Dive Review of
Kona Honu Divers in
Hawaii

All over

Dive Conditions

55 to 60 minutes  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Kona-Hawaii 8-8 thru 8-13

This is the sixth time I have dove the Kona area. I have dove with Jacks a
couple of times and Big Island Divers three times, this year with Kona Honu
Divers. I had heard rave reviews about Kona Honu divers and I do believe
they have the best Dive Guides/Instructors I have dove with in Kona and the
boat was great…But was mixed with snorkelers, new and experienced divers,
specialty divers etc on the boat. One day we had about 20 people on the
boat plus crew. I resist using the term cattle boat as the staff really
busted their butts trying to make you happy. If I had not paid for the
week’s dives with Kona Honu, I would have probably gone over to Big Island
divers. They have a smaller boat and only divers on the boat (or the ones
I’ve been on) plus you can rinse your gear and store it at their shop. Kona
Honu did store my BC and Wetsuit. Kona Honu is a great operation along with
Jacks, I just like smaller groups. Kona Honu is supposed to have a smaller
boat arriving in November catering just to divers. If I come back to Kona,
I would use them again only if they have the smaller boat in operation.

The diving in Kona was nice but uneventful, great visibility not much in
the way of marine life. I could tell a noticeable lack of Marine life from
the previous years I have dove here…perhaps many of the fish became Sushi.
When asking about lack of Marine life and seeing small boats with fishing
nets near the dive sites I was told that was an ongoing issue with the
State to try to stop it along with restricting spear fishing. Another thing
I noticed were snorkel operations out swimming with the Dolphins I counted
at least 4 different boats that had snorklers in the waters and another 3
or 4 that looked like they were waiting to jump in as they were chasing the
Dolphins…..the Dive ops frown upon this as they consider it harassment of
the Dolphins (which there are laws against)….The operators get by with
saying they are some type environmental study group or the Dolphins came up
to their boat. The highlight of the trip was the Manta dive….the first
night we were skunked, the other night I went out….was the most incredible
Manta dive I have ever done (I have done eight Manta dives in six trips to
Kona) that night….Ten Mantas plus Big Bertha came in…WOW! This dive alone
is worth the trip to Kona….This year the water was a bit cool, temps ranged
between 79 to 81 averaged around 80 degrees. In the past years, I have
enjoyed 81 to 83 degree water temps mostly averaging 82 degrees. Once
again, the one Manta dive was up there with any of the best dives I have
done at the Blue Corner or in Fakarava. 
 

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