These guys are the real deal. The snorkelers and divers go together on the boat with thee most knowledgeable, friendly crew members. Everyone loves what they do and it shows. We went to two locations and both were awesome! We are snorkelers and felt this was the best snorkel trip we've taken while in Hawaii. We saw beautiful underwater landscapes in both locations, lots of fish and turtles...we also had spinner dolphins follow us (VERY close to the boat) en route to both locations, very large pods and a few leaped out and spun in the air, so cool..... Don't hesitate....a great trip ! Bring snacks since it's early morning till about 1:30. They do have a small selection of snacks on board like cookies and trail mix. With all the swimming we did we really worked up an appetite! GREAT trip! Don't hesitate! read more

Great people and great gear. We dropped in to rent snorkel gear for the family. The staff was fabulous. They patiently took time to fit each of us into masks and snorkels and fins. We came back the next day to get wet suits as well for the rocky entry into Puako and again they treated us like friends. Skip the lousy Costco gear and pass by Bob's. Kohala divers has what you need for your vacation week. Good gear is going to make all the difference for your underwater experience. Poor fitting equipment and kids getting cold will ruin any snorkeling adventure. Make the short drive to Kohala divers, it will be worth it. read more

Did the deluxe sunset whale watching tour and it was phenomenal. Crew was both educated about whales and fun. Nice to have some snack mid way through, there were whales galore from start to finish and a sun set from a Hollywood movie. I'm definitely checking out their other tours. read more

See all

Small location, but BIG service. Best diving on the Big Island. Excellent dive masters, boat captains, and crew. Provide a premium diving experience in a very friendly and safe environment. I love this operation. read more

Kohala Divers - Night dive with Kohala Divers Ltd. Great time! - Scuba Diving Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

See all

Nice little local shop. Very friendly and helpful! If you're not into the big touristy kind of places this shop is perfect!

Really appreciated the level of service on the boat. Briefings were helpful. In addition to the guides, the captains are extremely helpful and basically offer a concierge-like dive service. They help each diver get set up and squared away before starting the dive and assist each one with getting out safely and smoothly. Team knows the sites well and provided good experiences for multiple levels of divers on each trip. Especially appreciated Jason's efforts as he took my daughter through Discover SCUBA and her first open water dives. She LOVED it and now wants to become certified. read more

We have had consistently positive experiences with Kohala Divers! Finally decided to get certified and had our Open Water training this week, Gunnar was absolutely fantastic!! I was a bit anxious...he calmed ALL my fears; was pleasant, helpful, calming, informative and PATIENT! An outstanding experience all around! The crew on the boat was fun, helpful and knowledgeable! Would recommend Kohala Divers without reservation! read more

I'm not a very experienced diver and often have trouble with my ears. Kohala Divers took us out and were an absolute pleasure to be with. Very professional and nice people. They made me feel very comfortable and let me set the pace for my decent without any pressure. I actually haven't gone on a dive in about five years and they urged me to take a pool refresher class the day before the dive to feel more comfortable. They were also very helpful in the renting of snorkel gear for my kids. I will be going back next year. read more

Quick and dirty: Great operation, friendly crew/dive masters. Pros: Clean boat with lots of shade under the canopy. Nice clean head. Dive shop is clean and close to the dock. Crew/DMs/dive shop employees are all friendly and helpful. Dive sites have outstanding topography. Very close to the hotels in Mauna Lani. Cons: This would have been a 5 star review if the boat was configured better. Details: Dove 2 days with this operation. Had an absolute blast. I don't know what dive sites we visited but they all 4 sites had fantastic topography. The fauna density and variety left a little to be desired. I didn't see much in terms of eels or nudis. Saw 3 octopuses over the course of 4 dives though. On two dives, did tons of swim throughs in lava tubes. The crew is very friendly and helpful. Brooke in particular describes the sites in great detail. They do the typical gear management and handling for you. Personally, I like to do my own gear handling and set up but that probably comes down to personal preference. The one and only beef with this operation is the way the boat (Kohala Diver) is configured. There are racks on the stern that are supposed to hold all the tanks for the guests. Sadly, the way the rack is configured, you can only have your BC mounted on the tank if your BC only has one cam strap. If your BC has two cam straps, the rack cannot accommodate. Their answer to this is to set up your BC once you get to the dive site. I personally like to set up my gear and make sure everything is squared away before we leave the dock. That way, I know if there is something missing or something that is not functioning properly. Plus, I hate rushing to get my gear together just before splashing in. On top of the poor tank rack configuration, they set up a bunch of bench seats which are practically useless. No one sits in those benches in the stern. They only make it difficult to get around each other when people are trying to get geared up before diving. It really is a shame as the boat is otherwise a fantastic boat. It rides very well. The boat is smooth and dry. It has a ginormous canopy that you can use to take shelter in during the super sunny days. The boat itself I think is an older radoncraft or something. But she is clearly well taken care of and maintained. Very very clean boat. I know this review is mostly complaining about the boat configuration. But I want to say that aside that, this operator is as good or better than the guys in Kona (Jacks, Big Island Divers, etc.) read more

Such an awesome dive shop! I've gone diving with a bunch of good shops but this has been the best on the big island by far! I was with a couple other certified divers and a friend who was getting certified and we can all say that we had a great two days with Kohala Divers! My dive masters were amazing and so eager to find new things just like I was! I even saw my first white tip reef shark which I wouldn't of found without such a great master! Thanks Jess and Kohala Divers! Can't wait to come back! read more

this place is the best if you are a novice diver like me, and based on the advanced divers on my boat, also the best if you are very experienced. it's a little bit far if you stay in kona but the drive and surrounding areas are beautiful and well worth the trek north. the guides were really cool, the spots were amazing, our boat was great, and steven (the captain) took awesome care of us. he even fixed our hair out of our mask straps prior to jumping in and was able to spot the humpback whales that everyone else claimed had not arrived yet. i really lucked out with this place, it was referred to me by a shop in hilo and i couldn't have been happier with my first non-training ocean dive. i never felt rushed and they actually had me (happily) be a guinea pig with two instuctors in training...so i had 3 buddies. i have alot of trouble equalizing my ears and it takes me awhile to descend, they were so fun and really patient. i could not have been happier with my experience with this shop & definitely recommend it to anyone staying within a 50 mile radius. read more

I've been diving in Kona 8 times. I love it. However, on my latest trip, my friend and I checked out up North because I'd heard the topography and animal life was much different and not to miss. Kohala Divers were accommodating to our last-minute request to dive with them for one of our days in Kona (we had already booked most days with an operator down on Kona Coast). I had such a wonderful experience with Kohala Divers I had to share some highlights: The shop: Everything you could want-- from basic diving needs to gear to gifts. I met Tracy working the shop and she was super helpful, patient as I looked for new fins... and friendly. The boat: Very clean, lots of seating, well stocked, very smooth and fast. Also, everyone on the boat, from crew to visitors, was having a blast. That's a sign of a good experience all around if you ask me. It seemed like everyone loved diving and nature. I've connected with most everyone on that boat since on FB and can't wait for us to all dive again together! The crew: Dive guide was Flipper--extremely knowledgeable about the marine life, dive sites and safety. We all felt well cared for and had a ton of fun too. My diving buddy for the trip only had 20 or so dives on her and she felt safe, well attended to and was able to really enjoy herself. I've met Flipper previously on a manta dive (and have sent a number of people to dive with him since). His name fits him: He gets "almost" as excited about the ocean world as I do! If you have a chance to dive with Flipper, definitely do. He will make you so excited about the sea that you'll probably end up wanting to become a dive guide yourself. Captain was Stephen: Passionate, knowledgeable, detail-oriented, kind, fun. Also, he took care of everything before and after each dive. He even made sure our masks were defogged right before he got us geared up to go in. We joked that the only thing we didn't get was a massage... The dives: I have about 150 dives in my log and have been to a number of "top places to dive" including Sipadan, Molokini and Pemba. But Kona is amazing. And Kohala Coast is definitely one of my top places to dive! Really interesting topography--apparently, the movie Avatar was inspired by it. Lava tubes, bommies, pinnacles and lively, colorful reefs. And, not another boat around, which made it feel even more special. Also, I didn't use up my air that quickly, so when others went back to the boat, I was able to continue diving with Flipper which was great. The marine life: ABUNDANT. Blue dragon nudis that were much bigger than any I've seen before! Flipper showed us my first bullseye lobster and baby frogfish (floating around). Tons of fish. Great viz and not much current. We got very detailed dive briefings showing us the map of the dive site, as well as pointing us to the pages of the Hoover fish books to highlight specific things we might see. Also, they taught us all the sign language for "R" so that whenever they pointed out a rare/endemic fish, we would know. I highly recommend diving with Kohala Divers. PS: Make sure to ask Dive Guides Flipper and Justin to do an interpretive dance during their first dive briefing of the day! read more

Flipper, Chuck and Captain Stephen are the best. Amazing turtle dive. And the recommendation to get bacon at Mai Grille was spot on.

Kohala Divers were resoundingly professional in their orchestration of a potentially deadly sport, but managed to hit the perfect balance of carefree fun at the same time. They picked us up promptly, took care of all our gear (and anxiety) needs accompanied by smiles and genuine warmth, and took us for an absolutely fantastic half-day of diving. They know the sites, understand the conditions, and read the experience and comfort level of divers quite well. Robin in particular was an absolutely outstanding divemaster- one of the couple most professional, sweet, knowledgeable, and approachable of any I've had in my 100+ dives. Don't go through your resort or travel agency or anything- contact these guys directly, and they'll take care of you. read more

We chose Kohala Divers for the Scattering of Ashes and the Celebration of my husband's life. I would highly recommend this service!! Captain Steven was amazing and Flipper was so helpful. They took the boat out to the exact spot we requested and we had our celebration, scattered the ashes and flowers, said our prayers, and then Captain circled the area three times, blowing his horn one three times for love, honor and respect. It was something that none of our party of 15 will ever forget. I know that most people looking at reviews will be looking for diving and/or snorkleling expereinces, but everyone should know that our experience was very powerful The people in the shop were so professional, caring, fun, loving...can't say enough about this company. read more

This is the best place around the Kohala Coast to get diving great, tour guided diving , really a custom and intimate set up. They always have what I need for outfitting and snorkel, boogie boards, and fins. Thanks for all the help guys!!! read more

Kohala Dovers is an excellent dive company. Their staff is amazing and the location is significantly more convenient to the Kohala Coast Resorts compared to the drive into Kona. I would definitely recommend them to all levels of divers. They will let you dive your computer profile without any worries about having to come up early due to another diver sucking up their air quickly. read more

My wife and I dove three days in a row with Kohala divers (six dives), and every dive was excellent. Neither of us are expert divers: our dive leader, Brooke, was really good at structuring the dive to our skill level. For example, she took us through some lava tubes, but not very narrow ones, as in narrow ones our imperfect buoyancy control might cause us to bump our tanks against the coral. They of course also handle expert divers: one day we went out there was a second, more experienced dive group, who went with a separate dive leader and had much more complex dive plans. Each day, the group was 4-5 divers. We always felt like we were in a small group all diving together: whenever someone noticed something interesting (sea turtle, moray eel, manta ray, etc.), it was easy to point it out to everyone else and share. The captain, Stephen, was excellent. He runs a great ship, is patient, and planned dive sites to maximize our enjoyment. For example, on our last day there was a lot of wind and current, and he asked us if it would be OK to revisit a dive site we'd seen, where it would be much calmer and easier going than the ones we hadn't seen yet. read more

My daughter and husband spent four days diving with these folks. I went out with them on one day to watch the two fishes dive while I snorkeled. Everyone from Tina in the shop to David, Alice, Shannon and Steve on the boat were both friendly and professional. Setting up the dive was a snap and when we had to call them they were courteous and friendly with quick answers to the information we were seeking. My husband and daughter were planning to do only three days of diving, but enjoyed it so much they squeezed in a fourth day. During all of the trips over the four days there were never more than 15 passengers on the boat. The boat staff also made sure that no site was revisited by us. Checking in was a snap and boarding the boat every day a breeze. Each dive briefing was excellent and they almost always found what we were searching for. The level of experience of the other passengers varied greatly but the crew took the necessary steps to ensure that all had the best experience possible. During the dives, the DM would follow the dive plan then end the dive near the boat so that everyone could maximize their time in the water and make their ascents and safety stops when their air hit 700psi. The boat is well laid out with plenty of space to keep dry things dry and away from the wet things. Any extra equipment and weights are stored out of the way. There was plenty of room on the boat to get either under the canopy if you wanted to be out of the sun or splash, or up front on the bow if you wanted to watch for whale sign. My daughter used their gear and was briefed on how to use it. Rather than using a traditional octo as an alternate air source, they use and AirSource integrated into the BC fill/relief valve. My husband uses his own gear and was offered the camera bucket to rinse his regulator and also shown where he could rinse his reg and BC on the dock before taking it home. They even offer to rinse your own gear if you will be diving with them again. On the last day we rented an u/w camera. Steve led one of the dives that day and took the time to show my daughter how to improve at taking pictures of things under water. They also gave her some tips on how to conserve her air during the dives. These guys are the pinnacle of excellence on the north coast. read more

Did an PADI Discover Scuba Diving Course with my 2 kids. Robin did a great job, felt very safe at all time and we had a lot of fun. The whole crew at Kohala Divers is just awesome. Thank you guys. A hui hou read more

Great crew! Wish we had stayed longer to enjoy more dives. We will definitely be back.

Super professional crew and great times for all. One of the best dive crews around.

Great operation! We did 2 dives with Jason and capt. Stephen, we had a small group of only 4 divers so the boat was extra roomy. The boat was super comfortable and loved the warm water shower after the dives. Everything ran smoothly, both jason and stephen gave us good briefings. Jason was very knowledgeable and pointed out many nice fish, my favorite was the dragon wrasse. As a special treat on our second dive we saw a group of dolphins swimming by, very unusual. This is a very professional operation and i would highly recommend them. read more

Got my SCUBA certification and training here. Couldn't imagine a better experience. All of the people are kind, knowledgable and fun. Would recommend Kohala to anyone. Some of their dive sites are less popular but lack nothing. Just an overall unforgettable experience. read more

Tried this outfit for the first time yesterday and unfortunately it will be the last. Captain Steve was a bit cranky to start and seemed to be putout when we made a simple request. (note: 72's are they're standard cylinders and I prefer 80's). He calmed down a bit once we got underway. It's a very small boat was very crowded and while organized in their own way was confusing. Once we left the dock everything went well and the diving was great- lots of sea life on two different reefs. The snacks were marginal at best- all from Costco including a few dry orange slices. Flipper, Josh and Nikki were good and kept everyone safe. Cheesy jokes made the trip back enjoyable. Bring extra cash - tipping is encouraged, encouraged and if you weren't encouraged you were reminded to tip. Had some good dives and good thing I had my GoPro because once was enough with these folks. read more

Excellent crew, safe, fun and educational. These guys know their sea critters. Great service on the boat dealing with my equipment for me - carried to me so I just had to giant stride into the pool. read more

The captain and crew were determined to give everyone on board a safe, enjoyable dive. They couldn't have been more friendly and professional. Terrific experience! read more

This is a very good dive operation. Everyone is super friendly, competent and want you to enjoy your diving experience. They have all the equipment available for sale or rent in their dive shop. Their equipment for rent is in very good condition and well maintained. They were on time! They set up your equipment including weights properly. My only area for improvement was they should then take you to your equipment and physically review its operation with you, not just verbally in the dive briefing. Minor issue but one where a lot of divers won't admit they are not familiar with a piece of equipment in a verbal briefing. The dive briefing was complete and well done regarding dive site. No emergency recall discussed. The dive boat was comfortable and set up well for the diving. On this trip we had seven divers and two Kohala dive masters. The boat did not seem crowded. Well set up entry and exit from the water. They deployed a 15 foot deep safety stop line for reference that contained extra weights if needed. My dive master "Chad" was very knowledgeable and able to spot and show interesting underwater life. Reasonable distance traveled to both dive sites for two tank morning dive. On the way back in to dock saw and circled pods of dolphins. Returned to dock within the scheduled time. read more

We are new to SCUBA and found their instructors, crew and staff to have that amazing combination of professionalism and fun that you only find with people passionate about what they do. The Kohala coast is well worth the drive for endemic fish, lack of crowds and a pod of dolphins that escorted our boat to the dive spots. The photos we got from the dive photographer were high quality and quickly delivered. We got to see things that can be seen with the naked eye. Finally we have to mention Jessica our dive master for the 2 day dive. Her love for the ocean and expert knowledge was inspirational. We'll be back for certification and many dives to come. read more

Definitely a 5 star experience!! Great staff and awesome dive sites. A must for anyone who loves diving and wants to see the best that the Big Island has to offer :) read more

Excellent dive operation. I have dived with them for years, this is my first review. They are nicely located on the north Kohala coast. The boat is nice sized and comfortable. The captain is funny and very experienced. Scott found many interesting sea life. The service was. Great, making it very easy to get in and out of the water with all my equipment. We will always dive with them, they are our go to dive operation. read more

Awesome dive shop. Every dive filled with good people and knowledgable guides. Conditions were awesome. Captain bill is hilarious. Ask to go to the kitchen sink! read more

Have been diving with Kohala Divers for 6 years. Have never had a bad experience with them. They always make you feel like you are on vacation (even if you are a local just grabbing a weekend dive), and that you are the only one who matters when you are on the boat. Dove this weekend with Flipper as DM - he's a hoot! read more

Fantastic diving experience! The Captain & all of the staff are really fun, friendly, helpful & knowledgeable. Their dive sites were amazing, and they really went that extra mile to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves - whether novices like me or seasoned divers, while diving, snorkeling or simply sitting on the boat and whale/ dolphin watching. Looking forward to coming back soon!! Mahalo!! read more

Not our first dive on the Hawaiian islands- but this was our first dive with this company, and we were very happy. They readily answered their dive shop phone when we called to ask questions about conditions, and their website was super easy to use to make the actual booking, pay, and even complete the waivers online. That way when we showed up to dive- it was FAST, 15 minutes to get fitted for wetsuits, head to the boat, get on it, and get out of there. Granted that does require everyone in the group to be on time, which they were. 3 dive masters for a group of 7 divers so the groups were small which was great. They did great breakdowns before the dive about the sites, the wildlife to look out for there, and pointing out what they saw. Bathroom and showers on the boat are a HUGE plus, and they are seriously full services- preparing all the equipment for you, switching it over for you between dives, defogging your mask. My only grip- I wish their snacks were more "islandy" - I could go for some pineapple and maybe malasadas, not Costco cookies and Chex mix. (But of course, snacks are minor!) read more

Great diving outfit. Reasonable rentals, we were in every day of our trip and they never disappointed!

My second visit to Hawaii (big Island) and my second time diving with Kohala Divers. Another great trip, thanks to Steven, Rebeca and Nicky. Good briefings, great stop to watch whales on the surface, and wonderful dives on the west coast. These folks treat you right and really know what they're doing. Highly Recommended, still! read more

All in our group had a great time. Some snorkeled, some did discover scuba. The staff at Kohala was very friendly and helpful. We all especially enjoyed our time with Scuba-Chad. He was very patient and did a great job instructing us. Highly recommend. read more

Visited the dive shop for information on local dive sites. Got about 30 seconds of excellent information, but then the shop operator felt it was more important to make a long personal phone call. Disappointing experience compared to Jack's or Big Island Divers in Kona where the staffs were both very helpful and your needs took precedence over personal phone calls For being a small shop they had an excellent selection of equipment. Given the previous reviews sounds like my experience, which did not involve diving with them may have been an anomaly. read more

Great dive shop. Got both of my boys certified during the week supported by a very flexible and creative staff and awesome instructors. Dive spots were close and interesting. Will definitely return. Thanks Nicki, Justin, Tony, Chad, Bill and Steve! read more