Aquatic Life Divers was conceived in 2018 with the conviction that one could make a contribution to our marine ecosystem at the same time that one enjoyed and explored it. Coincident with this idea, we developed a guiding philosophy- to "Dive With a Purpose". And, since that time, we have worked toward the goal of establishing a company that might not only find some level of profit (or at least break even) but, more importantly, return resources gained by diving local waters to the nearby marine ecosystem. 

Our first step in creating this endeavor was to find a couple of good dive boats. We first thought we might "purloin" a couple of dive boats already existing in Hawaiian waters for this purpose. However we quickly learned that used dive boats are typically sold for good reasons--- they are worn out. Canvassing opportunity, we met with Justin Smith at Pacific Boats and Yachts (PBY) and he suggested we discuss options with Armstrong Marine, an aluminum boat builder based in Port Angeles, WA- that we should design and purchase new boats. While costly, the prospect of owning new boats- boats specifically designed for our needs- was compelling.

Hence, in collaboration with Armstrong and PBY we designed two custom SCUBA/snorkeling boats that fit well with diving needs of Hawaii. The resulting boats were catamarans, had a 32-foot LOA and 13-foot beam. The owner, Neil Forsberg, named them after his children- Amelia and Johan. 

Design and construction consumed the better part of 2018 but finally, the delivery date arrived. Threatened by inclement Pacific-Northwest weather, we navigated the boats from Port Angeles to Seattle shipyards for loading onto an over-sized barge destined for Honolulu. A large crane was used to hoist each boat onto the barge. Three weeks later the two boats arrived into Honolulu Harbor in late-September, 2018 after which a small group of diving enthusiasts drove them non-stop to Honokohau in a single 7-hour "crossing". The trip had been planned for 2 days with a stop in Lahaina; however, storms were threatening in the treacherous Alenuihāhā channel that separates Maui from Hawaii and no one was willing to risk difficult seas on a second day. At times, both the Amelia and the Johan were out of sight of land but that did not preclude the discovery of a vibrant offshore marine life that included whales and seagull-attended tuna boils. One captain was on the hunt for "spermaceti"- a white waxy substance produced by the sperm whale, formerly used in candles and ointments. Our captain informed us that spermaceti today was tremendously valuable! Indeed, he hoped to find some and promptly retire!

We arrived into West Hawaii near sunset, surprised a plethora of other dive boats at Garden Eel Cove that were assembled for Manta diving and snorkeling and then retreated into two waiting side-by-side berths in Honokohau. The author of this brief summary arrived well-bruised from being thrust repeatedly into the aluminum frame of the upper Johan helm and, upon reaching home and vowing to never again take to the sea on so ambitious a crossing, slept 12 hours. Whether it was the rough crossing or the beers subsequently consumed at Kona Brewery that accounted for his long sleep remains unclear. 

One of the challenges of diving anywhere is the rocking motion associated with boats. Many divers are not used to the pitching of a dive boat in anything greater than a 2-foot swell. And, there are times when the swell in West Hawaii can exceed 2 feet. The ALD boats were designed as catamarans and offer greater stability; the benefit of less side-to-side rocking motion while either underway or when moored. The boats are fast (twin 300 HP Yamaha outboards) and can reach speeds of nearly 48 kts- although rarely do conditions permit speeds at that degree of excess. Most of our dive excursions are reached via a more leisurely and fuel-efficient 15-20 kts. Each boat has a large padded platform on the bow that enables guests to enjoy the trip, to suntan and to view any large mammals that might come our way (Whale sharks, Humpbacks, Pilot Whales, Cuvier's Beaked Whales and dolphins) and to blow-off accumulated nitrogen from previous dives. Or, if guests prefer a shaded ride, they may retreat to a covered and more sedate stern. The boats boast large and comfortable washrooms. Each has a USCG Certificate of Inspection that permits 17 passengers (3 crew plus 14 guests). Rarely, however, do boats run at maximum capacity. 

Other notable feature of the boats includes a wide spectrum of safety equipment (argon fire suppression, life jackets, 2-way radio, GPS, and EPIRB satellite location equipment, oxygen and full first aid). But, all that said, perhaps the best safety aspect of each boat is the assembly of a fun-loving, confident and competent crew. The ALD manager (Dane Knezek) has assembled, without doubt, a talented group of safety-conscious and kind dive instructors, dive masters and captains.

Join us anytime on the two most modern boats in the Honokohau Harbor. We promise the ride won't be quite a wild at the Honolulu - Honokohau Crossing. But your efforts will help all of us contribute to making our nearby marine world a more stable and protected place. Ask any crew member how we are helping.