Kohala Divers Dive Blog

How to Fit Your Snorkel or Dive Mask: The Kohala Divers Way

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:08:51 GMT

At Kohala Divers, we believe the right fit makes all the difference between an okay ocean experience and an unforgettable one. Follow these simple steps to ensure your mask fits perfectly before you explore the incredible waters of the Kohala Coast!

Remove or loosen the strap: Start by placing the mask on your face without the strap, or pull it up and out of the way over the top of the mask. Remember—a tight strap doesn't equal a good fit.

 Tuck away your hair: Pull any hair (including bangs or stray strands) completely away from your face. Even a single hair between the silicone skirt and your skin can break the seal and cause leaking.

Position the mask properly: Place the mask gently on your face, making sure the soft silicone skirt lies flat against your skin with no bends, folds, or gaps.

Check the nose bridge: The mask frame shouldn't press down uncomfortably on the bridge of your nose. If it does, try a different size or style—we carry a variety of options at our shop!

Step 1: Prepare Your Mask and Face

Inhale gently through your nose: Take a gentle breath in through your nose. The mask should create a light vacuum and stay on your face all by itself—no hands needed!

Shake it out: Gently move your head side to side and up and down. A well-fitted mask will stay suctioned to your face without any help from the strap.

Try not to smile or make faces: Even a properly fitting mask can break its seal if your face movements are too extreme. So grin at a sea turtle or octopus on the inside!

Pro tip from our crew: If the mask falls off or breaks the seal during this test, it's not the right fit. Come see us at our Kawaihae shop, and we'll help you find the perfect match.

Step 2: The Suction Test (No Hands!)

Put the strap on : Once you've confirmed the mask seals well on its own, secure the strap around your head.

Adjust for comfort, not tightness : The strap should rest snugly but comfortably—never so tight that it leaves marks or causes discomfort. Position it high on the back of your head, not over or resting on your ears.

Understand the strap's job : The strap is there to keep the mask in place with minimal pressure, not to force a seal. If you're cranking it tight to stop leaks, the mask doesn't fit properly.

Step 3: Adjust the Strap for Comfort

Ready to Explore?

A properly fitted mask is your window to the underwater world! Whether you're snorkeling the vibrant reefs of Puako or diving the lava tubes at Crystal Cove, the right gear makes all the difference.

Need help finding your perfect fit? Stop by Kohala Divers at 61-3665 Akoni Pule Hwy in Kawaihae, call us at (808) 882-7774, or visit our snorkel rentals page .

Our experienced team is here to ensure you have the best possible experience exploring the Big Island's stunning underwater treasures.

Mahalo for choosing Kohala Divers!

From Nervous to Certified: How Rebekah and then Christine Became Confident Divers

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:50:07 GMT

I began my journey into Scuba as a very nervous participant. I did not consider myself a very adventurous person and was coerced by a significant other to try Scuba. I was living in the pacific Northwest. Surrounded by cold and mysterious salt water bays, sounds and canals.

I was fascinated by everything about the underwater world except going into an environment inhospitable to human life.

When I finally was convinced to sign up for an open water scuba class I was terrified. I read the PADI manual cover to cover twice before the first class (this was before eLearning existed)

I was sure there was so much technical skill and memorization I’d need to master to make it out alive from my first dive.

The night before my first session I called the instructor to tell him this just wasn’t for me. I was terrified and I was pretty sure I did not have the ability to survive the pool session the next day. He asked me to please give it a try. He didn’t want to break his record of no student quitting on him and would I just get in the pool and see what happens. No pressure to continue after that.

I reluctantly agreed.

I over thought every skill in the pool and awkwardly made it through the skills development sessions. My instructor kept reminding me “relax this is fun”.

So far to me the stress of getting it right was over shadowing any fun to be had.

The weekend finally came to do the open water check out dives. We were going to a popular “easy” shore diving spot called Illahee state park.

It was a pebble beach with a long wooden dock with tall tar covered pilings with muscles and seaweed growing off of the stretches exposed from the low tide.

It was early fall so air temperature was mild but still we poured ourselves into double layer 7mm farmer John style wetsuits to keep warm

In the frigid 44 degree water of the puget sound. 7 mm hoods gloves and boots and I no longer felt, looked or moved like a human.

Our class of 5 waddled towards the sea fins in hand following our instructor and his assistant.

As we donned Fin’s and defogged our masks I was mildly panicking trying to reenact everything I’d learned and imagining (dreading) going below the black surface of this frigid water.

The plan was to start descending near a piling for reference. We did our buddy checks. BWRAF which of course I’d memorized from my panic studying. The other students raised their deflators. And carelessly dropped below with the dive pros.

I added more air to my BC and started to cry. The assistant instructor stayed below with the other comfortable divers and my instructor re emerged from below. Did you forget which button to push to release air he asked?

“No” I said “but I think I’m pretty cozy right here. Did you see how pretty the sky is today? Up here. Where we can breathe air? Without monitoring it? “

He laughed and asked if we could just put our regulators in and hold the pier and just let our heads go under. See what it’s like down there. No pressure. We can come right back up.

Well ok I could handle that.

As I released the air from the BC I found I didn’t drop out of control like I’d feared. In fact I could control it by exhaling. I was still pretty wide eyed and in my head but it was ok. Then Jim my instructor pointed at the piling.

There on a slimy black mound of algae was the most fluttery, colorful nudibranch you could imagine. Just slowly sliming his way along the pier. He had spiral spikes coming from his head and soft feathers coming from his back. I’d never seen anything like it. I moved closer and saw scattered below that was starfish in multiple colors laying over each other in a kaleidoscope of colors. Below that anemones opened and closed as they swayed in a gentle back and forth motion.

Keeping to his word Jim gave me the thumbs up to signal we could kick back to the surface from the 8 feet we’d descended. Before I could even get the regulator out of my mouth I was babbling about how cool the slug was and did he see the starfish and what was that soft sock looking thing with tentacles. I was giddy. He just smiled.

Want to join the others for open water dive one. YES.

Once I got out of my head I enjoyed every minute under water. The sinking descent controlled by an exhale. The tiniest touch to your Bouyancy device allowing you to position and stay weightless. The ease of sipping just the air you need without thought. The sound of bubbles that take over the chatter from above. I’d found my happy place and I’ve never looked back.

Fast forward 25 years later and I own a PADI 5 star dive business on the big Island of Hawaii. I’ve worked as a dive instructor for my entire career and now get to provide an environment for other budding instructors to live their passion and bring more new divers into the world of SCUBA.

To this day my favorite part of teaching diving is to those that it doesn’t come easily to. Bring me your terrified, your nervous, your overthinking land lovers that are curious about what it’s like beneath the sea and willing to try something they are scared of.

When my good friend Christine expressed interest in giving diving a try I was drop jawed. Since I’d known her she could barely get on a boat. Swimming in a 4 foot swimming pool conjured up fears of the megaladon for her. Perfect I thought. I’m always up for a challenge.

Her drive to learn scuba was to be part of her family’s adventures since they were divers. Also she wanted to prove to herself she could face her fears. For many fear of deep water runs deep.

Since it’s my passion to help new divers overcome fears and find peace underwater I wanted to learn more about where these fears come from.

Here are the main reasons people fear deep water:

�� 1. Fear of the Unknown

We can’t see what’s below us. The ocean’s vastness and darkness trigger anxiety—our brains tend to imagine what we can’t see, often in negative or threatening ways (e.g., sharks, sea monsters, drowning).
Unpredictability of the water’s movement, weather, or currents heightens this feeling of not being in control.

�� 2. Evolutionary Survival Instincts

Humans aren’t naturally aquatic. From an evolutionary standpoint, large, deep bodies of water posed a survival risk, especially without flotation or swimming abilities.
The fear of drowning is hardwired into many people, especially when there’s no visible bottom or land in sight.

�� 3. Media Influence & Cultural Narratives

Movies like Jaws, The Meg, or even Titanic have made deep or open water feel dangerous.
News stories about shipwrecks, drownings, or marine attacks reinforce the idea that the ocean is unsafe.

�� 4. Lack of Control & Vulnerability

When you’re in deep or open water, you’re often dependent on gear (scuba, flotation devices), boats, or other people.
Many people feel helpless or disoriented, especially if they can’t swim well or panic easily in water.

�� 5. Childhood Experiences or Trauma

A bad memory, near-drowning experience, or being taught that the ocean is dangerous can stick with someone for life.
Even secondhand stories or being overly warned by adults can create lasting fear.

�� 6. Depth Perception and Imagination

Deep water gives the brain very little spatial reference—no floor, no walls, just an endless drop.
This triggers claustrophobia in open spaces —a strange blend of feeling small, trapped, and exposed all at once.

To overcome these very real fears we at Kohala Divers make it part of our culture to teach with empathy, and understanding and to meet each diver where they are at. Here are the tools and tactics we’ve implemented in our training to help all divers thrive as they learn to take in new challenges and possibly face life long fears.

Our certified, experienced dive team is trained not only to guide you safely but to help you feel comfortable, informed, and confident every step of the way.

Here’s how we help nervous beginners:

We start shallow.
You’ll begin in a pool, where you can stand, breathe, and practice before going anywhere near the deep. Give it a try. See what happens.
You’ll always have a trained guide at your side.
We never rush you. Our team checks in with you constantly and stays close — you’ll never feel alone.
We explain everything clearly before you get in.
Knowing what to expect can erase half the fear. We walk you through the gear, the dive plan, and how to communicate underwater.
Our gear Supports you in the underwater environment
You won’t be “sinking” into the deep — you’ll be floating, gliding, and able to surface at any time.
You will also have an understanding of how your equipment functions along with alternative options in every situation.
No pressure to do more than you are ready for
We don’t measure your success by achieving certification as fast as you can. Some divers breeze through their course in the minimum required times. Others come back for extra sessions at their own pace. If you are excited to be trying something new you are successful.

To set Christine up for success on her journey to face her fears and become a certified scuba diver we started in the pool for a discover scuba session with no pressure to go beyond that. After explaining some very basic instructions on how the gear worked and what she could control and how, we agreed to sink below the surface and just try breathing underwater.

After a few minutes of success we agreed to swim to the 10’ section of the pool and take some time feeling the sensations and just being underwater.

When we surfaced after successfully breathing and experiencing weightlessness for a bit I saw a bit of relief on Christine’s face. “I did it” she said. 1/2 her fears had been put aside.

That was enough for the moment and we didn’t try to push further that day.

After she let that session sink in a few days she reached out to say she was ready for more and wanted to enroll in our certification class.

I was able to pair her with one of our amazing instructors who used the techniques mentioned above to help ease Christine into diving at her pace.

She completed her certification and now has 70 dives under her belt. She’s been able to join her family on dive vacations to Bonaire, Fiji and to spend quality time underwater here in Hawaii with her friend, me ��

Christine says to this day the fears occasionally return to mind, such as the time a white tip shark was following close behind our dive group one day, but she focuses on what she’s learned and as soon as she gets underwater it’s like she’s an entirely different person. Underwater Christine has dropped the limitations holding her back and can feel peaceful and connected underwater. When she’s gliding along a reef, watching glimmers of sunlight light up the coral and listening to distant whale songs she knows she has found her happy place too.

Call us at (808) 882-7774 or email us come up with an intro to diving plan that is right for you.
Love your first dive? Apply your experience toward a full PADI Open Water Certification and start your scuba journey!

Curious about learning to dive?

5 fish you will probably meet on a Hawaiian reef

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:39:37 GMT

Exploring the underwater world for the first time can be life changing!!

Becoming a snorkeler or Scuba diver can open up an entire new world of discovery. As a long time scuba diver I’ve become a self proclaimed fish nerd. I’ve dated each picture in the Hoover fish of Hawaii book hoovers ultimate book for when I first spotted a species. I know the different stages fish go though as they age making them look completely different from juvenile to adult like the Coris wrasse and the Dragon wrasse.

I’d say this is one of the main reasons snorkeling and diving are such life long addictive sports. There’s always more to explore, find, and learn about the depths of the ocean.

I still remember my first snorkel in Hawaii and the fish I saw that still impress me every time I scuba dive or snorkel. If you are just beginning your snorkeling adventures and want to start learning about what you are seeing here is a list of fish with their common and Hawaiian names that you will see on Hawaiis reef and what makes them special.

This hard to miss beauty is often mistaken for a butterfly fish but it is actually the only fish in its family Zanclidae. Its closest relative is the surgeon fish but it lacks the dorsal spine of the surgeon family. This fishes delicate small pointy mouth is perfect for feeding on sponges and is often found upside down on the roofs of caves or foraging in the shallows on the reef.

#1 Moorish Idol

Hawaiian name: kihikihi

There are many species of parrot fish in Hawaii and they change coloration from juvenile to adult. Males and females also have different coloration so these can be a tricky group to identify. Parrot fish behavior though is interesting to watch. Parrotfish feed on coral polyps and so they eat by taking bites from coral with their strong beak like mouth. You can hear the crunch as they munch the reef before your eyes. After they process the nutrients from the coral they break down and excrete the coral as white sand that they poop out to form much of Hawaiian beaches. Great thing to think about on your next beach nap.

#2 Parrot Fish

Hawaiian name: uhu

If a fish can pull off being cool this is the one. These stunning butterfly fish have spiky fins along the top of their body and a long snout. There are technically 2 varieties long nose and forceps butterfly though they look very similar. On the big island and especially the kohala Coast you may get lucky and see this fish go into a black color phase or even in transition between yellow and black. It’s not completely understood why they do this but the black lava rock terrain of the big island suggests perhaps it’s for camouflage.

#3 Longnose Butterflyfish

Hawaiian name: lau-wiliwili-nukunuku‘oi‘oi

Everything about this fish is yellow. Except its tiny white scalpel at the base of its tail. This sharp spike shows it to be part of the surgeon fish family. This family of fish can use their sharp “scalpel” to protect them from predators.

These reef beauties are very important residents as they feed on algae that could otherwise harm the reef. All reef systems need a delicate balance of residents to balance its health. The yellow tang is the most captured fish for the aquarium trade and this has caused stress for Hawaiis reefs. All reef fish are best left in the ocean to keep system thriving as a whole ecosphere.

#4 Yellow Tang

Hawaiian name: lau’ipala

These hard working industrious fish are guaranteed underwater entertainment. Their daily diet consists of mucus, fish scales and ectoparasites. They find these food sources by advertising grooming services. Fish will literally line up to get there turn at the local cleaner wrasse salon and these “businesses” often stay in the same locale day after day.

#5 Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse

Hawaiian name: none known

These are just 5 of the hundreds of amazing fish you will encounter when you snorkel or dive in the reefs of Hawaii. Be sure to pick get a great fish identification book like book hoovers ultimate t o learn to identify the fish that you see when you snorkel or dive. Knowing which fish are less common and why they behave like they do all leads to your time in the water being more meaningful and memorable.

DIVERS WHO DEFOG: YOUR GLASSES!

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:26:53 GMT

Is this you?!?!

Do you exhale in your socially-distant mask and fog your glasses? Well, the people who de-fog your scuba mask have some advice:

Start with a clean pair of glasses. This goes for your scuba mask, too! Use your dish soap: It is a fabulous de-greaser! Clean both inside and outside lenses, nose-piece, ear wands… all of it. Leave to dry or dry with a soft micro-fiber cloth.
A close fitting nose piece on your mask will reduce the fog exiting the top of the mask onto your glasses. Re-bend your nose wire (if it has), use a buff, situate it a little lower on your nose bridge (but still wear it properly! Cover those nostrils!)
When I know I will spend all day in glasses/mask combo, I clean my glasses that morning!
Our goggle/eyewear defog spray is made for this purpose: Spray both sides and clean dry with a cloth. DO NOT USE concentrated scuba defog, meant to be used with water! Check the print on your defog: Goggle defog is already watered down for use that close to the eyeball.
Hey! While you are at it, get your scuba mask out and give it a clean! Use that same dish soap! Then allow to dry and store in it’s box. If you have a neoprene mask strap, remove it from the mask while in storage: Neoprene off-gasses and discolors silicone mask skirts. We will be back using that spotless and non-discolored scuba mask in no time at all! Promise!

WHAT IS A HONU?

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:26:52 GMT

You’ll see postcards and tee shirts, mugs and candy bars, signage and paintings all over the islands…the honu is one of the predominant symbols of Hawaii.

A honu is a Green Sea Turtle and this species ( Chelonia mydas ) is the most common turtle you will see when you visit us in Hawaii. They have come to symbolize endurance, long life & good luck. Sea turtles are protected by law and so, remember to not harass or bother any turtles that you are lucky enough to observe, either in the water or on land.

Hawaii is one of the few populated places (especially the Kona – Kohala coast of the Big Island) where these turtles like to bask on the beaches and so, you will often see several turtles sunning themselves along the shoreline. The adults are herbivores that live on seagrass and algae (limu) and you can often find them resting underwater, on ledges or in caves. While they are reptiles and need to breathe air just like us, they can “sleep” underwater for up to 2 hours without surfacing! If you do spook one by accident, you’ll see them shoot away at up to 20mph!

Most of the nesting beaches for these turtles are in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands, away from the main centers of population. As with other types of marine turtles, the females will come onto land to lay their eggs (up to 100 at a time) in a deep pit which they will dig under the cover of darkness. About 2 months later, the juveniles will dig their way out & make their way to the sea, living primarily (as omnivores) on jellyfish for the first few years of their lives.

These turtles can reach a weight of 300-400 lbs and a length of 3-4ft.. While they can have some algae on their shells (carapace) giving them a greenish hue, these turtles actually get their name from the green color of their fat. While we are still learning much about the honu lifecycle, it’s believed they can live to be over 100 years old (and they take 20-50 years to reach sexual maturity).

Threats to these turtles include their natural predators tiger sharks but, they are suffering from more modern problems these days such as loss of secluded beaches for nesting (due to coastal development) and ingestion of plastics (how easily a discarded plastic bag or deflated balloon could appear like food to a hungry young honu, scouring the open ocean for jellyfish). Our oceans are also full of fishing gear, a major risk to turtles who can drown in nets. Some honu are suffering from a herpes type disease (fibropapillomatosis) which causes tumors to grow on their bodies.

Scientists are trying to find out what causes this disease – which can impact the foraging & digestive abilities of the honu – but it’s thought to have something to do with the overall degradation of their marine habitat. Other turtles that can be observed in Hawaii include the Hawksbill and less frequently seen leatherback, olive ridley and loggerhead turtles.

The honu of the Big Island looks forward to making your acquaintance!

Book a snorkel or dive trip with Kohala Divers to go to areas where Hawaiian Green Sea turtles are often encountered! Book Now!

WANT TO DIVE WITH YOUR KIDS? 10 THINGS TO CONSIDER.

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:26:51 GMT

Many avid divers who become parents end up hanging up their fins when a baby enters their world. It can be challenging to keep up the sport while trying to raise little ones. Vacations tend to be more Disney themed than remote islands for quite a few years for most families.

As your family ages however, the adventures tend to evolve. You want to share adventures with your kids.

Are you considering sharing your love of Scuba with your children? Want to know how to ease back into the sport yourself? Here is my advice on things I’ve learned from working with diving families over the years and recently getting my 10-year-old introduced to diving.

When I had my daughter 10 years ago, I was thrilled to imagine my own little dive buddy someday. At the time, it felt like that would be a lifetime away and then blink, here we are, her 10th birthday and she is getting certified. Where did the time go?

This is what I have learned from watching families who love to dive together and now being a dive family ourselves.

1. First You

If it has been a while since you have dived yourself it is a great idea to get yourself refreshed on diving separate from your child getting certified. Your nervous energy can be contagious, and you will be a stronger support and ultimately better dive buddy if you feel confident in your own skills underwater. Consider doing a refresher course which includes: Refreshing your academic dive knowledge online, followed by a pool session to refresh dive skills and to get reacquainted with equipment. This can be followed by boat dives with an instructor to practice your underwater skills while enjoying some great dives.

2. Ages and dive standards. When can kids dive?

PADI standards allow kids 10 and up to earn a junior open water certification. There are depth restrictions based on age even after certification:

10-12 year old are limited to 40 feet and must be accompanied by a certified adult while diving.
12-14 year old are limited to 60 feet (70 feet with continued education) and must dive with an adult certified diver.

All divers under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign administrative forms and liability release. Many Dive centers require divers under 18 be accompanied by an adult.

3. No Rush

The age for when you are allowed to dive and the best age to dive for your child may vary depending on the person. Diving takes multiple levels of maturity including ability to focus and study complex scientific theory . PADI training is delivered in an easy to understand and fun way to learn, but it does require focus, and comprehension.

Children’s size can make a difference in their ability to handle the gear for scuba. Dive gear comes in small sizes and is very adaptable to children but some may find it difficult to handle the gear in the way that’s required to get certified.

Another thing that can determine if your child is ready for SCUBA is their ears and equalization. If your kids love swimming and snorkeling have them practice freediving in shallow depths. My daughter would free dive to the bottom of our 10 foot deep pool from the time she was about 5 years old. I think this helped her ears adapt easier to the equalization needed in scuba.

If your child isn’t ready at a certain age don’t worry at all, you’ve got years to dive together! The less you try to rush it the more ready your child will feel when the time is right. If it’s not yet the time for them to start diving, try snorkeling with them. Also get your own dive lifestyle back in gear it will all change once you have that mini dive buddy by your side so enjoy the underwater me time.

4. What to Pack(Because kids need so much stuff)

Once your child is ready and enrolled in that PADI Scuba class don’t forget to set them up for success.

What to pack for pool lessons and boat days:

Snacks!!! Are kids ever not hungry? Add the excitement and underwater play and you had better double up the healthy snacks!!
Towel and layers on the boat. After being in the water even very warm air temps can feel cold so pack water resistant layers to bundle in. The best after-dive warmy is this boat coat from scubapro. It is an investment but so worth it. Better yet: get one for yourself and let them borrow it.
Hair ties – Diving leads to messy hair. A mid head ponytail or better yet braid works great for taming hair. If you keep the hairstyle in the middle of the head it leaves a nice shelf for the mask strap to sit on.
Mask comfort strap . This makes it easier to adjust where the mask strap sits and doesn’t pull hair, great for snorkelers and divers!!
Reef safe sunscreen . Be sure to lather them in reef friendly sunscreen. Our boat Namaka has the stream to sea brand on board and sells it in the shop. A little but goes a long way so use only a tiny dab per area. Avoid applying to the face right before diving as it may get in the eyes if it hasn’t absorbed completely. I like the tinted version for everyday wear as you don’t end up looking ghostly.
Rash guard Having a sun protection shirt is so helpful. You will use less sunscreen and kids won’t get sunburnt shoulders etc. Depending on the water temps they may be able to dive in just a rash guard? Otherwise they can wear it under a wetsuit or don it as soon as suit comes off.

5. Everyone kicks to their own drum

Kids look at the world through a vastly different lens than adults. At times it comes across as annoying or “not the right way” but if behavior is safe for scuba let them enjoy what they enjoy about being underwater . I’ve yet to see a kid in the water that doesn’t have more fun catching other divers bubbles then being serious swimmers. If they are taught that they need to be aware of buoyancy and not follow those bubbles up, hey it is pretty fun to bubble catch.

My daughter loves communicating above water and so she also needs to communicate a lot underwater. We’ve created our own little hand signal language. Sometimes we make each other laugh until our mask fills with water from our underwater jokes. The other day she surfaced with a hollowed sea urchin on her head and I fake sneezed parrot fish cocoon at her. Good thing she really learned her mask clear skill.

It’s ok to have fun above and below the water and kids are great at reminding us of that.

6. Energy, excitement and nerves

Learning to dive takes a lot of physical and mental energy and you may see your child’s behavior change when learning to dive. Kids often act hyperactive or change how they behave when they are stressed. Being nervous and being excited are such similar emotions your child may not know which they are feeling or how to channel it. Ask their feedback on what they are experiencing, this can help them recognize their feelings and channel nervousness into acting cautiously and thoughtfully.

Try to schedule some time to be a kid and get some energy out before lessons and then set expectations for times they need to be more focused on learning.

Trying to be overly strict or expecting them to be able to be as calm as adults is unrealistic and will lead to frustration for you both. If they are feeling overwhelmed the pace and planned schedule may need to be delayed, that’s ok. Celebrate accomplishments and leave room for learning at the right pace for them.

7. Your instructor knows scuba, you know your kid

Parents and kids seem to enjoy diving more when the parent trusts the instructor and allows them to be the teacher. When signing up for a dive class ask if the instructor is good with children and choose an operation that specializes in family diving ! Once you feel confident in the instructor try to be a support to your child. It’s best not to interrupt or tell your child to do things in a different way than the instructor recommends. There are reasons the instructor has your child do skills in a certain way as they are highly trained in helping new divers learn new skills. Underwater if you choose to dive with your child during instruction observe the process but certainly don’t try to correct behavior or scold your child underwater. (Yes, we’ve seen it all).

On the other hand, even if your instructor has the most experience in teaching diving you know your child better. If you notice unusual behaviors or see stress in your child or feel your child isn’t paying their best attention reach out to the instructor privately and voice your concerns so they know to help the student in the best way. If your child is misbehaving such as disrespecting sea life, equipment or others than certainly there may need to be some parenting involved but it can usually be done privately and in a way that helps your young diver know what’s expected.

8.Welcome to a whole new outlook

Once your kid makes it through to certified diver status it is like rediscovering a love for diving in a whole new way. Things you’ve experienced under water 100 times are all new when sharing it. Dive travel can expand to allow the family to dive together and make exciting memories. Try to keep your family active in diving by diving locally and planning dive vacations as often as possible. Keep learning together by taking Specialty classes as a team.

9. Celebrate success

Whatever level your child makes it to in diving whether its just trying it in a pool, getting junior certified, or logging 10 dives, keep celebrating accomplishments together. Setting goals in diving will keep the sport fun and will likely keep their attention.

10. Congratulations you’ve raised an earth conscious adventurer who will make the world a better place!!

In this crazy world we live in, young people need more than ever a connection to nature and to others. Giving your child an opportunity to be part of scuba diving community builds confidence, instills a love of nature and adventure. Children who interact in a positive way with nature are more likely to care about it and get involved in helping to protect the environment. You never know where an early love of scuba will lead to for your child. A lifelong passion for the ocean? Future career? Great memories for sure!!

LEARN ABOUT THE CROWN-OF-THORNS STAR

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:26:49 GMT

The crown of thorn Starfish are found on nearly every site we visit on the Kohala Coast. Divers often ask us after a dive “What was that cactus looking thing” or “was that a weed on the coral?” Read on for some info on these interesting invertebrates.

While enjoying the reefs of Hawaii and all their marine life, spare a thought for the corals on today’s menu!

The diner is Acanthaster planci , Crown-of-Thorns star (COTS) and his favorite meal is coral polyps, especially those of Pocillopora meandrina (Cauliflower coral).

The body is disc-shaped, up to 18” across, with as many as 21 arms, it’s usually red/green in color and the whole thing is covered in venomous spines. Don’t get too close…many divers will tell you of their discomfort having inadvertently got too friendly with this star (burning pain, numbness and possible discoloration of the area for a couple of days)!

While enjoying the reefs of Hawaii and all their marine life, spare a thought for the corals on today’s menu!

The diner is Acanthaster planci , Crown-of-Thorns star (COTS) and his favorite meal is coral polyps, especially those of Pocillopora meandrina (Cauliflower coral).

They are impressive creatures, using all of those arms to climb atop coral colonies where they then extrude their stomachs and secrete enzymes to liquify & digest individual coral polyps. Just the white coral skeletons remain, when they absorb the available nutrients and move on. True horror movie stuff!

While these stars have wreaked havoc on some reefs around the world (including the Great Barrier reef), here in Hawaii we don’t appear to have a big issue with them yet, and usually, one won’t see more than a few at any one site. In places where they have become a real issue, divers can physically remove the creatures or inject them with household vinegar to kill them… although either option is time-consuming & costly.

There are some in Hawaii who believe that this predator may in fact be doing some good for the reef, feeding on some good for the reef, feeding on some of the faster-growing corals (such as Cauliflower & Rice corals) and increasing coral diversity on Hawaiian reefs.

In Hawaii, their main natural predator is the Triton’s Trumpet snail; also Harlequin Shrimp, Stripebelly Pufferfish and Lined Fireworms will feast on this star.

We hope you will get a chance to observe this impressive star, when diving with us at Kohala Divers in Hawaii!

Cleaning your dirty SCUBA mask!

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:26:48 GMT

WRONG: Tina’s wondering if you used the 3-color swirl Aquafresh. This was old advice when toothpastes were grainy pastes, not colored gels. A brand-new mask is shipped with a protective layer of silicone covering to protect the lenses. If this coating is left on the new mask constantly fogs up. It is true that a new mask, and also a very dirty one, will benefit from a good scrub with a grainy but safe substance. We always scrub our customer’s masks with SeaBuff (a product available at the shop specifically made for new masks), or Softscrub (rinse well!), or a home-made paste of baking soda and water. Rinse very well, especially in the corners, because these substances can be harmful.

“I used a lighter to burn off the silicone! Muh-ah-ha-ha!”

Tina says, “YIKES. We are not in Mexico!” Sure, some pyromaniacs swear by a lighter to burn off and remove this silicone layer. But really: You are going to take a lighter to your new $100 mask? We are not convinced what they are wiping off is anything other than smokey lighter fluid residue.

“Hey! I take care of my mask! I dunk it in the rinse bucket with my fins after every dive!”

Well, good for you. You have now “rinsed” off the salt water and various ocean microbes… and replaced that with wetsuit shampoo, slightly diluted salt water and various ocean microbes, and maybe human pee. Put THAT on your face.

Tina makes a Blue Dawn/ Alcohol/ water mix that we call Tina’s Magical Mask Mix. But at home, you can just use dish-washing soap like blue Dawn. It cuts the grease, sunscreen and makeup and restores the clarity of the silicone mask skirt. Tina nags us to do this with every mask. After every dive. Every day. And she is right.
We scrub the soap into the silicone skirt, making sure to get the nose, sides, the second ridge along the skirt, and all the little pockets. Rinse with clear, fresh water and leave to dry.

“There are tiny gouges and holes along the edge of my mask skirt!”

If you live in Hawaii, then insects are chewing on your mask. It is like a salty, greasy gummi bear to those bugs. Face it: Wrapped in bacon and dipped in Ranch dressing and you would probably eat it, too. After a good cleaning and drying, store your mask in the box it came in- airtight and protected from hungry critters! Never store a dirty mask- set yourself up nicely for your next dive season.

“Even after a good soapy wash, my mask skirt is beyond help. It is yellow, opaque, brittle, and even feels thicker than a new mask skirt!”

A thick, yellow mask skirt has usually been stored with neoprene. Wetsuits, boots, and even neoprene mask straps that we love so much can off-gas in storage and ruin your mask. When storing your clean, dry mask in its original box, remove the neoprene strap or strap keeper! We like to seal ours in a ziplock bag and store it with your other neoprene in a separate spot.

“And what about that mold?”

Yuck. The black mold that grows in the edges! You could try the old Listerine soak, but be sure to rinse very well because Listerine can be corrosive to silicone. Or maybe taking it apart, according to manufacturers directions, and cleaning the parts. Or finally, the old stand-by: Switch to a black-skirted mask so the black mold doesn’t show!
If left in your mask, the mold will eat away at the silicone until a pit develops, then a hole. Just ask Scott. Tina had to steal his mask and take it straight to the health department.

Don’t make Tina call the Health Department on you!

PRO-TIP : If you are de-fogging your mask by spitting in it, then you are causing that black mold in the corners! Ewwww! But stay tuned:

“I remember when my mask looked as clean and clear as the new masks on your shelf!”

“Why does my mask fog up all the time? And what is that moldy looking stuff in the corners?”

“Tina, why are you twitching?”

Tina is twitching because your mask is nasty-looking, and she just… CAN’T. So today a very special edition of Fish-Geek’s-Technique-Speak will allow Tina to share all her awesome dive mask tips. She will feel less twitchy and you will be rewarded with comfort, crystalline visibility, and a mask that looks and feels like new!

“I scrubbed it with toothpaste!”