Any comments about"Dive Makai?"

[PTLarry]

Any comments about"Dive Makai?" They came up on my google search for Dive Operators, Kona.

 

[PTLarry]

Any comments about "Sea Paradise?"

 

[PTLarry]

Any comments about "Kona Honu Divers?"

 

[DennisW]

I used Dive Makai in June of 2004 and had no issues with them at that time. You might want some later input. Things change is 6 years.

 

[tsays]

Any comments about "Kona Honu Divers?"

We dove with Kona Honu Divers for two tank day dive + the manta ray dive last spring.

My experience was "so-so", we hadn't been diving in awhile (a year), so we alerted the staff when we made the reservation and we also alerted the team when we got on the boat.

Our dive escort was so unaware of what was going on with his group that he didn't even know that I had buoyancy issues which caused a runaway experience (less than 10 minutes into the dive). After surfacing, I touched base with the boat, and then descended again (knowing that I hadn't been in the water long enough or deep enough to have compression issues). My buddy and I resumed our dive in the area beneath the boat (as we were unfamiliar with the area). Once we were back on the boat with our group, it became obvious that our dive escort had no idea that my buddy and I had departed the group until he was back on the boat. That scared me a bit.

Our second dive was strange because even though at the last minute, one of the divers had to use the rest room, our dive escort insisted that we all get in the water (including his buddy) to the bottom and start the dive. I had never heard of a diver insisting that buddies separate. I found that to be strange and uncomfortable. It just seemed a little callous.

On the other hand, the Manta Ray dive was unforgettable, our dive escort during that dive was really alert to our entire group and GREAT at helping us get the most out of that "dive". We took a brief night dive after the Manta Ray experience, which was unexpected and really awesome. Our dive escort was clearly watching the group and ensuring that everyone was staying together. He had to change out the lights for someone in our group, but he knew it was happening right away and handled it. No big deal.

All in all, I would rate the experience a "C". Many people have good things to say about Kona Honu, including experienced divers. Some of the other divers on our day dive had been out with them many, many times, and clearly enjoyed their experiences. I'm sorry I haven't been diving enough there to give you some other suggestions. If you are a really experienced diver, then the situations that I had wouldn't effect your experience.

Enjoy Kona and the diving!!