had just 7 divers + crew (Andy, AJ, Warren), on the boat, which was fabulous. I dove with AJ. They set up your gear after you hand it up to the boat, and maybe it was just luck, but they magically set up my weights just as I like them, with the right balance between integrated weight pockets and trim pockets. Briefings were great, and the snacks were delicious, and they took advantage of the fact that everyone on board was an experienced diver (or so it seemed).
Our first dive was a drift starting at the submerged tip of Molokini (Reef’s End) and working our way around the back. For a few minutes, we were the only boat at the crater. We met a baby reef shark circling under a ledge, nesting sergeants and triggers, two awesome nudis, and approximately a billion other fish. Gorgeous views of the surf hitting the back wall during the safety stop.
During our surface interval /​five minute boat ride to the next site, we encountered a pod of spinner dolphins and cruised with them for a bit. I got to ride up front, with dolphins right under my dangling feet.
Dive two was a drift at/​near Pu’u Olai. We were fighting a bit of current in some spots, but it was totally worth it for the frogfish as big as your head. We spotted five of them, including a pregnant female. Plus a devil scorpionfish, a leaf scorpionfish, multiple eels, and playing with flounders in the sand.
I have inevitably forgotten half the critters on this trip since we saw so many of my favorites.

We recently returned from Maui, and we dove several times with the Mike Severn’s crew. We had an absolutely fantastic time– this is one of the most professional and well run operations I’ve seen. They are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The dive guides provide an excellent dive briefing that really shows how well they know the dive sites and marine life. Highly recommended !

My wife and I went on 2 dives with them today and had an amazing time. Not only were they knowledgeable and expert divers but extremely personable as well. The captain took the time to learn all 12 of us on the boat by name and the diver masters talked to each of us to find out what we wanted to get out of the dive and they delivered. We went to Molokini Crater and a wreck dive, saw white tip sharks, sea turtles, and barracudas just to name a few. Overall it was a great day of dives with a great team. Highly Recommend.

Dive with Mike Severens SCUBA. The whole crew is awesome! They do EVERYTHING for you. Our guide even gave us a mini-​lecture on what we expected to see, complete with photos! The crew was laid back and let us set the pace. Besides the crater, we dove a shallow dive rich in invertebrate diversity. As a biologist, I really appreciated the two very different dives. One of the best crews I’ve had the pleasure of diving with and I am a Floridian who has been a regular diver for over 25 years.

I dove with them a little over a week ago and had a great experience. The day we dove the boat team consisted of Andy, Warren and Pauline. You can tell that all three of them love what they do and there was no doubt that your safety and a great experience was their main goal. While being focused on safety, they were still very attentive and engaging. Andy is also hilarious. On the ride out to Molokini they talked to all of the divers and got to know us, they didn’t try to do a dive briefing over the sound of the boat engines. Once we reached the site they did a great dive briefing. Pauline was very thorough about the area, the planned dive and what we might see. She made sure everybody was comfortable and ready to dive. Both dives were awesome and she was able to point out some really spectacular things to see. I would absolutely dive with them again. In fact I would have gone out with them again the next day but they were already booked.
Oh, and the macadamia cinnamon rolls are fantastic. Thanks for a great experience!

I dove with them last weekend– Molokini crater and Tank & Landing Craft. There were 2 groups of 4 divers and I was in Pauline’s group. She was very professional, competent and excited about diving which made it fun. We were lucky enough to see a manta ray on the second dive ;)
Lots of good snacks including delicious macadamia nut cinnamon rolls!
I would definitely dive with this company again.

Didn’t have the greatest experience for a basic one day two tank dive to Molokini Crater. They pack too many divers on their boat, but I was glad they split us into smaller groups for the actual dives. The crew were kind of stressed out when I arrived at their dock, and the windy choppy conditions only seemed to worsen their moods.
We didn’t end up diving the crater because a different scuba boat nearby starting sinking and they had to respond to the SOS call. After all the drama with responding to the distress call, we ended up doing shallow diving right off Wailea.
The dive masters gave 2 rather lengthy and condescending lectures about the local marine life we should look for during the dives. Would have preferred a shorter biology briefing in a tone of voice for competent adult divers not children’s discovery channel.
Also, had some air leaking problems with their equipment too, but they fixed it for me for the second dive.

Subpar diving experience and here is the story and the main reasons why I would not recommend booking this outfit, for both beginner and advanced divers alike.
It was raining all night on Maui and there were a few flash flood and high surf warnings. One of the state parks in the area got closed. Despite that we decided to go ahead with the dive we booked 1 month earlier excited about Mike Severns good reviews.
The boat left and someone from the crew asked — «Who tried to call this morning to see if we are going?» I responded -«I did, there is a bad weather advisory.» Nothing came back but the typical «we rarely cancel» answer. 2 minutes into the boat ride the crew says to me, «looking at the white on the waves we won’t go to Molokini». The boat is shaking and one passanger, as well as my girlfriend and I are starting to feel sea sick.
And here is the first big issue I have with this outfit — nobody warned us before getting on the boat that seas can be rough around here in which case we may have opted for another day. I’ve been in such situation once before and have gotten a fair warning from the guides.
Before the dive I’m already feeling more sea sick than on any shaky boat ride I’ve been before. There is a short talk about the animals we might see, but nothing about not touching the fragile coral. Wait. Did I miss something? These guys say they are marine biologist and yet mentioned nothing about injuring the fragile environment? This is my second big issue with this outfit. I’ve had the chance to study with great dive masters and take the PADI training and have been reminded multiple times about the damage to corals that results from human contact. Yet nobody from the boat would mention anything about the environment before the dive.
We jump in the water for the first dive — two groups of 6 people. A bit too crowded, especially given that most people tend to conglomerate around the same point and kick in each other’s face. What is worse, some people step on coral and inflict damage on the environment numerous times. Several divers that day don’t know how to control their buoyancy. Noooo!
Getting on the boat is really hard as it’s jumping up and down with the waves and throwing me along with all the gear hard into the ladder. My knees are still in pain from that moment several weeks later.
Upon getting on the boat myself as well as another passenger throw up. The crew was nice and compassionate at this point, however it’s a bit too late.
The second dive wasn’t much different. We went to an area we could have easily accessed from the shore (seriously, snorkeling in Maui is underrated and on later snorkeling trips we saw as much if not more as on the dives with MS).
On the way back I spoke with the owner and gave her most of my feedback. She was nice and offered to give my money back, but I wasn’t giving her my feedback to elicit a refund, but instead to let them know where I think they went wrong. I’m not sure if this came through.
This were the only two dives we did on Maui that trip. For the rest of the time we did some great snorkeling in Honolu’a Bay and Poolenalena beach, both awesome spots with lots of sea turtles and fish.

If you want a peerless guided tour of the reefs of Maui by knowledgeable and enthusiastic divers, this is the place to go.
Everyone on the boat was professional, friendly, and genuinely interested in being there. Their enthusiasm about the area and what they do was beyond infectious (they love their nudibranchs!). AJ and Pauline were wonderful guides to the local undersea flora and fauna, and spent time educating us in what we would see, what we had seen once we got topside, and made everyone feel taken care of.
Hands down my best diving experience.

Just finished a GREAT dive at the Molakini crater with these guys! Staff was polite & knowledgeable, and pointed out several interesting things underwater. On the way back we saw a humpback whale. It swam up about 100′ away from the boat, requiring us to shut off the engines. When they started them back up, one wouldn’t start & for safety it forced us to cancel the 2^nd dive. I was pretty disappointed and was expecting a «no refunds» policy. I was prepared to get angry with them in order to wrangle at least a free t-​shirt, but before I could even start bitching they offered up a 50% refund which I think was more than fair!
I will definitely book with these guys again the next time I am in Maui!!!

This was the best diving experience. We got to dive the molokini back wall and the tank & landing craft. The wall dive was amazing and our dive master was knowledgeable and showed us many things we definitely would have missed. The entire crew was friendly, courteous, and professional; the best I’ve ever experienced.

Another five stars for Mike Severns Diving. They were great fun to dive with. My wife and I are used to shore diving off Bonaire, and decided to dive while we were vacationing in Hawaii. We’re used to a very independent dive style, and the dive masters at Mike Severns were there to help out. Particular thanks to AJ and Pauline — you gals were great!
We start out days before our trip. We brought our own gear, but ran it by a local dive shop first to have it tested — and bam, blew an o-​ring. We weren’t sure if we’d have it repaired in time, and Pauline was incredibly patient with my «we’re renting… we’re not renting… we’re renting…» emails. We ended up renting gear for our first day out since we missed getting our gear back due to traffic from Lahaina… but no worries!
We met the boat at 6am and handed off our gear (rental the first, our gear the second). Andy did a great job making sure we were safe on the boat, and the fresh-​baked cinnamon rolls were to die for. They asked where we wanted to dive and what we wanted to see, and that decided which sites we went to. Getting there early was nice; both times we got to Molokini before it was crowded and had our choice of dives. Before they got us geared up, we got an in-​depth (no pun intended) dive briefing including depths, plan, and the fish we were likely to see — with included pictures. Our first day out the Domino damselfish were spawning, and the dive masters let us know what we were going to see.
We then geared up and got in. Our very first dive we hit unexpected current, but AJ was quick to compensate and kept us closer to Molokini so we didn’t drift off. For all our dives, the dive masters were completely okay with my wife and I being more independent. While we stayed together as a group, they sent us up in pairs as air ran out — and given that we used our air sparingly, it meant we could stay down a good fifteen or twenty minutes longer than the quickest members of our group. In fact, our second day out they remembered that we had a lot of air left over and got us in the water first to give us even more time!
We’ll definitely be diving with Mike Severns every time we come back to Maui. Fantastic!

I’m lucky to have experienced dives ranging from wrecks in the Florida Keys to ancient ruins off the coast of Turkey — and still have never experienced anything close to the adventure of diving with Pauline Fiene & crew at Molokini.
‘Couple things you should know:
1) Pauline, who runs the operation and guided our dive, has been inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Google her, she’s got over 8,700 dives under her weight belt. In case that isn’t impressive enough, the other inductees are former astronauts, Navy Seals, etc.
2) She was inducted in part because of her background as a marine biologist, her discovery of new underwater species, and her publication of several books including Molokini — Hawaii’s Island Marine Sanctuary.
All of that experience combined to make our two dives extraordinary. Before diving we reviewed pictures underwater life that we’d be searching out, including the very interactive Cleaner Shrimp. If you’re brave enough, they’ll climb right into your mouth to clean your teeth just as they do with Moray eels every day.
I’d read other reviews complaining about the «slow pace» of the diving and can unequivocally say that combined with the above-​water education, it was a magical experience. Taking a slow pace to descend along the Molokini wall and following the leader’s dive light helped me reach new depths while being thoroughly entertained by colorful nudibranchs and a white tipped reef shark.
If you like the Lindblad Expeditions sort of outing that combines education and extraordinary sightings that you might’ve missed without guidance from experts in the field, this is the outfit for you.