The Kona coast

Diver Doug · Post by **Diver Doug** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:50 pm

I'm going to the big island of Hawaii in April.

Does anybody have recomendations for dive opperators or sites to vist on the Kona coast?
Doug

mancub · Post by **mancub** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:34 am

Don't know any shops to recommend on the big island, but you are going to have to share some sweet night manta ray dive stories. I hear the Kona coast is a great place to encounter manta rays. If you go to Maui I know lots of shore dives and some shops that I particularly enjoyed, as well as which boat operator I preferred (out of the two I dove with).
Have a fun trip!

Lorisis · Post by **Lorisis** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:53 pm

Hi there..this is Pam, I joined a month ago and still haven't got in the cold water. Warm water is my thing (I better get over that, huh?) I have been to Kona several times and know of a fantastic shore dive...make sure you get a 4 wheel drive. You will need it for the good stuff. Also, last September I was in the water with 14 mantas...It was unbelievable. I will look up the dive operator that I liked best. Maybe some day I will get in the cold water here and someday have some stories to tell about dives here.

Scubagal · Post by **Scubagal** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:06 pm

My husband and I have always used a small operation called Aloha Dive Company. We have always had a great time with Mike and Earl. Their web site http://www.alohadive.com/

coachrenz · Post by **coachrenz** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:19 am

Can't go wrong with the folks at Jack's Diving Locker. I dove with them for 5 days this last summer.

Big Island Divers also seems to be a good outfit. They are the originators of the Black Water dive, which, unfortunately I wasn't able to do because of some dumb hurricane or something that ended up canceling my trip.

When scheduling these more exotic dives (manta or black water) it is often suggested to schedule them for early in the trip, that way if they are canceled due to weather, you have the possibility of rescheduling. I didn't do that due to time and other dive constraints. I learned my lesson.

I had several people who did the manta dive and got skunked, no mantas only eels. Most operators won't guarantee Mantas.

edm81363 · Post by **edm81363** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:37 pm

My friend in Alaska had this to say about Kona diving;

I can strongly recommend Jacks Diving Locker in Kona. On the web at jacksdivinglocker.com or on the phone at 800 345-4807. Best operation in Hawaii and voted one of the top 10 in the world by Scuba Diving Magazine. I have over 200 dives with them and have never had a bad dive!

Cold_H2O · Post by **Cold_H2O** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:48 pm

You have to dive the beach beside The Place of Refuge... fabulous site.
Another can't miss is the night dive with the Mantas.

There are many sites along the Kona coast. Fun beach dives.
Some great boat dives.
Its been over 10 years since I dove there.
I got my OW cert and went to Kona.. fabulous diving...enjoy.