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A young tankless diver giving a shaka during a guided underwater adventure in clear Maui water

Shallow Water Dive Academy

Maui

The adventure of a lifetimeLearn. Explore. Discover.

Give your family a Maui story they will talk about forever—a beginner-friendly, instructor-led underwater experience built around preparation, close guidance, and unforgettable fun.

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PLANNED OPENING COUNTDOWN

Target opening: October 14, 2026

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--Hours
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Two sessions · 6 guests each · 12 guests max dailyOpening-season start times · 8:00 AM–1:00 PMIndependent and private-group bookings · no resort locations yet
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WHAT SWDA IS

A guided experience with education built in.

SWDA provides instructor-led shallow-water guided experiences and supplemental tankless-diving education. Course completion marks educational progress only—it is not scuba certification and does not authorize independent use of a breathing system. SWDA is continuing the training-agency and insurance clearance process for its equipment and operating model.

CHOOSE YOUR NEXT STEP

Choose your Maui adventure.

Book an experience, build ocean confidence, or discover the gear behind the adventure.

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Maui Experiences

See guided shallow-water activities, family sessions, and available dates.

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LEARN

Courses & Dive Books

Build knowledge from Beginner through Tankless Pro—educational milestones, not scuba certifications.

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SHOP

Compare Tankless Systems

Compare portable systems from AirBuddy, PowerDive, WOLACH, and TUDIVING in one clearly labeled guide.

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THE SWDA DIFFERENCE

Education first.
Adventure follows.

Every participant receives equipment orientation and practices communication, breathing, equalization, limits, and emergency responses before any guided open-water entry.

See how SWDA works
SWDA safety-platform training concept

ONE ACADEMY · MULTIPLE SYSTEMS

No single brand owns the classroom.

SWDA is building an independent Maui evaluation platform for portable, battery-powered tankless systems. AirBuddy is the only system field-tested and approved for SWDA use to date. Every other system remains in product testing and review and is not SWDA approved yet.

Compare every system
AirBuddy portable battery-powered tankless diving systemAirBuddySee status and source →PowerDive PowerSnorkel floating tankless diving systemNot SWDA approved yetPowerDiveSee status and source →WOLACH 919 Plus portable rechargeable tankless diving systemNot SWDA approved yetWOLACHSee status and source →TUDIVING Z270 or Z500 portable rechargeable tankless diving systemNot SWDA approved yetTUDIVINGSee status and source →

Product images identify the systems under comparison. Inclusion does not imply endorsement, dealer status, ranking, or completed SWDA testing.

My First Tankless Dive Adventure Beginner Course Manual

FEATURED BEGINNER PATH

Start ocean-ready.

Learn tankless-system basics, hand signals, mask skills, buddy awareness, and respectful ocean habits through the Beginner course and matching manual. Completion is an educational milestone—not a scuba certification or clearance to dive independently.

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AN SWDA OCEAN STORY

Meet Maui’s superstar of the reef.

The beloved honu was once hunted for its meat and shell. Today, the Hawaiian green sea turtle is protected, celebrated, and one of the reef’s most unforgettable stars. Watch its remarkable story and discover why respectful ocean education matters.

Watch on SWDA YouTubeExplore ocean education
From the Shallow Water Dive Academy YouTube channel

MEET THE FOUNDER

Jake Farmer

Divemaster, SNUBA instructor, Maui waterman, teacher, and builder of a structured home for the tankless-diving community.

Meet Jake & SWDA
OUR FAMILY THROUGH THE YEARSBuilt with love. Growing together.
Jake Farmer with his two children when they were young
Where it began
Jake Farmer with his two children as they grew older
Growing together
Jake Farmer with his two children today
Today
FOUNDING FLEET CAMPAIGNSponsor a system · Get 12 months of logo + QR visibility →QUESTIONSContact Jake →READY TO GO?View dates & book →GIVE A MAUI ADVENTUREBuy an SWDA gift card →

PROGRAM STATUS & SCOPE

SWDA provides instructor-led shallow-water guided experiences and supplemental tankless-diving education. SWDA course completion is an educational milestone, not a scuba certification and not authorization for independent breathing-system use. The operating model is closer to the guided introductory-experience structure used by established recreational surface-supplied programs, while SWDA continues obtaining the specific training-agency and insurance clearances required for its own equipment and operations.

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