Went whale watching first charter of season, 12/22/25, got plenty of action! Spouts, humpbacks and tails too. Crew dropped a mic in water and listened to singing whales! Gorgeous sunset was a bonus! Kids were enthralled! Capt Ty and Mo & Jessa were the best crew! So much information wrapped up in excitement, and music, mahalo! Can't wait to fish, dive, whale watch, snorkel & hang out with Kohala Divers again!! Da Hess Ohana read more

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Great people! Went out of their way to help my keiki granddaughter with a life jacket

Kohala Divers provides a first rate experience! We booked a two stop guided snorkel trip for two adults + teen and were delighted by the day. Captain Tai, Mo, Kay, Gordon and all the staff were welcoming, knowledgeable and worked together seamlessly. Highly recommend! read more

Kohala Divers was great! We did our open water cert dives with them. Kelly was our DM, and she was wonderful. We were a little nervous as it was almost a year since our pool dive, but Kelly really made us feel safe and comfortable. She really took her time in going over the skills prior to getting in the water. And while in the water she was constantly checking in and was great at pointing out the things we didn't know to look for: Boxfish, Parrotfish, and even a Yellow Moray eel. The rest of the crew and the captain were very pro and helpful. Kohala Divers and Kelly gave us an unforgettable and beautiful underwater experience, we'd definitely go back! read more

Went looking for water shoes for my dad and the Uncle who helped was so kind! Great customer service! They also have a variety of other beach clothes/items. Didn't rent gear but gear prices looked reasonable as well. read more

My daughter and I did a two tank morning charter. She not been out in a bit and I wanted to give her some dives prior to the manta night dive. I thought the excursion was great. The dive Master was excellent. The boat was very clean and it was overall an exceptional experience. I will definitely use them for future dive chargers. read more

First time in Hawaii! Did 3 days of diving. Different sites each time crew! The best! Would definitely do again. Thank you Kohala Divers!

We had never been to the big island and really didn't know what to expect. But we started with the open water portion of our PADI certification. Our instructor, Elias, was super cool and easy going, but provided clear directions and took safety and training seriously. After certification we did another 2 tank dive with Zach and had a blast. Great diving, great staff, great experience all around, mahalo!! read more

Kohala Divers - Scuba Diving Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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Great people and a wonderful experience for my teen son and me. Beautiful ocean excursion and fun class

Kohala Divers delivers! What a great experience for me and my daughter. They took care of everything,and brought us to the best dive sites for our 2-tank dive. Our guide, Jonah, took great care of us and showed us the best time underwater. All of the crew were friendly and helpful. This is our second time diving with Kohala and we will be back as they make diving easy and fun. read more

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Just got back from another 2 weeks of diving with what have become our good friends at Kohala. Can't say enough good things about this company. They really understand customer service and are absolutely all about safety. They do such a good job of putting the divers together in small groups by certification and experience. They now us very well so we always get plenty of bottom time with them and get to explore some of their favorite "secret' spots. once again shout out to Captains Ty and Keith, and DMs Noam, Elias, James, Tyler and Max. Can't wait to see this crew again next summer. read more

Kohala Divers - Scuba Diving Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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One of my pledges this year is to complete reviews of dive sites and dive shops. Kohala Divers is my new favorite dive shop on the Big Island! Making reservations with them is a breeze and kamaa'ina discount is available. The check in process the day of the dive is quick, and the distance from the store to the boat slip is within walking distance. The boat captain, Ty, and crew are friendly and professional- getting you to the dive sites in safety and comfort. Their boat has two mounted showers for you to take a quick rinse and get the salt off of you after the dive. If you end up in a nearby seat, keep an eye out for inconsiderate fellow divers. In their haste to rinse off, sometimes they don't pay attention to where their shower water goes after it hits them and you can get wet again! The underwater topography is interesting and different from a typical Kona dive site- lots of caverns and lava tubes typical of Shark's Cove on Oahu. The fauna is slightly different as well. Often what's common up north in Kohala is rare in Kona, and vice-versa. KD will also rent tanks and weights for divers who want shore dive. You can even get a 10-tank fill card. There's a great dive site right outside the harbor KD uses where my group has found some painted and decorated nudibranches I haven't seen before! KD's best feature is my favorite dive guide, Sandy W! She moved to KD from another dive shop. Very knowledgeable and another nudibranch enthusiast, diving with Sandy is like diving with another dive buddy! All in all, a total pleasure to be diving with such a great dive shop! When are we diving Kohala again? Will return to dive again and definately recommend! read more

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Kohala Divers has been my go-to when I dive on the Big Island. Great crew/staff, clean boat, and I always have good dives. They take care of their divers. read more

I did my SCUBA cert through Kohala divers earlier in the month and it was such an easy, streamlined epic experience. I was struggling finding companies that aligned with my goals as many only took referred students (meaning they had done their contained dives / pool work already) or would up charge several hundred $ a day should a student drop out and the instruction become 1:1. Kohala Divers let me do my work online and then all my skills/dives on the island over 3 days and the ratios were very small. We started 1:2 and when my fellow student dropped I was relieved to not be up charged as other dive shops would have done. The pool they had us do our contained dives was epic: it's situated in the owners' property overlooking the ocean. Every single person I encountered was genuinely warm and enthusiastic, they really were so stoked to share their love of diving and the ocean with us. My instructor was Elias and I sincerely can't sing enough praises. He's a super chill, passionate and knowledgeable guy who made the whole experience as low stress and enjoyable as possible. He had a keen eye in spotting epic sealife and educating us about them, was so positive in celebrating our successes, full of great recs on the island and I never once felt overwhelmed during a set of training days that had all the potential to be overwhelming. They also allowed company to come along during the training dives which allowed my boyfriend and I a special opportunity to do my last one together. We even went to other dive shops after my cert was over and Kohala Divers was by far still our favourite due to their easygoing, efficient and warm demeanor. Would 10/10 recommend getting certified here and if you get Elias, you'll be set for sure! But honestly every single person we encountered was so warm and knowledgeable that I'm sure you'll be in great hands regardless. read more

The best part was our dive master Cody. We hired a private guide since we hadn't been diving in a bit and he was great!! The boat was really clean and the gear all worked well. read more

Kohala divers is great! We had two lovely boat dives and even saw a white tipped reef shark! Maxine was our dive master and was amazing. She's high energy, has a great sense of humor and very knowledgeable about marine life. I highly recommend Kohala Divers! read more

Great dive shop all around! If you're diving big island, don't forget to checkout the Kohala coast dive sites. Dive boat: Dock was right across the street from the shop, very convenient. We went out for a 2 tank morning dive and the boat was spacious (extra tank space between every diver), plenty of space to gear up. Two build in showers on boat, if you're the first few to rinse off, water is nice and warm from the sun. Plenty of snacks and drinks. Bonus: They have Stream2Sea mask defog and sunblock on board, truly coral and reef safe! Staff: Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable. Ty was our captain, great briefing and we didn't feel rushed while getting ready, felt calm and safe with this crew. Sandy was our dive guide, it was so enjoyable diving with her. She listed to our needs and what critters our group was looking for, found so many things! If you're a macro hunter, definitely ask for her! She also gave us recommendations and very detailed shore dive info to look for more nudibranchs. Shop/gear: Great little shop with wide range of products, well stocked. We brought our own gear, so I can't speak much on rental gear. Great experience with the rental tanks/weights and shopping/checkout. read more

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Fernando and Nick were an amazing team. Fernando provided a history lesson, and insider details about our manta dive experience. Nick was a phenomenal captain and kept us safe the entire time. Fernando provided exceptional support to us as we embarked on our snorkeling/diving adventure. Highly recommend this experience. It was very fun and educational. Wet suites and diving/snorkeling gear was provided. The water can get cold after the sun sets, so bringing a keep dry bag, and a dry change of clothes is recommended. Fernando and Nick provided us with snacks after the dive to help us get ourselves warmed up. Remember to always listen to them, they are the experts, and don't bring flash photography, though recording devices are allowed. Can't add too much detail without spoiling the best parts. But be safe and highly recommend the adventure. Hopefully you get lucky and have the same crew we did. but seriously, this was a super fun experience. if you get motion sick take your meds before you trip out there. read more

One of the best dive shops I've worked with. Diving with them feels like coming home.

We came to buy snorkeling gear for our trip, and Megan was knowledgeable and kind. She helped us find the right fit and gave some great recommendations for where to snorkel. read more

My daughter and I did a two tank dive with Kohala Divers on Sunday Dec 10. We have used this company on previous trips to the Big Island and always have a great experience. The staff at Kohala is first class, from the folks that check you in at the office to the entire boat crew. They are consistently professional, friendly and make us feel like part of the family while on board. The dive equipment they use is high quality and they take the extra time to ensure all divers are well versed in its use and do thorough safety briefings before each dive. We plan to use Kohala Divers any time we want to dive the Kona coast and would recommend them to anyone wanting a fun, safe dive in Hawaii. Gary Darby read more

My 10-year-old son and I just finished our open water certification through Kohala Divers while on vacation on the Big Island. This place is fantastic. Our instructors, Kay and James, were extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, supportive and patient, and made every aspect of the certification process straightforward and fun. The open water days had us out on a really nice boat with a great crew, and they even allowed our non-scuba family members to come out with us and snorkel while we did our dives. (Thanks also to Elias and Jonah for being great snorkel guides.) It's clear the people at Kohala Divers love what they do, and their enthusiasm is infectious. We can't wait to go out with them again. read more

I signed up for my open water diver certification here on relatively short notice. The entire learning experience was awesome and totally smooth. The staff were friendly, patient and helpful, especially my instructors Elias, Kel and Alan. We were even able to take my friends on a ride along for my final two dives, which was great, and it all came at a pretty reasonable price (~$1000 for my 3 days of lessons + three ride-along snorkelers on the last day). They also took us to some great dive sites, so whether you're a novice or have some experience, I think you'll have a great time. The boat is really nice too and they have plenty of drinks and snacks for after your time in the water (which, trust me, you'll want). 11/10 would visit here again read more

Kohala divers is a totally 1st class dive shop. Too many great qualities to name here but here goes. Dive masters are fantastic for divers of any skill level, beginner through expert. Jason, Tyler, Kel, Mike, Jess and Alan are all first class. Safety is always first and they have an amazing ability to find all the sea creatures, large and tiny. And their boat... what an epic boat. Sometimes I dive with Kohala just to ride on their boat. Skippers Chuck and Tye are both awesome. Super knowledgable and always willing to share their knowledge of the local area. Their gear is great too. Excellent BCD's, regs, wetsuits, masks and fins. Feel like I'm diving with my old friends every time I go. If you're looking for a dive shop on the Big Island, Kohala will take care of you. Guaranteed! read more

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We find they are truly the best. Roll call, happy co-workers who enjoy their job, and are also professionals. James and Elias are outstanding, along with the entire team. Thank you for wonderful treatment and experiences. Plural. read more

The divers in my group were all suited up and ready to dive except the DM guiding the dive was still busy doing other things. Finally he also got into his gear and the group got into the water. During the dive, the guide was super busy taking photos of nudibranchs but neglected to take us to see large schools of fish just a few feet away. After 25 minutes the first diver was low on air so the group was returned to the boat. At the boat the guide took of with one diver and left the remaining divers behind for the remainder of their dive. read more

Did my Open water certification here the past 3 days. Was an awesome experience all around. Staff was all friendly, positive and helpful. Did 2 days of diving from boat along beautiful Kohala coast and saw tons of wildlife. Captain Ty was great along with the other Dive masters Allen Mike and Jess. Spent the most time with Allen since he my instructor and he was GREAT! Had a lot of fun with that guy learning all the do's and don'ts. The guy was thorough about going through the Padi curriculum and took all the time i needed to stop and explain portions that I was confused about. I come to big island a couple times a year and plan on diving with Kohala divers every time I come out from now on. Thanks again read more

I had an opportunity to dive with Kohala Divers on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tyler, the Dive Master, Ty, the boat captain, and Kelly, our 2nd Dive Master, were all very professional and helpful. The dives were awesome and we saw a large variety of reef fish. The staff was very appreciative of the business and welcomed me back to dive with them again. I look forward to diving with them again our our next trip to Hawaii. read more

Kohala Divers - Scuba Diving Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Kay and the rest of the team were absolutely wonderful. I did the intro to scuba course and my wife snorkeled. We had a great time on the boat, and the dive shop was top notch. read more

Highly recommend this dive operator on the north side of the Big Island of Hawaii. From our First contact with them for reservations through the end of our dives. The staff is wonderful, mature knowledgeable captains and crew. I will dive with them again and again! read more

Kohala Divers is the way to go! Not only do they all have a ton of experience and provide an amazing trip, but you can easily tell that they love what they do and they share that stoke with the people who are lucky enough to go out with them! read more

We had several great dives with Kohala -- safe, professional, and fun. Captains Ty, Chuck, and Keith were super-competent and helpful, and the gear and boat were well set up and ship-shape. Our dives with Rebekah and James were wonderful. Rebekah (also the owner) has a great vibe and a ton of natural knowledge -- besides a couple of octopus and a frogfish, she also spotted a huge, awesome, and awesomely camouflaged titan scorpion fish which was one of my highlights, along with a wonderfully chill eagle ray sailing by out in the blue. James led us through several great caves, brought us luck to be buzzed by a huge pod of dolphins, and found us a cute little white-tipped reef shark, plus he gave me some helpful computer and gear advice. Their shop also has great gear at reasonable prices (we upgraded fins and dive lights -- very, very worth it). Thank you! read more

Best hidden gem on the island. You would think its scuba divers only but Kohala divers takes snorkelers with their divers. They stop at places that no other companies stop at, so no Captain Cook here, but Ill take 4 hours of snorkeling at 2 different spots. Have been using Kohala since 2005 when I was the only snorkeler.you have the whole area to yourself, and I couldn't have felt more safe. This crew in 2022 ,Mike being our guide that day was phenominal.Knows where all the good spots are for fish and turtles. Even spotted us a turtle cleaning station where lots of tangs and butterfly fish were cleaning the backs of turtles.(You wont see that at Captain Cook) Went with a party of 8,fun times all around,have used them every time Ive been to the Big Island.Cant wait till the nest time read more

Excellent dive shop! We had a wonderful experience getting our PADI certifications with James and Corey. They were patient, easy going, and super fun. We are now feeling prepared and ready for more dives! read more

Very professional and friendly staff. Lots of dive guides with small groups which make the dive more enjoyable when spotting underwater wildlife. I haven't been diving in about 18 months so when I asked for a quick rundown of equipment (I'm a safety conscious person) all staff was willing and happy to help. This was by far my best Hawaii dive. I highly recommend this dive company and will continue to use them when I'm back on the big island. read more

Our family of four had the BEST day on our two dive trip with Kohala Divers! The van picked us up at Mauna Kea, fit us for the gear we needed and got us on our way pretty quickly. The boat is comfortable and well equipped and the crew makes everything informative FUN and easy. We saw beautiful fish, coral reefs, a majestic spotted Eagle ray, eels and the other group saw some sharks. In between dives we were treated to whales breaching and a pod of dolphins. What a spectacular day!! Can't say enough good things about the all right and friendly team. read more

I booked a dive for 2 people two days before we wanted to dive. This was towards the end of the day and the lady took my credit card information and email and said the information would be in the email. The next day I noticed I still hadn't received the email, so I called in the afternoon to no answer. I called again a couple hours later and left a message explaining that I didn't know what time to arrive or specifically where to show up. The morning of the dive I called and nobody answered, I left another message. I got a call back around 7am but I missed it so I called them right back. They looked at my information and saw that they put my email address down wrong so they verbally told me where to go. I told them I was 45 minutes away and they told me that would be too late. Understandable and unfortunate because we really wanted to dive. BUT then they told me that I was unable to get a refund since their cancellation policy wouldn't allow it. This is where it's a shady business. The mistake was theirs. A good business owner would refund the money since it was all done in good faith (I wasn't trying to screw anyone over and their mistake in my email address was an honest one). They already charged my credit card $350+ so I asked to speak to the manager to get the money refunded. She said the manager was away but would call me back in the next couple days. I heard nothing back. I called again the next week, the manager was also gone, so I left my information again and was told I will receive a call back. Aaaaand then I called back again the next week, same exact same thing happened. As of this writing, I still haven't gotten a call back. Maybe this review will get their attention. Would not recommend this business. read more

Dives- Excellent. Customer Service- Superb. I can't recommend Kohala Divers enough! Starting from the beginning... The shop is easy to find, well organized and has lots of great items for sale. The second we walked in we were greeted warmly and with excitement by the woman who ran the store (sorry, didn't catch her name!), and our dive masters Tyler and Nigel. Once on the boat, the safety talk was entertaining yet also comprehensive and comforting. The boat was tidy and everything was well prepared in advance. Some dive companies will tell you they are "full service", but we were straight up pampered here! Tyler and Steve (the boat captain) were knowledgeable and talked to us about everything from the various species we would find below the surface, to the tides and variations and effects of the ocean swells that day. When it was time to get in the water at our first dive site ("horseshoe") they did everything for us save put our fins on for us. Steve even brushed the hair back from my face so that it wouldn't catch in the seal of my mask. During the dive Tyler and Nigel were attentive, but not overbearing, and made sure to point out everything of interest and to write out the names of new species on their boards for all to see. I felt completely safe and able to engage fully in the dive without worry, which is everything a diver can really ask for. During the break between dives, Steve laid out an impressive range of snacks of fresh fruit, cookies, and trail mix (to name a few). We spent our break time whale watching (we saw 2 humpbacks!) and following a pod of dolphins who rode our bow and with whom we actually were able to swim by the end of the break! The second dive at "the dome" was equally enjoyable and comfortable. In total we saw 2-3 eels, tiger cowries, nudibranchs, and impressive diversity of fish species, crown of thorns star fish, a variety of urchins and many other wonders. Overall, such a safe and fun experience. 10/10 would dive again. read more

Kohala Divers - Spotted during break time! - Scuba Diving Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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The team (dive guides and boat captain) was professional, warm, and in good humor. I did two dives in the morning. The dive shop and personnel was easy, good parking, and friendly service. The boat is a very short walk from the store. Before getting on the boat, the captain had us remove shoes and discuss the weight to go into our bests. Wetsuits and other gear were in good condition. Fortunately, we had very smooth waters and traveled no more than 25 minutes to each dive site. They were relatively close to shore. We had good visibility. I get rather cold and always wear a wetsuit. I had a 5mm suit and my own 2mm socks. I felt pretty comfortable, temperature-wise, in the water. I would defiantly dive with this team again. read more

We've been diving/snorkeling/whale watching (fishing/whale watching with their sister company, Siren Sports-fishing) with Kohala Divers for decades. They are the #1 outfit on the Island. Family owned and run, Rebekah and crew treat you like one of their own. All our children (grownups now) were certified with Rebekah. Oh, and they have the best shop with an awesome collection of t-shirts, gifts, all your dive gear, etc. Get away from the crowds and head to Kawaihae. read more