Anyone know about Diving in Kona ????

Bigmaverick · 03-02-2007, 06:53 PM

We are going to be in Kona Hawaii in April, I am looking for some advise on shore dives and boat dives. Help!!!!

fishwhenican · 03-02-2007, 07:17 PM

I went with Dive Makai about 3 years ago out of Kona. They had a decent boat and gave very lengthy pre-dive talks about the different sea life and and underwater structure in each spot that we dove. Most of the info was interesting and they were pretty laid back. You could dive to your ability, you didn't have to come back up 1800 lbs, just because someone else was at 500 psi. I would rate them a 8 out of 10.

TROPHY1 · 03-02-2007, 07:22 PM

Iv'e been over to Kona a few times and Both shore dives and boat dives are great. My brother lived there for 4-5 years and knew many great hot spots some easy and some a little rougher to get to. There is also a great book that maps out many easy shore dives and gives easy details to find the spots. Like Ilikie Drive mile post 11 park at turn out walk 20 yds to white painted rock , enter left of rock dive 20 yds straight out turn right and follow under water canyon. Ect. I will look for the book and get back with you on it. Not sure how to hook up with a local but if you can Lobster night diving is Awsome, I was able to lobster dive 3 times, on one night we loaded up with them. One I got was a few oz. less than 10 Lbs.

Did I say the Lobster diving was awsome! Beautiful fish and turtles everywhere. South Point is a great spot, a little tough to get to. to the right of the clifs the road starts down to the cove but is washed out and you have to pack your gear but is a less dove spot by far. We free dove there and saw fish, turtles, Spiny lobster and slipper lobster also. It can get windy there but you are in the cove part.
This makes me want to get my pictures out again. The Dive shops have the shore dive book but I know you can get it on line for ? $15 or so.
I'm planning on going again next year.

onaga · 03-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Lived in Kona 3 years. Gardern Eel boat dive off airport is rare. Lobster dives are cool and good eating. Little blue glowing eyes.... Free dove on 6 different islands and the coolest place ever was Captain Cook where we swam with dolphins for hours in the clearest water I have ever seen. Very protected unpopulated paradise.

onaga · 03-02-2007, 08:10 PM

OH, dive at night if your comfortable with that. There is a complete different world in the very same sites you dive during the day. Nothing like a very large manta ray swimming over the top of you in the dark.

Onokai · 03-02-2007, 09:21 PM

If you boat dive as stated earlier Dive Makai is the ticket. I knew the original owners for many years-mid 80-mid 90's. One of the only operators that let you dive your profile. They sold out a few years ago to some good folks. As far as beach diving-the old airport is good but the best is city of refuge below captian cook.Turn left just before entering Park dive spot is right there off lava. Its the best diving from the beach-protected area so it has lots of life. Mark

TROPHY1 · 03-03-2007, 11:22 AM

All of the above is so true. Captain Cook inlet and Monument was great, Whales and Dolphin for us too. Rent Kyaks and go across the inlet to the Monument Dive or just snorkle around there too. Crusing in the Kyake with dolphin circling you is great in itself. North airport dive is a easy sandy gradual walk in and plenty of beach for non divers to lay out in. Mile post 4 was a nice dive as well. The book refered to in other post is " Let's Go Shore Dive'N'. I will PM contact info.
Have fun

Zodiac-Fisherman · 03-03-2007, 01:31 PM

Dont know much about the diving in Kona, But its a awesome spot!

fishboys · 03-03-2007, 04:18 PM

Nalu has done some over there, I was there last month and everywhere we went snorkeling was great. It was our first time so I am sure we are easily impressed. My favorite thing is the turtles. We didnt get in the water around south point but it sure looked good, the green sand beach looked like it would be a good area also, but thats a little over a hour south of Kona.

Gus Orviston · 03-03-2007, 04:26 PM

Dove there many times, I mostly dive with Kona coast divers..they have a website.. I had my girlfriend get her cert with them - she did the paperwork in the US and then she did her open water test there. Water.. 72 degrees and about 100-150 ft visibility.

the diving is so so near shore... Reefs are pretty much volcanic and the coral structure is less than most places in the world I have dove. But fun none the less - saw a lot of 7-11 crabs, shark, octopus, and the best was the manta dive..

Of the top 10 dives in the world, don't miss it! the dive is just after dark.. Kona coast owns the lights.. the submerge them to light up a 70 ft by 70 ft area.. that draws in plankton.. and the big rays will come! You will get tired of looking at them. It is a 35 ft dive so you are down for an hour.

My first dive we had over 10 different mantas...I have gone 2 times since.. the 2nd we had 4, and the 3rd was 6-7.

the night part of it is cool.. and freaky,, but with several boats and there is quite a bit of light and of course the underwater lights are set before you dive, and pulled after everybody is back and headcounts are complete.

check out kona coast divers website they will have info and the Manta Ray Madness dive.

gus