Good recomendations for 2 300+ dive divers? For the Big Island in May

[wall2wallanimals]

Can you guys point us in a good direction regarding a good shop for two experienced(current) divers?

We are going on our honeymoon in May to Kona for 8 days. Knowing that in California where we are, how many good/bad shops/charters, I thought I would ask the locals.

We are interested in pretty much everything...sharks, rays, night dives, photo shoots, spearfishing, etc.

Please give us a run down of the area for diving and if you wouldn't mind the GREAT points of interest for the Island. ie. MUST DO'S.

Thanks!

Kirstin

 

[Wildcard]

Tons of info if you search. Must do's include the manta dive. Boook it your first available night that way if it gets called you can try again. Number one rated night dive in the world. Must dos shore wise include Mauna Kea, ignore the don't go there warnings of the rental car companies, everyone does. It's at 14K feet so don't go after diving. Volcanos park is also a must do. If it's in your budget do the island tour via helo. Blue Hawaiian, Black Beauties, several other companies. Blue Hawaiian will give you local rates if you book online. Take the first flight in the AM before the clouds come in. The two hour tour is worth the extra money.
Enjoy your visit!
Aloha

 

[friscuba]

Can you guys point us in a good direction regarding a good shop for two experienced(current) divers?

We are going on our honeymoon in May to Kona for 8 days. Knowing that in California where we are, how many good/bad shops/charters, I thought I would ask the locals.

We are interested in pretty much everything...sharks, rays, night dives, photo shoots, spearfishing, etc.

Please give us a run down of the area for diving and if you wouldn't mind the GREAT points of interest for the Island. ie. MUST DO'S.

Thanks!

Kirstin

There's lots of good operators here. The big retail stores are Jack's Diving Locker and Big Island Divers, with about another 4 or 5 full service retailers in town with smaller shops. There are a number of 6 pack operators in town and a few larger companies withe capacities in the 12-20 range (mostly 12-14) or so people, but no true cattle boats. There is one tech diving outfit. Everybody's pretty good about taking care of their passengers.

With the 6 pack boats you'll get a smaller boat, but there will be fewer passengers. The larger boats may have a bit more walkin' around room. May is one of the 2 or 3 slowest months of the year here so good chance of being pretty much by yourselves or with another couple on a 6 pack - various operators have minimums they'll go out with (I'll go with 2 on day trips). Many of the larger boats won't be to full capacity either so they'll have lots of space... May's a good month to dive.

Kona does have good and relatively easy shorediving if you are into that. Most of the stores are pretty free with info. Not a whole lot of shark diving here. We have a couple of spots where white tips sleep and we'll see other species on occasion. The rays are a must do dive if they are appearing at the time. Late spring is usually quite good. Not a lot of spearfishing going on here, it's pretty much all breathhold, I don't think you'll find any operator here that caters to scuba spearfishers.

Most dive operators will pick their dives once they are on the water. It usually depends on water conditions, what people want to see, and what everyone on the boat has already done. I'd recommend you not get too hooked into a particular dive site in advance as there are lots of good dive sites.

For the island, if the volcano is flowing it's a must do. If you like to hike, take a drive up north in Kohala and go to the end of the road past Hawi to Pololu Valley. There's plenty to do here so I'll stop at those two.

Have fun,

Steve