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Dive Review of Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort in
Hawaii/Kona, Big Island

Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort, Sep, 2003,

by Richard J. Troberman, WA, USA (Contributor Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 707.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments 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.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Maui, Tahiti, Australia and Coral Sea, Cayman Islands, St. Vincent, Bahamas
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 100-0 Ft/ 30-0 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions computer/air
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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