Kona Side Diving

[LMgraben]

I dove with most of the operators out of Kona since 2014 and I like Aquatic Life Divers the best as they have much smaller groups and the friendliest service. The dive masters are very very good at spotting hard to see critters like scorpion fish and various nudibranchs. In Kona there is often a reef shark hanging out at the entrance of suck em up lava tube and also at Kaloko Canyons there recently has been a bunch of ther white tip reef sharks.

 

[wgw04024]

Just to add an update. Blue Wilderness has shut down their boat diving operation according to their website.

 

[NorCalDM]

Just to add an update. Blue Wilderness has shut down their boat diving operation according to their website.

I believe that is because the boat ramp they use on Puako Road was damaged and they could not dock the boat. Hopefully once the repairs are completed they can resume their boat dives.

 

[jakubson]

Just a warning about Kona Honu. If you have (or have EVER had) a heart condition, they will not allow you to dive with them. It does not matter if it has been fully resolved. They say it is a condition of their insurance. I had AFIB (resolved by a procedure in 2022) and was told that I could not dive with them.

This is NOT the case with Big Island Divers and Jack's Dive Locker (I spoke with them this week to confirm).

Also, if you are over 65, I highly recommend you get your physician to sign the DAN Diver Medical Questionnaire. I don't know if the dive operators in Kona require this, but I needed this for a 2024 trip to Kihei (Maui).

 

[MonkeyBubbles]

Kohala Divers out of Kawaihae hits the North Kohala Coast instead of the typical sites around Kona. In my experience, the reefs are healthier up there and the diving is a little more challenging.

What is more challenging about the dives off the North Kohala Coast?

 

[tarponchik]

What is more challenging about the dives off the North Kohala Coast?

I haven't done any boat dives there but I felt some current sometimes when shore diving at Mahukona. Otherwise nothing special.

 

[kevjli]

Just a warning about Kona Honu. If you have (or have EVER had) a heart condition, they will not allow you to dive with them. It does not matter if it has been fully resolved. They say it is a condition of their insurance. I had AFIB (resolved by a procedure in 2022) and was told that I could not dive with them.

This is NOT the case with Big Island Divers and Jack's Dive Locker (I spoke with them this week to confirm).

Also, if you are over 65, I highly recommend you get your physician to sign the DAN Diver Medical Questionnaire. I don't know if the dive operators in Kona require this, but I needed this for a 2024 trip to Kihei (Maui).

Which outfit was that in Maui? I'm not 65 yet, but it keeps getting closer.