Hawaiian Trip Report
April 2006
We stayed at the Manini Point House at Kealakekua Bay. It is a private residence for rent (http://maninipointhouse.com/) (the pictures on the website dont do it justice). It is located steps from the Kealakekua Bay. The sound of the waves lulls one to sleep at night. I cant say enough about how wonderful this home is. I highly recommend it to anyone staying on the Big Island.
We did a trip to the Kilauea Volcano and then flew over it in a helicopter with the doors off. Great birds eye view of the lava and coastline. Did this our first day so we wouldnt have to worry about altitude and diving later in the trip.
We snorkeling and shore dove at Place of Refuge (just a few miles from Manini House). I think we saw turtles on each snorkel/dive. We also snorkeled in the Kealakekua Bay by the Captain Cook Monument. We rode down the mountain along the Kings Trail (2000 year old trail) to get to the monument with Bones from the Kona Cowboys.
For diving we used Jacks Diving Locker. The Manta Night Dive is a must. I went back and snorkeled another night with my husband (non-diver). The first night (diving) we saw 2 mantas. A few nights later (snorkeling), there were 15!! When diving and snorkeling, the mantas come right up to you, I was pet by a manta on both occasions. The diving was great and then later snorkeling it gave a really different perspective.
I then went out during the day to Suckem Up (lava tubes) and Eel Cove. 200 viz and 77 degrees F ..mmmmmm!!! Both nice sites. At the entrance of Suckem up there were two pregnant Whitetip Reef Sharks. There is also Black Skull lava tubes there which were cool to go through as well.
Our other diving trip was a Blue/Black Dive. Very different! On both dives you are tethered to a steel bar between two floats .like bait. The floats are then tossed off the back of the boat and the boat follows along. The blue dive is mainly for the divers to get used to being tethered. It occurs at dusk. The length of the tether is about 50 and is used to provide a stability point for divers. Since the black dive takes place about 3 miles offshore with a depth of about 6000 and is at night there is no reference point for depth except for a depth gauge. During the blue dive we saw about 5 Sandbar Sharks that came up to check us out, circled a few times then, took off. During the black dive you jump into the water, and wait to see what comes by. Right before jumping in for the dive, I sat on the back of the boat thinking, what am I doing? I cant describe the dive other then saying it is like being in outer space and seeing alien life forms drift by. Amazing! The captain of the boat said that during our dive we drifted about 2 miles. Jacks is the only dive shop that does this dive and it rarely takes place. They said there have only been about 200 people to do this dive. If you are looking for something different (and a little freaky) try this one.
Got in 8 dives (this was a vacation and not a DIVE vacation). Went with some friends and had a blast. Now I just have to get back into the mind set of 10-15 viz and 55 degree water!
Ann Marie
April 2006
We stayed at the Manini Point House at Kealakekua Bay. It is a private residence for rent (http://maninipointhouse.com/) (the pictures on the website dont do it justice). It is located steps from the Kealakekua Bay. The sound of the waves lulls one to sleep at night. I cant say enough about how wonderful this home is. I highly recommend it to anyone staying on the Big Island.
We did a trip to the Kilauea Volcano and then flew over it in a helicopter with the doors off. Great birds eye view of the lava and coastline. Did this our first day so we wouldnt have to worry about altitude and diving later in the trip.
We snorkeling and shore dove at Place of Refuge (just a few miles from Manini House). I think we saw turtles on each snorkel/dive. We also snorkeled in the Kealakekua Bay by the Captain Cook Monument. We rode down the mountain along the Kings Trail (2000 year old trail) to get to the monument with Bones from the Kona Cowboys.
For diving we used Jacks Diving Locker. The Manta Night Dive is a must. I went back and snorkeled another night with my husband (non-diver). The first night (diving) we saw 2 mantas. A few nights later (snorkeling), there were 15!! When diving and snorkeling, the mantas come right up to you, I was pet by a manta on both occasions. The diving was great and then later snorkeling it gave a really different perspective.
I then went out during the day to Suckem Up (lava tubes) and Eel Cove. 200 viz and 77 degrees F ..mmmmmm!!! Both nice sites. At the entrance of Suckem up there were two pregnant Whitetip Reef Sharks. There is also Black Skull lava tubes there which were cool to go through as well.
Our other diving trip was a Blue/Black Dive. Very different! On both dives you are tethered to a steel bar between two floats .like bait. The floats are then tossed off the back of the boat and the boat follows along. The blue dive is mainly for the divers to get used to being tethered. It occurs at dusk. The length of the tether is about 50 and is used to provide a stability point for divers. Since the black dive takes place about 3 miles offshore with a depth of about 6000 and is at night there is no reference point for depth except for a depth gauge. During the blue dive we saw about 5 Sandbar Sharks that came up to check us out, circled a few times then, took off. During the black dive you jump into the water, and wait to see what comes by. Right before jumping in for the dive, I sat on the back of the boat thinking, what am I doing? I cant describe the dive other then saying it is like being in outer space and seeing alien life forms drift by. Amazing! The captain of the boat said that during our dive we drifted about 2 miles. Jacks is the only dive shop that does this dive and it rarely takes place. They said there have only been about 200 people to do this dive. If you are looking for something different (and a little freaky) try this one.
Got in 8 dives (this was a vacation and not a DIVE vacation). Went with some friends and had a blast. Now I just have to get back into the mind set of 10-15 viz and 55 degree water!
Ann Marie
