The first time I dived with Kona Honu Divers, the boat captain took us to the dive site Nai’a, near the entrance to Honokohau Harbor, where divers had been having occasional encounters with tiger sharks. But as our divemaster made clear in his briefing, even when the sharks are a no-show—as they were that day—Nai’a offers plenty of thrills. We saw the most adorable juvenile frogfish grasping the surface of a gorgeous coral arch and loads of yellow tang and butterflyfish going about their daily lives amidst all the hard coral rocks on the seafloor. The highlight for me came at the very end of the dive during our safety stop. A pod of acrobatic spinner dolphins zipped over, whirling around us like underwater street performers. How appropriate that my first encounter with spinner dolphins occurred at a dive site named Nai’a, the Hawaiian word for dolphin. It’s a memory I’ll carry with me for a lifetime.

Nai’a and its sister sites off the western coast of Hawaii Island—often referred to as Big Island—are truly the best scuba diving in Hawaii and rank among the best in the world. As the team at Kona Honu Divers will tell you, they work in one of the most unique “offices” in the world—the pristine reefs off the island’s Kona coast are nourished by cooler Pacific waters that in turn provides the many gifts divers find here, including an abundance of marine creatures, clear water and calm ocean conditions (kona means “leeward” in the Hawaiian language).

Your time spent in and around the town of Kailua-Kona is a dream dive vacation on every level—the diving, the topside scenery, the restaurants and bars, and the laid-back and friendly community.

The Best Scuba Diving in Hawaii with Kona Honu Divers

Kona Honu guests can choose among a variety of dive options, including daily two-tank trips, thrilling blackwater night dives, manta night dives and advanced two-tank excursions. Most of the best dive sites are within minutes of Kona Honu’s marina—there are over 40 sites within a 25-minute ride from the harbor. Brand-new divers will fall in love with the colorful, shallow reefs that are mobbed by the equally colorful marine life that thrive in these waters: Moorish idols, butterflyfish, eels, flame angelfish and schools of goatfish. Like my experience with the spinner dolphins, you may also be delighted by underwater surprises, such as unexpected encounters with mantas, sharks and even humpback whales. Sightings of green sea turtles—honu in Hawaiian—are more frequent, as the island protects these beloved animals. Topside, you can view them when they haul out on numerous beaches to rest and lay eggs.

Kona Honu advanced charters take experienced divers to sites such as Touch of Grey, where juvenile grey reef sharks can sometimes be found; Au Au canyon, a submerged volcanic crater where turtles are common as are many varieties of butterflyfish, such as pyramid and Thompson’s; and LAX, a beautiful lava dome with towering coral arches. These sites often attract bigger pelagics and are showcases for why this island offers the best scuba diving in Hawaii.

Another aspect that contributes to Kona being the best scuba diving in Hawaii is its “reefscape”—the same fascinating lava formations and dramatic cliffs that are visible on land are also found underwater. There are exploration-worthy swim-throughs, caves, overhangs, pinnacles and walls on nearly every dive. And of course these lava-forged formations are magnets for fish and invertebrates like nudibranchs. Take your time to peek into the nooks and crannies—the crystal-clear water makes it easy to spot cowries, crabs, blennies and shrimp when you take it slow and easy.

Theblackwater night dive experience takes you miles offshore where you will drop into the ocean tethered to a 60-foot line and hang suspended over 4,000 feet of Pacific Ocean to watch what’s been called “the world’s largest migration of animals”—pelagic animals that come from the deep to the ocean’s surface drift by your mask. During my experience, I saw clear larval fish, including a perfect tiny swordfish, and a hunting group of squid that left a burst of ink as they jetted past us. Every one of these dives is special and each one is different. It’s another part of what makes Kona scuba diving the best in Hawaii.

Along with the blackwater experience, the manta night dive was a standout for me. These dives are usually done at Garden Eel Cove, but we went to Sheraton Kona Resort where the Kona Honu boat crew had heard the mantas had recently been spotted. This two-tank night dive actually begins with a late-afternoon reef dive and then you spend a surface interval enjoying the Kona sunset and a light meal before listening to a fascinating briefing on the behavior of manta rays. Once the sun sets, you re-enter the water, settle down on the bottom, and cross your fingers and fin tips that these magnificent creatures will make an appearance. We were in luck—for 45 minutes about a dozen mantas performed an acrobatic display above our heads. What an epic night dive—and just more confirmation that Kona’s diving is the best in Hawaii!

The Kona Honu crew is the whipped cream and cherry on top when you choose to spend a dive vacation here. They make everything easy, fun and safe. Whether you’re making a two-tank morning trip or a more advanced expedition, you are treated like an honored guest aboard Kona Honu’s two dive boats, the custom 46-foot Honu One and the 33-foot Honu Lele.

If someone in your group is a nondiver, they can sign up for one of three snorkel tours: whale-watching, Captain Hook and a manta night snorkel, or your group can book a sunset cruise aboard a luxury catamaran where you’ll enjoy dinner, cocktails and dramatic scenery.

If the nondiver in your group is curious about scuba diving, Kona Honu offers introductory scuba dives. It’s a chance for them to see whether they’re ready to sign up for Kona Honu’s Open Water certification class. If you’re a bit rusty, you can sign up for a refresher course or if it’s been a very long time since your last dive, Kona Honu offers a recertification course. No matter what level of certification you are seeking, you will appreciate the very low student to instructor ratio that the operation maintains.

EXPLORE FURTHER

You’ll rekindle your passion for diving during Kona Honu’s premium, two-tank trips for divers with advanced experience. Honu Lele zips divers to special dive sites not visited by other Big Island diving companies. With luck, you’ll view whales, dolphins and whale sharks during the ride. The South Kona dive sites on the itinerary feature incredible lava tubes and lush reefs, and when the weather cooperates, you may venture north to experience unique reef structures and critter hideouts. Between dives, you’ll enjoy a full lunch with spectacular coastal views.

2025 READERS CHOICE AWARDS: KONA HONU IS BEST IN HAWAII

This is a team that has built its reputation on safety, a passion for diving, stewardship of the environment and fun. It’s what leads to all the awards they receive, including seven 2025 Readers Choice Awards, when they were recognized in all dive operation categories—including two first-place awards and five second-place ones. Kona Honu set the gold standard for dive operation excellence in the Aloha State. No other Hawaii dive operation scored higher.

To experience the best scuba diving in Hawaii, come to Kona and experience the Kona Honu Divers difference.

CONTACT INFO

konahonudivers.com

[email protected]

808-324-4668