Red Sail or other operators in Waikoloa? >>>

[RJP]

Staying at the Hilton in April, and figuring that for a day or two of diving I'll simply go with Red Sail, as they are right on the property.

Anyone have any specific thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks - Ray

 

[Cacia]

I just came from the Hilton over there. I do not know anything about Red Sail, but I saw the boat from a distance and it looked nice, high end. The Hilton had sketchy internet because the rooms are very spread out---you take a tram around if you like. That area is very arid, takes lots of lotion. You are somewhat isolated from other dive operators, I think Red Sail might be the best choice. Kona is very fun--about twenty minutes down the road. I like Hugo's for dinner. You might check on the manta ray night dive--it is world class.

 

[friscuba]

I don't know a whole lot about Red Sail specifically, one comment on Waikaloa diving though. If you are seeing tons of wind, whitecaps and bad viz, take the time to call around to the dive operators down in Kailua. The conditions are very likely to be very different.

Waikaloa is known as "waikablowa" by Kailua locals. The tradwinds can scream through the saddle between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Kohala mountains while there may not be so much as a breeze south of the airport. We have had a ton of wind the last couple of days with the fronts coming from the west, but that generally only happens a handful of days a year.

If it looks as though diving is going to be blown out, it probably doesn't have to be, you'll just need to make a drive southward.

Have fun,

 

[cuddlefish]

Catherine mentioned that Kailua-Kona is about 20 minutes down the road. Not to discourage you...but, depending on the traffic, it can take a full hour. I've never heard anyone say that it wasn't worth it, I just didn't want that to be a surprise to you. Honokohau harbor is 5 miles south of the airport and a few miles north of town. My husband was driving to Jack's Diving Locker from the harbor the other afternoon and just that short distance took 30 minutes!! (Of course that is on a really bad traffic time of day...about 4:00pm).

 

[Tom Winters]

Red Sail has been around for a lotta years now. For a day or two of diving, you'll be ok with them.

 

[Lisa0825]

I just came from the Hilton over there. I do not know anything about Red Sail, but I saw the boat from a distance and it looked nice, high end. The Hilton had sketchy internet because the rooms are very spread out---you take a tram around if you like. That area is very arid, takes lots of lotion. You are somewhat isolated from other dive operators, I think Red Sail might be the best choice. Kona is very fun--about twenty minutes down the road. I like Hugo's for dinner. You might check on the manta ray night dive--it is world class.

I did the snorkel with the mantas several years ago, and it was absolutely amazing! I was in total envy of the divers, but I was not certified back then. I often think about going back just to do that dive!

For a nice relaxing snorkel if you're all dived-out (yeah, right!lol), there is a nice little lagoon on the hilton property, which opens to the bay. Sea turtles and lots of fish come and go. I saw 4 sea turtles out in the bay, in relatively shallow water while snorkeling. They swim right alongside you. It's a lot of fun

For a non-diving activity, consider some star-gazing. http://www.gohawaii.com/bigisland/outdoor/astronomy.aspx
I did not get to see it, but I have heard it's excellent!

 

[chepar]

I did a couple of dives with Red Sail last August. We stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa - I had been wanting to try one of the operators in Kailua-Kona, but went with Red Sail only because they were located on property. We were only there for a 3 day weekend, and I didn't want to be driving into town every day.

I wasn't able to find too many reviews on Red Sail's operation, and what I did find was so-so, so I wasn't expecting too much.

However, I was very pleased with my experience with them. I stopped by the shop the day prior to my dives and filled out my paperwork with them (since I was passing by anyway), so I didn't have to do it the day of the dive.

They pick you up at the downstairs lobby and shuttle you over to a nearby beach where they launch off of. There is a bit of a walk from the drop off point to where the boat is - maybe a 50-60 yard walk down the beach. This is one of the complaints I had read about, and I can see if you were hauling gear it might be an inconvenience. Since I didn't want to bring my gear for such a short trip, I was renting almost everything and the walk wasn't a big deal. You have to wade out into the water to get onto the boat - if you want to keep anything dry, be sure to put it in the "dry bucket". When you wade out, the sand drops off abruptly from knee high to waist high before you reach the boat.

The boat is one that I've dived off of before in Honolulu - the Lio Kai, I think the name is. It was one of my favorite boats in Honolulu and I was rather surprised to find it in Kona. We did two shallow reef dives and they were excellent.

The cost of the dives themselves is pretty comparable to what you'll find elsewhere in Hawaii, but the cost of the gear rental is a little higher.