Dive Review of
Dive Makai/Kona Coast Resort, Phase II in
Hawaii/Kona

Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Tobermory, Kauai, Roatan, The Keys, Destin

Dive Conditions

130 ft depth limit, no decompression diving, 300 psi remaining back on
board  

Medium-sized rinse tub on boat (also used for lights). Dry area upfront.  

Overall Rating

Dive Makai is a high quality operation. Their website information is
accurate. Boat takes maximum of 12; 10 on adventure (3-tank) days. Dives
are guided with max group size of six. Divemasters and owner, Mike (who
also dives and drives the boat some days), are extremely friendly, fun, and
safety conscious; but do not impose time limits. They guide using a nice,
slow pace and make sure everyone sees the critters. We dove with them six
days in row. Manta Ray 2-tank night dive is a must! 1st dive is late
afternoon fam dive for area orientation. 2nd dive starts after dark. We saw
two mantas up close and personal. We watched them and a friendly moray eel
for 30 minutes before finishing the hour dive with a tour. Towels, dry
area, water, tang, and snacks (Costco cookies, carrots, trail mix, and chex
mix) are provided. They will keep BC/reg, mask/fins when diving multiple
days, but you must take wet gear off boat. They rinse gear daily and your
wet stuff if you want to wait. Boat is ideal for diving and is trailered.
You meet in the Honokohau Harbor parking lot and wait for launch at one of
two boat ramps. They use steel 80 cu ft tanks and start you with six less
lbs than you normally use. Of our 13 dives, only one was less than a hour.
We got back about 12:30 to 1 p.m. from 2-tank days and at 5:30 p.m. from
the 3-tank. Humane pee rule is briefed. If you pee in your wetsuit, they
ask you remove your wetsuit and boots before moving off the back of the
boat and then rinse yourself and wet gear in the ocean. Rear deck area is
large with two ladders, so this isn't too tough to do. 

Make sure you visit the seahorse aqua farm (www.seahorse.com) about 5 miles
from the harbor. They run tours M-F and you can make 2 p.m. tour after
diving. Reservations are required.

Kona coast underwater topography is beautiful with lava swim-throughs and
pinnacles. Not very fishy and large critters sightings are rare. Standard
reef fish with some endemic to Hawaii. Saw three sharks and three turtles
over the six days. Dolphin schools were spotted on surface. Despite surge
most of the time (down to about 20 ft), conditions are great for beginners
and those wanting nice, easy, peaceful dives.

Kona Coast Resort is about 7 miles south of Kailua-Kona and is a timeshare
complex surrounded by golf courses. Some units have ocean view. We
exchanged a portion our Disney timeshare points for a week in a Phase II
two-bedroom, two-bath unit. Units are superb and kept up in near immaculate
condition! 

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