My wife and I just got back from Kona, doing 11 dives, combining shore and boat.
Day 1: Two shore dives, one was at Two Step (Place of Refuge) and the other was at Ke'ei. Two step is a great first dive as entrance and exit are very easy, but get their early. We were in water at 8am, and when we surfaced an hour later, there was a line of snorklers getting in. Ke'ei was desolate and no one was around.
Day 2: We got on board with Dive Makai. Trish was captain and Heather guided us. Both did a great job. Not the most fancy or newest boat, but well taken care of. We dove the golden arches and two arches. Later that night, we did an evening dive at Eel Garden, followed by the Manta dive. Five came in that night, including a 15'. Amazing dive. After watching them for about 30 mins, we were taken a tour of the area at night.
Day 3: Dive Makai and dove Dolphin Bay and Suck 'em up. Dolphin Bay has a resident Great Barracuda, about 5'. HUGE, at least to me. Later that night we did a blackwater dive. Just my wife and I along with a DM in the water. Although we did not see anything big, we did see lots of little fellas. It was quite a feeling to be dangling off a rope as the boat just drifts along. Your sense are on full alert the whole time. I would do it again if the opportunity arises.
Day 4: Shore diving at Crescent Bay and off Malini Beach. The surge was up at Crescent, and it is a bit a a walk carrying your gear, so we were really tired afterward.
We saw lots of critters of all types, octopus, lobster, barracuda, frog fish, squid and about a million yellow tangs. Dive Makai was great to work with. Small operation, never more than 13 divers (max) and divided into two groups by ability. Given freedom to dive our profile and not hand tied to the DM, although they were excellent at finding things for us. When you were low on air, you told them, did your SS, while everyone else used up their air. Nice and relax, no rushes. I will try to post some pics in a day or so. I am a beginner in UW photo. I did not take my camera into the BW dive, as the DM took his. I am still waiting to get those from him, so ANDY, if you are reading this, please send!
Day 1: Two shore dives, one was at Two Step (Place of Refuge) and the other was at Ke'ei. Two step is a great first dive as entrance and exit are very easy, but get their early. We were in water at 8am, and when we surfaced an hour later, there was a line of snorklers getting in. Ke'ei was desolate and no one was around.
Day 2: We got on board with Dive Makai. Trish was captain and Heather guided us. Both did a great job. Not the most fancy or newest boat, but well taken care of. We dove the golden arches and two arches. Later that night, we did an evening dive at Eel Garden, followed by the Manta dive. Five came in that night, including a 15'. Amazing dive. After watching them for about 30 mins, we were taken a tour of the area at night.
Day 3: Dive Makai and dove Dolphin Bay and Suck 'em up. Dolphin Bay has a resident Great Barracuda, about 5'. HUGE, at least to me. Later that night we did a blackwater dive. Just my wife and I along with a DM in the water. Although we did not see anything big, we did see lots of little fellas. It was quite a feeling to be dangling off a rope as the boat just drifts along. Your sense are on full alert the whole time. I would do it again if the opportunity arises.
Day 4: Shore diving at Crescent Bay and off Malini Beach. The surge was up at Crescent, and it is a bit a a walk carrying your gear, so we were really tired afterward.
We saw lots of critters of all types, octopus, lobster, barracuda, frog fish, squid and about a million yellow tangs. Dive Makai was great to work with. Small operation, never more than 13 divers (max) and divided into two groups by ability. Given freedom to dive our profile and not hand tied to the DM, although they were excellent at finding things for us. When you were low on air, you told them, did your SS, while everyone else used up their air. Nice and relax, no rushes. I will try to post some pics in a day or so. I am a beginner in UW photo. I did not take my camera into the BW dive, as the DM took his. I am still waiting to get those from him, so ANDY, if you are reading this, please send!
