Instant Reader Report on Diving
Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort in
Hawaii/Kona, Big Island in
2003/09

by
Richard J. Troberman, WA, USA
Report Number 030909144805904

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 Maui, Tahiti, Australia and Coral Sea, Cayman Islands, St. Vincent, Bahamas 

computer/air  

[None]  

Overall Rating

There are several good dive companies in Kona, including Dive Makai and
Sandwich Isle Divers, but Aloha Dive Company stands head and shoulders
above them all.  The owner, Mike Nakachi, is a native born Hawaiian who
knows these waters like the back of his hand.  Mike and first mate Earl Kam
take a maximum of six divers per trip.  Unlike most of the other dive
operators, Aloha does not depart from the Kona pier.  Instead, they meet
the divers at Honokahau Harbor (north) or Keahou Bay (south) depending on
where the dives are planned for the day.  This allows them to go to more
remote sites (without a long boat ride) that are not typically visited by
other dive boats.  Although Mike is at his best with experienced divers,
Aloha caters to all levels.  Before the boat departs, Mike will ask the
divers what they want to see, and then he will try to acomodate their
requests.  Mike's enthusiasm for diving is contagious, and his goal is to
make each diving experience as enjoyable as possible.  During three days of
diving on this trip, we saw two hammerhead sharks, several grays and white
tips, a monk seal, a very large pelagic manta ray, several eagle rays,
schools of bottlenose dolphins, octopus, turtles, frogfish, and several
rare endemic reef fish.  The Royal Kona Resort is an older hotel (built in
the 60's) that has been refurbished.  Its conveniently located on the
waterfront at the edge of town, within walking distance of everything, and
is a great value. 

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