Dive Review of Kona Honu Divers/Hali Kai in
Hawaii/Kona

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Kona Honu Divers/Hali Kai, Sep, 2011, by Bob Penhearow, ON, CA ( Sr. Reviewer 10 reports). Report 6223.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food	N/A
Service and Attitude	N/A	Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	My daughter and I enjoyed 10 dives with Kona Hondu Divers: two Manta Night dives, one Black Water dive, one Advanced dive and six General dives. Our experience with Kona Honu Divers (KHD) was very positive. KHD in our opinion is a solid 5* operation. They are well organized with a genuine love and enthusiasm for diving, which permeates all they do. I have lower back issues so was delighted when they carry everyone’s gear on and off the boat, even setting-up and washing down your equipment! In addition, helping hands to assist you in and out of the water. The dive briefing is comprehensive with an emphasis on safety. Janine (DM) does her best to search out and point out interesting stuff below. Boats Honu One (46’) & Honu Ike (36’) are large, spacious and very comfortable. Refreshments are given in between dives usually pineapple and cookies! Manta Dives – 45 Min at 35’. The Manta Ray Night dive was fantastic and exceeded my expectations! It is rightly ranked as one of the top 10-dive experiences globally. You kneel at the bottom – take extra weight - holding up your flashlight. The light attracts the plankton and the plankton attracts the mantas. My daughter and I did this particular dive twice and delighted in the 3-Mantas the first dive and then 5-Mantas the week after. The mantas put on a fabulous 45 –minute, non-stop, spectacular night show – not to be missed! My wife and other daughters snorkeled above and also enjoyed the mantas - “Dad its amazing!” Note: Wear a 5mm plus suit, it gets rather cold kneeling at the bottom. The Black Water Night Dive – 60 Min at 50’ This was a challenging but wonderful, memorable experience. You are attached to a 50’ weighted line by a tether that slides up and down. Suspended in black water with a flashlight the show begins. There are some strange and wonderful sights to behold. Again, an experience not to be missed! I was nervous at first holding on to the line but later trusted the tether. Janine (DM) hovered around ensuring the divers were okay. She untangled me a couple of times! Note: I wore my 3mm inside a 7mm rented suit otherwise it would have been very cold. General Kudos to Glenn (owner) for overseeing a smooth, efficient operation, to Colin (Captain) for such a helpful, thoughtful attitude and to Janine (DM) & Jason (DM) who exemplify a professional caring attitude in every way! We enjoyed the diving experience in Hawaii, but with the exception of the Mantas and the Black Water dive were a little disappointed. Perhaps we expected too much from Hawaii? For general diving I personally prefer Sipadan or the Philippines. That said, would I return to Kona, Hawaii? Maybe, if so the Manta and Blackwater Dives would be the reason! Would I dive with KHD again? Absolutely!
Websites	Kona Honu Divers
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Florida (Lauderdale, Keys), Cuba, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Red Sea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sipadan, Philippines (Boracay, Malapascua)
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, choppy, surge
Water Temp	73-78°F / 23-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	- Ft/ - M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	On boat at 500psi, depth usually established each dive.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Dedicated tank for cameras. Staff very helpful & conversant with camera SL 1200 - helped me out a couple of times.

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Dive Review of Kona Honu Divers/Hali Kai in Hawaii/Kona

Kona Honu Divers/Hali Kai, Sep, 2011,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Kona Honu Divers/Hali Kai in
Hawaii/Kona