ronbeau
Contributor
My family was on the Big Island for two weeks last summer.
The Manta Ray dive was excellent.
The Black Water dive was over-hyped.
Top Dives on the Big Island
- Thread starter evilclown
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My family was on the Big Island for two weeks last summer.
The Manta Ray dive was excellent.
The Black Water dive was over-hyped.
caymaniac
Contributor
I was on the Big Island last April, the Manta dive was more than worth the money...although we did that dive 2 years previous and were skunked.
See the volcano at dusk, take a tripod and camera w/(telephoto lens) and you will have a terrific memory of the lava flow from the shoreline.
We snorkeled at Point of Refuge and spent over an hour with the dolphins hanging out in the cove. The dolphins would come within reaching distance if you put your arms on your back while snorkeling. We counted 22 dolphins for the time we were at the cove.
Photos: At volcano house
Point of Refuge
Aka aka falls
Watching the steam rise from hot lava
Point of Refuge
Cove next to the Point of Refuge where you can snorkel/dive
See the volcano at dusk, take a tripod and camera w/(telephoto lens) and you will have a terrific memory of the lava flow from the shoreline.
We snorkeled at Point of Refuge and spent over an hour with the dolphins hanging out in the cove. The dolphins would come within reaching distance if you put your arms on your back while snorkeling. We counted 22 dolphins for the time we were at the cove.
Photos: At volcano house
Point of Refuge
Aka aka falls
Watching the steam rise from hot lava
Point of Refuge
Cove next to the Point of Refuge where you can snorkel/dive
Grizz
Guest
I will thanks.
ill might stop be today. Ill need to get topped off.
the highway robbers short filled my tanks. with practicing flushing and drills
after this mornings dive I might be in need
fyi its looking link sea&Sea will be sending a newer strobe (model) to fix the issue
with my DXG1
Mahalo
ill might stop be today. Ill need to get topped off.
the highway robbers short filled my tanks. with practicing flushing and drills
after this mornings dive I might be in need
fyi its looking link sea&Sea will be sending a newer strobe (model) to fix the issue
with my DXG1
Mahalo
BlueFrog
Guest
Grizz
Guest
Unfortunately all the places here are spendy.
Jim Holt is the local SDS /AP dealer here you might start their.
He knows how to do a proper fill I'm sure.
Theirs jack dive locker .
make sure you get what you ask for and paid for.
Lastly their some Locals but I cant speak for them.
If you do come out PM me and will hook up for a dive or two.
take care dive safe
Mahalo -Wes aka Grizz
Jim Holt is the local SDS /AP dealer here you might start their.
He knows how to do a proper fill I'm sure.
Theirs jack dive locker .
make sure you get what you ask for and paid for.
Lastly their some Locals but I cant speak for them.
If you do come out PM me and will hook up for a dive or two.
take care dive safe
Mahalo -Wes aka Grizz
Abidon
Contributor
I was curious as to what is the hype about this dive, and why you feel it's over-hyped. I've seen several other references on SB regarding this particular dive as being over-hyped. I'm taking a trip to the Big Island next year, and I want to make the most of my dive opportunities. Thanks,
ronbeau
Contributor
The amount of life that we saw the night we went out was very minimal and in my opinion not worth the amount we spent for the dive.
I have no problems with the captain, the dive master or the services provided on the boat. It was just the dive itself that was underwhelming compared to what is shown on their web site.
spoolin01
Contributor
If you're looking at shore diving, which is fabulous in Kona for ease and quality, here are just a handful out of dozens:
Puako - go early in the day, watch the conditions
Keahole Pt - great for big schools of fish, occasional pelagics
Old Airport - best for poking around the underwater cliffs and 'caves' if that's what you like
Kahaluu Beach Park/Fish Bowl - the shallow fish bowl is fun for the abundant and tame fish life, but outside the breakwater to the south, as far down as the far side of the Keauhou Outrigger (maybe farther!) has good lava canyons; this can be a long swim
Ke'e - good coral here, and visibility
Place of Refuge - fabulous coral out to the south, great schools of fish life at the point, good coral and exploring to the north; Dolphins occassionally
Kealakekua - you have to kayak out or take a boat but the fish life is (usually) unparalleled over anywhere else. Good for photos because the fish aren't as spooked. Snorkeling almost as good as diving. Dolphins likely
Anyplace you can get to the water from the Airport south to South Point, literally. North of the airport there are some silty bays to avoid but elsewhere great diving.
If you're on the southeast side below Hilo, check out the extensive tidepools at Kapoho for incredible snorkeling and rare corals. Conditions can be rough.
I too highly recommend the awesome manta dives off the airport - last I heard the ones down at the newly renovated Sheraton, the old spot, hadn't been too good, though you can go there and see them from the hotel walkways.
Good to hear about the black water dives - I was skeptical when I heard them described.
Puako - go early in the day, watch the conditions
Keahole Pt - great for big schools of fish, occasional pelagics
Old Airport - best for poking around the underwater cliffs and 'caves' if that's what you like
Kahaluu Beach Park/Fish Bowl - the shallow fish bowl is fun for the abundant and tame fish life, but outside the breakwater to the south, as far down as the far side of the Keauhou Outrigger (maybe farther!) has good lava canyons; this can be a long swim
Ke'e - good coral here, and visibility
Place of Refuge - fabulous coral out to the south, great schools of fish life at the point, good coral and exploring to the north; Dolphins occassionally
Kealakekua - you have to kayak out or take a boat but the fish life is (usually) unparalleled over anywhere else. Good for photos because the fish aren't as spooked. Snorkeling almost as good as diving. Dolphins likely
Anyplace you can get to the water from the Airport south to South Point, literally. North of the airport there are some silty bays to avoid but elsewhere great diving.
If you're on the southeast side below Hilo, check out the extensive tidepools at Kapoho for incredible snorkeling and rare corals. Conditions can be rough.
I too highly recommend the awesome manta dives off the airport - last I heard the ones down at the newly renovated Sheraton, the old spot, hadn't been too good, though you can go there and see them from the hotel walkways.
Good to hear about the black water dives - I was skeptical when I heard them described.
I just returned from the Big Island trip and I have to disagree with the comments about the Black Water dive being over-hyped. I thought it was everything advertised and more. There wasn't a moment that I wasn't seeing something drifting by that was completely unique and interesting. I've been diving a lot of years and some of the things I saw seemed to be right out of the movie the Abyss. I'm sure it's a personal interest thing, but I would highly recommend the dive and I'll do it again next time I'm in Kona. I used Big Island Divers and went out with Josh. We saw a long tube looking invert that started out at about 30' long and by the time it had drifted past with our lights on it, it had reduced in size to about 8' long. Josh said that it is the 2nd largest invert in the world, can't remember the name, and that they can reach lengths of over 400'. Again, I know that different things interest different people, and I love the large sharks, rays, and everything else as much as the next person, but the uniqueness of this dive is well worth it - IMHO. Besides, where else can you bob around in the middle of 1500-2000' of water in the middle of the night feeling just like bait on a hook??LOL.
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