I had an initial review posted here that was a bit more visceral, since I wrote it when immediately when I returned from Maui. I realized that my tone was not helpful, so I would like to simply itemize a list of my brief experience with Shaka Doug Corbin. Just the facts, now, without opinion:
1. We were greeted by Doug and followed him to what we thought was the dive site. Doug was actually pulling over a woman to confront her about her bad driving, with us in tow.
2. Doug drove away without calling us and telling us where he went. When I called him to find out where he was, he yelled at me for not being able to find him. We are not from Maui and didn't know where we were going.
3. At that time, my dive buddy (girlfriend) told me to forget our dive with Doug. I ignored her request because I did not want to ad insult to injury and have him lose his income for the day.
4. Doug did give us fresh fruit and water at the dive site, after calming down from the road incident.
5. Another dive master came up to us and told us that he would not enter the water as choppy as it was. He walked away, and Doug advised us that he did not know what he was talking about.
6. We spent more time then was necessary for our liking above water learning shaka signs.
7. When we entered the water and swam beyond the swell, we spent about 400 psi and approximately 20 minutes cleaning the dive site of fishing line. During that time we lost Doug for about 8-10 minutes. We did not know where he went.
8. Doug presented fishing weights and line to us several times in his hand, to show us what he had found.
9. Doug found a small octopus. Pulled him out from his rock, and showed him to us. During that time, the octopus was inking large amounts. It managed to swim away and Doug chased him. I was hit in the process by his fins.
10. His camera was the first to catch sea life, including a small eel. That made it difficult to get my GoPro in, and most of my shots have his hand and camera in front of mine.
11. We made it to a cave and saw a sleeping turtle, and a lobster.
12. We had to head back because we were low on air.
13. I stopped for a brief moment to video a fish, looked over, and noticed Doug and my dive buddy swimming away. I was not advised that they were leaving the area and he did not check in with me.
14. I caught up to them, held her hand for the last 10 yards, and exited the water. Upon my exit, Doug had cautioned loudly (which I would have considered yelling) about a rock behind me as I leaned forward to help my dive buddy out of the water. I was upset with him and did not respond at that point. I felt my balance and my proximity to the rock was safe.
15. We all exited the water, my buddy went to the bathroom and Doug attempted to speak with me, but I was not happy with the underwater service we had received, so I kept to myself. Based on the earlier confrontation with the woman on the road, I deemed it best not to confront Doug at that time.
16. I went to the bathroom, met my buddy, and we walked back. She was agreeable that we should simply leave and forgo our second dive. Upon returning to the dive site, Doug informed us that he had a water pipe issue and had to leave. I agreed, paid him, he took some photos, and we left.
These are the facts, as they unfolded, as myself and my girlfriend experienced them. Doug was having a bad day, and I initially did the best I could to go beyond the road rage experience, but after the first dive, I was dissatisfied with this dive and his demeanor as an underwater guide (having formerly been a tour guide and travel agent myself.)
You'll have to decide if you want to give it a chance. We will not return. read more