Alex’s Aquatic Adventures

Alex was very prompt in calling me back, and when I booked the dive before I left for Hawaii he was great at explainging to that my hotel had several entrances and which one I should be at.
I am an expereinced diver and I have never dove on vacation before. Alex’s team put my gear together so I didn’t have to worry about a thing! I even forgot my camera on the boat and Alex drove out to get and brought it back to me ASAP.
I ended up booking a second dive with him and got to dive with Alex himself. Both trips were amazing. I love how they provided hot towels for you at the end.
Alex was very attentive to me and my first time diver friend. She loved the experience and can’t wait to get certified!
I will reccommend AAA to my friends and will be diving with them on my future trips!

We did a 3-​day PADI Open Water certification course with Alex, and it was awesome. He is a hilariously blunt instructor, and has an exceptional standard for safety. We shared a boat with several other diving companies, and watching his interactions with the other instructors, he is clearly held in high regard and respected for his knowledge among them. He is not the cheapest and does not aim to be, but his prices are great — he makes a point to keeping his student/​teacher ratio lower than others, and he takes and provides underwater photographs to his divers for free. I will continue to use Alex for future trips to Oahu.

I did about 10 dives with Alex this summer — they were all fantastic! I felt really safe with Alex — he takes diving seriously, but also keeps everything fun at the same time. His jokes are hilarious and he kept me entertained the entire time. I got to see a lot of marine life I would never have noticed.

My husband Mike and I had the opportunity to dive with Alex on ¹⁰⁄₂₈ — ¹⁰⁄₃₀. We couldn’t have asked for a more fun and amazing experience! First and foremost, Alex is extremely patient and knowledgeable in all aspects of diving. Secondly, his humor is unique and by far the most entertaining that I’ve come across. If you’re easily offended, diver beware. ;0)
Mike is a military experienced diver and I am a rusty intermediate diver (at best) since our last dive was 2 years ago. Alex was very patient with me and made sure I was comfortable every minute of the way. By the 2^nd day, I was excited to venture into the shipwrecks we dove, something I wasn’t initially confident of doing.
Alex is extremely knowledgeable about many dive sites on the island, including the island itself, something I appreciate a former kama’aina. He’s very clear in his instructions, his equipment was in great shape, he offered back up computers for maximum safety and dive time, and was a great tour guide. If you «want a good time» diving, be sure to book Alex Aquatics on your next scuba adventure in Oahu!
Mike and «Twinkie»

We dove with Alex on ⁶⁄₂₇ and had a great time. He had another dive master with him, Ryan, who was our guide. He was great, patient and showed us many things including a spotted eagle ray. This was one of the highlights of the trip. Alex is definitely a shoot by the hip kind of person. He will state it to you without sugar coating it. He does this because your technique should be flawless because it is your life on the line. If you do something wrong, like set up your equipment incorrectly, you could pay the price with your life.
He does have very reasonable prices and cheaper than many other dive charters.
Visited June 2012

I did my (referral) open water certification with Alex and I’m very happy with the results. There are several reasons you should consider Alex for your next dive:
— He not only knows his diving instruction inside and out, he also has many other facts about Hawaii and life in general to entertain you along the way.
— His equipment is fairly new and well maintained. Don’t take my word for it, just compare to what other divers have to use on your boat charter.
— He provides free dive computers so you get more bottom time and (I’m told) flashlights on deep dives.
It’s possible that you might get rubbed the wrong way by Alex’s personality. But if you can get over that, you’re in good hands with him. One of the other instructors I met told me of how he really stood up to help with an unconscious diver rescue while others just hid in the corners. The level of expertise and quality of equipment you get with Alex is worth it.

He is definitely crazy, but he is patient and very knowledgable! He tells many jokes, most of which are NOT funny, but I humored him!
Amazing experience!

Alex does a great job. Straightforward, honest, and focused while providing the kind of training you expect; definitely NOT one of the Groupon taking crowd who cut corners to get people cycled through. Alex focuses on key details that are a must; especially since diving is a dangerous sport where attention to detail is a must. I highly recommend him for those who want to learn/​get certified without just getting «processed through» but cut rate dive companies. His focused instruction with my son for open Water certification, and with my wife and i for Advanced Open Water certification, was the best; and his British humor was an added bonus. 5 stars and worth it.

Alex was professional, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable. He picked us up on time and took us to the marina after stopping to get our tanks filled. Once there, he gave us a run down of what was going to happen as he unloaded our things and prepared our gear to get on the boat.
I was a little rusty since I haven’t been diving in two years and Alex helped me out, while also giving me tips on how to do it myself the next time. I probably will still need help assembling my gear since I don’t get to dive often enough to remember, but he finally helped me figure out my buoyancy underwater.
Alex takes pictures with an incredible underwater camera and posts them to facebook, nearly in the same day. His pictures came out awesome! He knows where the best spots are to dive and what to look for. I appreciated his insight.
2 tank dives were inexpensive as well were rentals. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring enough cash to include my rental & tip and was left with only a few dollars to give him. My advice, plan ahead!

Was diving with Alex on 12.2.2012…and 12.3.2012…as usual… stress free enjoyable dives. Both days were 2 tank dives. Visibility was kinda eh eh on the 2^nd. but kinda beyond anyone’s control. I totally appreciate that I’ve dived enough with him that he knows my skill level and allows me to enjoy my bottom time without fretting over me. I’ve heard that clients describe Alex as the «Gordon Ramsay» of SCUBA Instructors… and yeah… I can see that. Mouthy… brash…honesty served up cold… but still… it’s nice to know he cares enough about my skill building and safety to correct me in a way that there can be no question about how I messed up and how to do things right. I was only able to afford to tip him 30.00 for my dives… wish it could have been more… I firmly believe you get what you pay for. I wouldn’t go for cheap brakes for my car… it means my life… just like my dive instructor/​guide. he could mean my life.

Did a dive with Alex on a Sunday morning, in Waianae. So we drove to the west side that morning and met up with Alex, and everything went as planned. He was on time and had everything ready. Before that, he was quick to call back, answer the phone, and answer any questions you had.
I wish I had done my Advanced open water training with Alex. Would have been a lot more fun.
This guy knows his stuff and has lots of experience. Plus, he’s funny and pretty down-​to-​earth. All his equipment is top notch — I rented all the gear from the mask, wetsuit, fins, BC, and he brought a dive computer too. And the rates are not bad at all.
He also brings a camera around to capture your diving experience — and he posts up everything for free and on that same day. And get ready… he has hot towels right after your dive. best thing ever. Overall, diving with Alex, you’ll feel safe, have fun, and improve your diving skills.
Next time I come back to the islands, I’m definitely diving with Alex. And so should you!

My boyfriend and I booked Alex’s last minute. Not only was he able to fit us in but when we added a friend literally the night before he had no protests and was VERY accommodating. The day of the dive he was on time and very informative. It was my first time diving but my boyfriend and our friend had gone before he was VERY patient with me and took his time to make sure everyone understood what and how things were going to go down. He was hilarious and made us laugh the entire trip. Our group had maybe 9 but there were several instructors on board and you certainly never felt over-​crowded nor unprepared. He and his staff really did a fabulous job.
On the first dive our instructor took his time making sure I was nothing but comfortable in the water, really reviewed breathing and was patient going down. He watched out for all three of us and always made sure that safety was first. I ended up getting really green on the way to the second dive, I must have lost my sea legs! Everyone on the boat made me feel comfortable and Alex made sure I got back in the water ASAP. My instructor even went as far as assuring me that everything would be okay, handing me some water, and giving me advise to stare straight at the shore line. They assured me that once i got 5 feet under water I would magically feel better. I gotta tell you, they were 100% right! Guess these guys know what they’re doing huh?! ;) I ended up having to come back up because I felt the need to be sick– without hesitation my instructor came up with me, did his best to sooth me and I ended up «feeding the fishes» if you know what I mean. Once I threw up I felt 100% better and was ready for dive number two! I never felt uncomfy or embarrassed in fact they made me very comfortable and made sure to tell me that it happens to everyone and how to prevent it next time. DO NOT DRINK ORANGE JUICE BEFORE YOU GO!!! And there’s apparently some meds you can take the night before, the morning of and an hour before to make sure you don’t feel any sickness at all. We really had an amazing experience.
on the dive itself we saw hundreds of fish, plenty of turtles and even an eel during his meal time! yeah thats right! we got to actually witness an eel snatch up a fish and eat it… bless his heart. In any case I recommend Alex’s for anyone new to scuba diving or even if you’re certified. My boyfriend and I are planning on getting certified in the near future because, aside from my sea-​sickness, we had an incredible time! oH! I forgot to mention the photos are free!!! you just have to look them up on flickr or Facebook! it’s truly worth it! Good luck and happy diving!
Isabel

We did 3 days of dives with Alex and by the last dive we were so comfortable with diving we even got to kiss under the sea! (my wife not Alex)
Thanks to Alex and all the hard work to make this a memory of a life time!
He provides a great deal! Gear, wetsuits, dive computers, pickup and drop off at our hotel
Where else can you get a memory made for such a bargain price!!!
And right in Honolulu !!
Thanks again Alex

Honestly this is the best diving I have done in Hawaii! I am a reasonably experienced diver (25 years of recreational diving). Alex is a real character, but knows his stuff. He took us out to the Sea Tiger for our first dive. After determining that we were all pretty comfortable, he took us throughout the ship — 5 levels, being extra careful to make sure we were always safe.
This was my best wreck dive ever and an incredible deal.
In between dives he regaled us with tales of his many dives (including one of a 320′ dive in North Wales where a town had been unexpectedly flooded — special gear required — sounded amazing).
I will definitely go again when I am next in Oahu.

Alex is an amazing scuba instructor and goes the extra mile to make everyone satisfied. He was very patient with me and gave me good instruction on correcting the multiple mistakes I made since I am an inexperienced diver that hasn’t been on a dive for over 2 years. Alex took care of every little detail of the trip, was very punctual and is a great communicator. He is a bit crazy but in a good way :) I look forward to my next dive with AAA.

If you’re a first time scuba diver, you should definitely dive with Alex! If you’re an experienced diver, you should still dive with him too. My husband and I went scuba diving for the first time with Alex’s Aquatic Adventures. We were picked up by Ryan at our hotel in Waikiki. Four certified divers also joined us. I was impressed at how incredibly friendly and encouraging everyone was. Ryan dropped us off in front of the dive boat, and Alex greeted everyone. When you first arrive at the dock, you might feel overwhelmed seeing a bunch of other dive operators and certified divers getting their equipment ready and trying on their wetsuits. Don’t be overwhelmed by all the chaos. Alex has everything under control.
The Discover Scuba Package included everything such as wetsuits, booties, fins, mask, air tanks, weight integrated BCDs, instruction, boat ride, and two dives. I had the best deal on the entire island! Additionally, Alex also hands you a dry towel and a hot washcloth after your dive. I was proud of the fact that my dive operator Alex had a cool, British accent and an excellent sense humor. He was the life of the party. He shares great husband and wife jokes. He enjoys getting to know all of his clients and keeps you well entertained.
As a first time diver, I cannot stress to you how important it is to have a small 4:1 ratio of a Discover Diver to a licensed PADI instructor. During my dive, I got to receive one-​on-​one attention from Alex the entire time. I cannot imagine how other dive operators could toss several novice divers into the ocean all at once. That would literally freak me out and make me cancel my dive. Fear not! Alex will go out of his way to make your first dive the best experience possible.
My challenge during my dive was learning how to breathe comfortably underwater. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. It took me 50 minutes to get used to it. Alex was incredibly patient. He knew how to calm my nerves. Once I got the hang of it, the rest was simple. All I had to do was to keep breathing and keep equalizing. Alex took care of my buoyancy for the rest of the dive.
My husband on the other hand wasn’t able to equalize no matter how hard he tried. He descended about 10 to 15 feet and got a nosebleed. He had to cancel the rest of his dive. Safety is Alex’s number one concern. However my husband still had a blast the entire time. He enjoyed cracking up from Alex’s jokes and also had a friendly conversation with the boat captain. It was better for my husband to try out and see if diving is right for him instead of flushing several hundred dollars to get certified back home. He still got to see some fish too!
On my first dive, Alex took me down to about 30 feet. I didn’t know how to swim or maneuver myself underwater so Alex tugged me along. He led me to the sea turtles, and it was the most awesome sight I had ever seen! My eyes were literally blown away because I never saw anything like it in my life. I got to swim with the sea turtles for a few moments, and Alex captured it on his camera. On my second dive, Alex took me down to 40 feet, and we spent 30 minutes underwater. The only obstacle that I had was that water kept leaking into my diving mask. I couldn’t clear it no matter how hard I tried. Alex fixed it easily. I exhaled through my nose while he removed and fitted on my mask underwater. The rest of my dive was perfect. I saw coral, tropical fish including the blue and white parrot fish, and quivering sea urchins. I was completely satisfied with my first two dives!
If you plan to sign up for diving with Alex, here are some tips I would like to share with you. Watch his «Discover Scuba Diving» video on his website. It’ll give you an idea on what to expect before your first dive. Read his website thoroughly and familiarize yourself with diving. Never hold your breath while diving. Never rise faster than the bubbles. Don’t wear your wedding or engagement ring during your dive. It will slip off your finger. Don’t fly on a plane within 18 hours from your last dive.
When you sign up for diving, please do Alex a huge favor and give him your actual weight instead of subtracting pounds. If you subtract pounds from your actual weight, you’ll end up wearing a wetsuit that’s one to two sizes smaller than your actual size. When you do that, it rips up the wetsuit even faster. Alex constantly buys new equipment and wetsuits because he cares about his business.
Most importantly, have fun!

To meet one of the most important aspects of SCUBA is safety. With Alex you are in the best hands possible for the entire state of Hawaii. He knows the ins and outs of SCUBA more than anyone I’ve met and he makes all the learning fun. The underwater photos at every dive is also a great bonus. Don’t settle for less!

I agree with Nick D.‘s assessment of diving on Oahu. All these guy charter boats that have to keep a schedule. This means a lot of people at the dive site with you and limited amount of time in the water. Not Alex’s fault, just a fact of life diving here, but I’d love to see Alex get his own boat back so diving here could be elevated. However, as Alex explained the industry on Oahu doesn’t support individual diving boats.
Now specific to Alex. I got certified over 6 months ago and since then I’ve been on 4 dives before I reached Alex’s operation. Two of the four dives were problematic and I was a bit nervous about entering the water. Alex though blunt explained that those dive operators probably over weighted me. He put less weight on me and finally I felt neutral buoyancy again. He gave me my confidence back to go diving again.
As he explains on his website, Alex provides dive computers. This was my second time using one and I must say for no decompression diving they’re amazing. Next time I go diving I’d pay extra to use one.
Yes he talks a lot, but he’s pretty stereotypically British in his demeanor. I found nothing wrong with him. I think you have to be not easily offended to get along with him. He tries his best to provide a great diving experience given the limitations in Oahu. Evaluate yourself before booking Alex, if you’re not easily offended and safety is your highest concern Alex is your guy. He’s unapologetic about his personality and I respect that.

I havent met a dive instructor that isnt at least a little crazy & Alex is no exception. At first I thought he was a bit rude and arrogant, but by the end of the day I realized he is just unapologeticly honest, and british :) And most importantly he knows what the hell he is doing in the water.
Apparently due to high costs, Alex sold his private boat and now charters a dive boat with about a dozen other dive operators. A few companies still operate their own boats. Just something to consider, its not ideal, but works out ok. If there is a specific site you want to dive, it may not be possible without advanced notice. Also due to the boat sharing, its important to be ready when Alex says he will pick you up; I made him wait a few minutes to buy coffee and he was anxious and looking at his watch when I met him, now I know why. Diving seems to be the only business in Hawaii that actually operates on a strict schedule, and 7am actually means 7:00am.
As a Padi certified diver, Alex will take you on a morning deep (100+ ft) dive to a shipwreck followed by a shallow (60 ft) coral dive. Alex was good about taking us away from the hoard of other divers on the shallow dive. Not much could be done on the wreck dive since we were all there to see the same hunk of metal. Although, after talking with people above deck, Alex seems better than the other guides at finding and pointing out sea creatures.
His $ 95 deal of a price includes shuttle service to your hotel, use of basically new reg & bc, dive computers, and flashlights plus wetsuits & fins. He is the only one that I saw giving dive computers and flashlights to customers. Which for the deep dive I was very happy to have to see the true colors of things & to monitor decompression limits. He is also the only guide to bring a large thermos of hot water which he soaks washcloths for us to wipe the salt off and to make coffee. He also took some pretty decent photos of wildlife & us while on the dive that he posts to his facebook.
Alex is a one man shop. He drives the shuttle, hauls all the gear on & off the boat, guides the diving, answers the phone, is the webmaster, etc. Dont be sad if he doesnt pick up, he is probably under water.
Id prefer to dive with just 3 or 4 other people in the water but, since there are a limited number of sites convenient to Waikiki and so many people, that just doesnt seem to happen here. That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to use Alex again if I find myself back in the area. Hes got good gear & is knowledgeable & safe in the water.

Alex is great!
I put a lot of effort into finding a good match for our needs when my boyfriend and I decided to get scuba certified. I wanted a place that balanced value, a condensed schedule, and lots of boat-​dive time. Alex really was the perfect combination.
I really appreciated that he worked with our schudule. We did not have to wait for a new class to form, we just told Alex what days would be best for us and that’s when he met us. For two of the tree days, my boyfriend and I were the only two students, which was really nice. At other places you’d pay more for this close attention. We were able to learn really quick and Alex really taught us well, at our own pace. It was really clear that he had a lot of experience doing this and that he knew his stuff.
We dpent one day learning the basics in the shallow waters of Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park, which was great. He only kept us there for as long as we needed to, and he taught us very effectively.
The next day we met him for a boat dive, which was really great. Unfortunately, there was low visibility, but we still were able to get used to scuba diving and start to really feel comfortable down there. We had planned to come back for our third day of certification the next day, but Alex called us that morning before we left home to let us know that hte visibility was even worse and we should come back on a different day to have a more enjoyable dive experience. Really great of him! I’m glad he reccomeneded that, because when we came back the day after that, the water was significantly clear than the first dive, and that was great.
On our final day, we were a little held back by another pair doing their first dive. They were very afraid of the water, so we used up a lot of our air waiting for them to get comfortable. But that wasn’t that horrible because I know that’s the difficulty associated with diving with others, and we did receive all of Alex’s attention the ther two days, which was a bonus.
One thing I noticed diving with Alex was that he stands out from his peers. He stood out as more safety concious, more used to working with students who are new to diving and may need an extra equiptment check on the first few dives (another instructor on the charter almost let a new student dive without the regulator properly attached until someone from another group caught the error). I also noticed that we got a lot more time diving than the other groups on the boat: were were coming up from our first of two dives when other instructors’ groups were finishing up their second. So Alex was very safe and he provided a good value.
I would totally reccomend Alex to anyone. I already reccomended him to at least four friends and family members! Great choice if you decided you are ready to start diving!