I can't say enough good things about Kona Diving Company. We have dove with them on three separate…read moretrips to the Big Island and absolutely love them. We've done morning dives, the manta dive, as well as the twilight and night dive and every experience has been incredible. The staff is fantastic and always takes such great care of us. I would recommend this shop to both new divers and seasoned divers alike. We've met some really amazing people through these trips and every outing has been organized, safe, and genuinely fun. The boat is spacious, they provide snacks and drinks during the surface interval, and they handle all of your gear setup which makes everything so easy and stress free. The team is super knowledgeable and does a great job grouping divers based on experience level so everyone has a good time. I'd also love to give a big shout out to Daniel and Cody who are always a blast and so much fun to dive with. Maxine is an awesome boat captain and Ashley was incredible dive master as well. She led our manta dive a year ago, gave such a great pre dive presentation, and was super thoughtful and fun to dive with on two separate occasions. Honestly, because of this dive shop we keep coming back to the Big Island and continue rebooking with them every trip. Highly recommend and I wouldn't look anywhere else for diving in Kona!

Kona was highly recommended to us for the Manta Night Dive. I'm so glad we went with them. We…read morewent mid-September. We were cautiously told afternoon dive might not be that interesting, but I was glad to go to familiarize myself with area. And we were lucky, we saw 3-4 Mantas, a shark and lots of small life as well. Our dive master took care to point out interesting things to our group. Regarding night dive- WOW!!!!! Maybe coolest dive or sit I've been on. There were over 20 Mantas all around us. You dive heavy to bottom and just watch the show for 40 minutes. Again, we were lucky. No one can guarantee appearance or number of visitors - but in our case it was spectacular. One in our party didn't dive, but did surface snorkel. She was equally enthralled and I loved the care she received. A dive master/guide was with her the whole time. The boat is in good shape, hot chocolate & snacks were available while waiting. Communication was clear. We found the company to be awesome. We were running late, but called and they were very accommodating. You need to stop by shop first for gear and that can be done during day. My husband and I will use them again and are hoping to come back with our family.

Myself, in a party of three, booked the nighttime manta ray snorkel and dive instructor Kona. One…read moreparty member is a diver, and myself and the other member are snorkelers. Our diver, Bradly, said that Hannah did a great job as his dive instructor, and she was great at helping the newest diver of the group who was heavily struggling during his dive. Myself and Lisa were snorkeling with Laura and she was very helpful! She was great at finding mantas for us even when they wanted to hang out by the campfire. Chad, our captain, was super friendly and talkative. I get extremely motion sickness very easily. The waters were extremely rough during our visit, and I did get sick during the last five minutes of the snorkel, as well as the boat ride back. All members of the staff were very understanding and kind, and made it very clear that if I had to return to the boat during the snorkel or did have to hurl during the ride, they wouldn't be upset or judge, and wanted to help me in any way possible. A super nice and interactive crew, and they shared lots of stories about the rays that frequent the area we explored! We were lucky enough to see two bottlenose dolphins (a mother and child), a Galapagos shark, 4-8 rays for the snorkelers and 11 rays for the divers. I highly recommend booking through Big Island divers! They provided all of the equipment needed, and we were welcome to wear/use our own if it made us more comfortable. The only request I would make is that the snorkel instructor be more adamant about keeping our feet up straight in the water, as the two snorkelers across from me on the board constantly had their feet in the water as if they were doggy paddling, which over rated our view of the marine life and caused the board to shake (increasing my motion sickness). I chose not to wear fins because I had gotten anxious while wearing them earlier in the day, but I kept my feet up the whole time because of my previous snorkel experience . It would have been really helpful to have our snorkel guide get those guests to keep their legs up, but otherwise every staff member did amazing! Chad let a young girl steer the boat for a while which was really kind.

TLDR: I absolutely LOVED diving with Big Island Divers! I did two different 2-tank dives. The DMs &…read moreBoat Captains were amazing, their customer service is incredible, gear was great, excellent communication and attention to safety. And I had a ton of fun. I will definitely be diving with them again. Thank you Natalie, Lauren, Haley, Emily, and Nick for the incredible experience! Full Review: I booked the two-tank Manta dive and the two-tank morning dive. I'm still fairly new to diving--I was certified about a year ago, and these were my first dives since then. Check in at the shoot was a breeze, and they introduced me to the Divemaster for that day's dives, Natalie. I told her I was a bit nervous and still rusty with things like buoyancy control. She immediately reassured me, told me I'd stay close to her, and said, "We've got you." I rented gear through them, and they handled everything, including bringing it to the boat and setting it up. Our boat captain that day was Nick, who was fantastic. He gave a thorough safety briefing but also brought a lot of personality and humor to the trip. It was clear how passionate he is about diving and the marine life. Throughout the trip he was constantly sharing stories and information, and his enthusiasm really added to the experience. Our group had six divers and two Divemasters: Natalie and Lauren (a DM in training). It was great being in such a small group with two guides. Natalie gave an excellent orientation before the first dive, covering safety, the dive plan, and what we might see. I had a little trouble descending at first, but she was incredibly patient and helped me relax and get started. Early in the dive Natalie pointed out a Galápagos shark--so cool! We also a bunch of eels, a nudibranch, blacknose butterflyfish, and more. I stayed close to Natalie while Lauren brought up the rear of the group, and it felt great knowing both of them were keeping an eye on everyone and pointing out marine life. Lauren led the manta dive that night. After another great briefing, we descended and the dive was incredible--we saw around 15-20 mantas (which is way more than the average). They were beautiful, and the whole experience felt magical. Fifty minutes went by in what felt like ten. On the ride back, Nick turned off most of the boat lights so we could enjoy the stars on the way in. The next morning I dove from a different boat with Captain Emily, who was also fantastic. Our Divemaster was Haley, and Lauren was assisting again. Once again, the crew took great care of everyone. Two guests became seasick on the way to the first site, and Emily and the DMs handled it with kindness and professionalism and without making anyone feel judged. That same pair had some difficulty during the dive, and the Divemasters were constantly checking in and helping them underwater, while still balancing leading the rest of the divers. One thing I really appreciated was how they managed air consumption. They regularly checked everyone's PSI and gave clear instructions ahead of time about when someone should head back to the boat. If a diver reached that point, they could surface while the rest of us continued the dive. That meant those of us with more air could stay down longer and keep exploring. On the way back from the final dive, Emily spotted dolphins and took the boat over so we could watch them surf the wake for a while--a great way to end the trip. All the dives were fantastic, and I can't say enough good things about the entire team. I can't wait to come back and dive with y'all again!

One of my pledges this year is to complete more reviews of dive shops & sites. Keauhou Bay is one…read moreof two sites in Kona for night manta dives, I've done one there. But some Kona dive friends have introduced me to much better dive opportunities there during the day time. Located on Ehukai St near the old location of the Sheraton, now an Outrigger hotel, there is a cross walk that leads out to a concrete path. At the end of the path, there is a jump off point into the water, and rock pathway out of the water. Once in the water (don't forget your dive flag), follow the reef out about 100 yards. This is an active boat channel, so if you surface swim out partways, stay on the side closest to the hotel. There will be a slow incline, then it will rapidly descend to the bottom. Stay along that ledge going out until you see a concrete pylon on its side. That is the area the becomes the "campfire" on the night manta dive, where all the lights are set to attract the mantas. During the day, that area is a manta cleaning station, where they slowly move around to allow fish to come and clean them by eating algae and other things that irritate their skin. As fun as it is to see the mantas rushing around at night trying to eat plankton as fast as they can, there is a poetic beauty to seeing them moving slowly during the day. For 2 out of the 3 dives I've done there, we've also been lucky enough to see sub-adults who are a lot more curious than most and got came very close to us! The reef there is pretty dead there, so there pretty much there isn't much else to see there. But to see the mantas gracefully moving around the cleaning station, wow! Repeat and recommend!

It is almost always crowded at Keauhou Bay especially around sunset and night and that is because…read moreof all the night snorkeling tours that go out to view the manta rays! There is roadside parking on Kamehameha II Road but that fills up very quickly as expected. Anyways, the bay itself is beautiful to check out and it is protected from rough waves and currents. But it's mostly full of commercial snorkeling companies and resorts, so there isn't a whole lot to do outside of that other than standing or sitting and enjoying the views.

I have been able to do a handful of boat trips with Jack's Diving Locker in Kona. They have been…read moregood to me!! The dive sites are good, and they try and accommodate requests when possible. Their boats are clean and comfortable....Goldie Lock's Size: Not too big, not too small. Crew has been fantastic...I'll particularly say a big thank you to Jim who was a DM for me one day, and Captain another day. He's a real pleasure to chat with topside and equally fun to follow underwater!! Kim was also stellar on the advanced boat and worked hard to ensure everyone had a good day and made it a personal experience. If you have the experience, I would recommend the advanced boat...you'll get different sites, and smaller group. It's worth the extra money if you can do it. Thank you JDL for the great time...I'm not far away, I will be back!

Absolutely amazing experience with Jack's Dive Locker on the Big Island. This was honestly one of…read morethe highlights of our trip. Keller had us laughing nonstop. His dad jokes were so good and made the whole boat feel relaxed and comfortable right away. He brought a really fun vibe to the whole night. Our guide Michell was incredible. Super friendly, easy to talk to, and she took us to the perfect spots. You can tell she really loves what she does, and it made the experience feel even more special. And the manta rays... unreal. Watching them glide right under us was something I'll never forget. It didn't even feel real. If you're in Hawaii, you have to come here. Jack's Dive Shop is the place to go for an unforgettable adventure.

I did the 5hr South Kona snorkel expedition today and it was spectacular! The guides were…read moreprofessional, friendly & helpful. The three separate snorkel stops let us see different reefs & marine life. I loved the "secret" spot. We were also lucky enough to see a pod of spinner dolphins! Booking & check-in were easy. Highly recommend this tour.

We did a Captain Cook snorkeling tour with Sea Quest Hawaii today and were very impressed. Erin,…read morethe phone representative, was friendly, patient, and answered all my questions, which made me choose this company. Captain Natalie and Assistant Anna were fantastic, knowledgeable, funny, and very attentive throughout the trip. Captain Natalie shared interesting stories about Captain Cook and the surrounding lava caves, and she even helped me with my snorkeling gear and inflating the vest. The snorkeling spot near Captain Cook Monument was incredible, and we saw so many fish. They also provided fresh fruit, chips, cookies, and soft drinks. Thanks to Captain Natalie and Anna, all six of us had a great time and would highly recommend this company.

Went whale watching first charter of season, 12/22/25, got plenty of action!…read moreSpouts, humpbacks and tails too. Crew dropped a mic in water and listened to singing whales! Gorgeous sunset was a bonus! Kids were enthralled! Capt Ty and Mo & Jessa were the best crew! So much information wrapped up in excitement, and music, mahalo! Can't wait to fish, dive, whale watch, snorkel & hang out with Kohala Divers again!! Da Hess Ohana

Kohala Divers provides a first rate experience! We booked a two stop guided snorkel trip for two…read moreadults + teen and were delighted by the day. Captain Tai, Mo, Kay, Gordon and all the staff were welcoming, knowledgeable and worked together seamlessly. Highly recommend!

Joshua, Sam and the third guy (sorry forgot to jot your name down, but he was from North Dakota)…read morewere amazing guides for our group! We had a few no shows, so it was a small group that headed out to Captain Cooks. The kayak portion itself is not difficult as long as you have kayaked before. The trip over took about 20mins and was not super strenuous. Getting into and out of the kayaks from the loading dock was more challenging than the trip itself, but the guides talked us through and helped us in and out of the kayaks. I would say if you have not kayaked or if you have any physical limitations this may not be the excursion for you as there is not a convenient loading/unloading shore so you end up dropping into and climbing out of the kayaks while they are still on the water. The guides did an amazing job at tethering us and helping us in and out but I would say it would be a bit intense for first time kayakers. Over at captain cooks, the snorkeling was amazing! They provide you fins, mask and life vest (optional) and then we had an hour to snorkel about. I highly recommend taking the early kayak tour as when we got to the monument there were only a handful of people so we could swim about really not come close to others, but by the time we left there were multiple boats of snorkelers that had come in and it gets busy in the water. There were so many vibrant fish, and the reef is gorgeous. I didnt want to leave the water. After snorkeling Joshua had a few bags of chips and some water for us and then we packed up and kayaked back to the loading area. Overall it was an amazing experience!

Joshua was a great guide for our kayak and snorkel tour to the Captain Cook monument! This was a…read morevery cool experience and a great spot to snorkel! Very worthwhile. It's a great spot to see lots of fish and we even saw a turtle which Joshua said was not common for that spot! The water is very clear! I do think helps to how to kayak and be prepared for a potentially strenuous journey. It doesn't take long but especially after snorkeling/swimming for an hour, the trip back was hard! They provide life jackets and you can wear it while snorkeling. My husband did because that makes him feel more comfortable in the water.

We has a great time on the outrigger paddle trip we did through Kona Boys. Tommy was welcoming and…read moreencouraging. He had us paddling in unison in no time. Interesting stories, beautiful scenery and a good little work out. Mahalo!

Fantastic experience with Kona Boys for the Morning Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel Tour. When we…read morearrived at the shop at 7 am for orientation, Frank was friendly and prompt with greeting us at the shop and giving the orientation talk, and Paul outfitted us with gear and made sure we knew how to get to the launch site. The shop dog and cat were also very friendly. Our guide for the morning was Grant, who was fantastic. He was engaging and extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, language, geology, flora, fauna, and many other topics. He was also communicative, attentive, and helpful to other people. Overall, I liked that our early start meant that we arrived before the other large commercial boats did, so we got to enjoy paddling and snorkeling the bay with fewer people. I highly recommend Kona Boys as an eco-friendly option with top tier service.

I love Kona Honu Divers! They have everything needed for water play Hannick and Liz and Connor are…read morethe best!

I can't say enough good things about this experience. I signed up with him April 2026 to do the mid…read moreocean Blackwater Dive!!!!! Oh very experienced technical diver, and have dived all over the world with many different outfits. The professionalism, Care, expertise and friendly atmosphere is beyond. The black water dive is something I've never done and it was an amazing must do experience in my opinion. I saw many different incredible creatures and got some amazing photos and video. I actually cannot recommend the high enough, and that coming for me is something I don't easily give out.

We had a great day out searching for Whales! The staff was great with communication and answering…read morequestions before the trip.

We had a wonderful time with Tyler and Captain Alan. Really nice, down to earth people. We got…read moretwo swims at lovely coves and a spin To Kona. Highly recommended. A memorable day.