Easy to arrange, good communication before dive date…read more Daniel was great on all briefings, great spots, really good debriefs. Everyone was great!

I can't say enough good things about Kona Diving Company. We have dove with them on three separate…read moretrips to the Big Island and absolutely love them. We've done morning dives, the manta dive, as well as the twilight and night dive and every experience has been incredible. The staff is fantastic and always takes such great care of us. I would recommend this shop to both new divers and seasoned divers alike. We've met some really amazing people through these trips and every outing has been organized, safe, and genuinely fun. The boat is spacious, they provide snacks and drinks during the surface interval, and they handle all of your gear setup which makes everything so easy and stress free. The team is super knowledgeable and does a great job grouping divers based on experience level so everyone has a good time. I'd also love to give a big shout out to Daniel and Cody who are always a blast and so much fun to dive with. Maxine is an awesome boat captain and Ashley was incredible dive master as well. She led our manta dive a year ago, gave such a great pre dive presentation, and was super thoughtful and fun to dive with on two separate occasions. Honestly, because of this dive shop we keep coming back to the Big Island and continue rebooking with them every trip. Highly recommend and I wouldn't look anywhere else for diving in Kona!

I completed my open water scuba certification with BID, and it was a great experience. With over…read more11,000 hours of dive experience, my instructor, Fernando, was the best. He was patient, knowledgeable, encouraging, and supportive. The night dive with the mantas was out of this world! Our captain, Micha, along with her crew, and our dive captain, Haley were all top notch! I'm planning my return trip for 2027. I highly recommend the outfit!

Hubby went on a pelagic black water dive the night before and was very impressed with the…read moreprofessionalism of Fernando and Ashton. We've been on several black water dives before and day are part of our top list. The next day we took apart in the two tank afternoon dive and manta dive. Again, Fernando and Ashton were very thorough with the dive briefing and safety. I particularly liked how he emphasized not standing or touching the reef as well as not harassing the wildlife. I've witnessed many dive masters, who don't do this perhaps fearing unsatisfied or offended guests? I also really liked how Hawaiian culture was integrated into the dive briefings. Under the water, he helped spot various endemic creatures. Another thing we really liked for the manta dive was the small group. On past excursions we've been with larger groups and were later to the site. Whereas this time we were first to the site and we were treated to a spectacular showing of mantas. Overall, we had an amazing experience with Big Island Divers.

My wife, Kallie, and I had not done a full open-water dive since 2017, so when we planned our Kona…read moretrip, we decided to return to Jack's Diving Locker--the same company we had dived with back in 2008, according to our dive logs. The booking process was extremely easy. I called with several questions, and the staff was helpful, informative, and reassuring. Because it had been so long since our last actual dive, we chose to book a private divemaster for the two of us. We had completed a refresher in June 2025 for a planned dive weekend that unfortunately never happened, so we knew we would probably be a little rusty. Jack's also saved the day before we even got in the water. My personal Atomic prescription mask unexpectedly failed when the strap attachment tore out of the mask itself. I was worried I would either have to cancel or spend the dives as "Mr. Magoo," but the shop had prescription masks available and fitted me with one that worked perfectly. That level of preparedness and customer service made the entire dive day possible for me. Our divemaster, Sabrina, was absolutely fantastic. She was pleasant, friendly, social, knowledgeable, and incredibly patient throughout the entire experience. During our first dive, I had some difficulty clearing my ears. Sabrina stayed calm and helped me work through it, reminding me of techniques I had used years ago when I was diving more regularly and occasionally had "bad ear days." Both Kallie and I were a little rusty on that first dive, but Sabrina never rushed us or made us feel uncomfortable. By the second dive, my ear issues had resolved, we were both much more relaxed, and the old muscle memory started coming back--including some of what I learned during my Peak Performance Buoyancy certification. The difference between the first and second dives was huge, and Sabrina's patience and guidance were a major reason why. Sabrina also went above and beyond outside the dives themselves. While chatting with us about the rest of our trip, she recommended the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm as a "must visit." We had somehow missed it in our planning, immediately looked it up, and booked the VIP experience, where Kallie and I each get to hold a seahorse twice. That recommendation made our trip even better. I would recommend Jack's Diving Locker--and Sabrina as a private divemaster--**100,000% and without hesitation** to anyone, especially divers returning after a long break. The entire experience was professional, safe, relaxed, accommodating, and genuinely fun. Sabrina also took all of the underwater photos from our dive day, which gave us some fantastic memories of the experience: https://arroyo.smugmug.com/2026-Photos-and-Pics/HI-Vacation-Big-Island/Day-3-Kona-Diving

We dove with Jacks on both their classic and advanced dive tours. Great fun! Keller with his fun…read morevideos and photos were an added bonus! The boats are fast, comfortable and well equipped (including a warm shower after the dives)! A light meal between dives was perfect too. Enjoyed all the crew and dive masters and since we love diving the Big Island, we will be back! Mahalo Team Jack's

We've done the night manta ray snorkel with Kona Ocean Adventures many times, and there's a reason…read morewe keep coming back! This was my 5th trip, my parents' 9th, and my kids' 3rd--and we wouldn't choose anyone else. The crew is consistently professional, knowledgeable, and focused on both safety and making sure everyone has an unforgettable experience. They genuinely care about the mantas and the guests, and you can tell they love what they do. Every trip has been incredible, and Kona Ocean Adventures has continued to deliver a first-class experience! If you're trying to decide which company to book with, stop looking--Kona Ocean Adventures is the one. We'll be back again and again. Mahalo for another amazing night!

What an amazing experience! We were a group of scuba divers and a snorkeler. We had 2 dive/snorkel…read morespots. This first dive we saw a shark, fish, and an eel. The 2nd dive was incredible!! We sat at the bottom of the ocean with lights and HUGE manta rays swam all around us! Kate was our dive guide and I can't remember the snorkel guides name but they were both great! I hadn't dove in about 2 years and Kate was so patient with me. I was a little nervous but she made me feel at ease. My husband even saw a baby tiger shark when he was snorkeling! They provided fruit, hummus sandwiches and drinks. If you're on the Big Island this is a must! They even took go pro videos and sent them to us!!

Very professional and friendly crew! Did the night manta dive (July 2026) and was an incredible…read moreexperience. Sarah gave an informative and entertaining dive briefing and kept a close eye on all of us as we were mesmerized by the many mantas! The mantas were magnificent and graceful as they fed on the natural plankton in the water. Many times had to duck my head down they were swimming so close to me. Highly recommend this experience with Kona Honu divers!

Went on a two-tank morning dive with Kona Honu Divers on 07/17/2026. From the time I signed up…read moreuntil I was shaking hands with Captain John, their communication and customer service were excellent. No problems finding the boat at the Marina, and the dive staff that day were beyond outstanding. Anna, Sara, and Captain John made these dives the best dive trip I have ever taken. I was placed with dive pro Anna, and from the very start she exuded confidence and experience you always hope for when going on a dive with a dive group you have never been with before. Safety was paramount, and nothing was left to chance before we set off into the deep blue. When your dive master and dive pros are just as excited to see marine life as the divers are, you know you are on the right boat. It made the dives so much more fulfilling for me, seeing Anna so excited to find us and point out different marine life during our dives. Anna is a true "Ocean Whisperer," and I will absolutely seek her out and Kona Honu Divers in the future when I return to Kona, HI. Thank you, Anna, for the great dives you took us on and your passion for diving, the ocean, and all that is in it! Thank you, Kona Honu divers, for providing the absolutely best diving experience anyone can ask for.....til next time! Mahalo!!

We had the absolute best experience diving with Aquatic Life Divers. From start to finish, the…read moreentire crew--Carlos, Mary, Kim, and Dylan--were beyond incredible. You can tell right away that they genuinely care about what they do and about making sure every diver feels safe, and comfortable. We did a discover dive with Kim, and we truly cannot say enough amazing things about her. She was so patient, calm, and encouraging every step of the way. She took the time to explain everything clearly, checked in often to make sure we felt comfortable. If we were nervous at any point, she immediately picked up on it and helped us relax. Because of her, we were able to fully enjoy the experience and take in how beautiful everything underwater was. The rest of the crew was just as fantastic. Carlos, Mary, and Dylan all brought such a great energy--friendly, professional, and super knowledgeable. They worked together seamlessly, making everything feel organized and easy, while also keeping the vibe fun and relaxed. If you're even thinking about diving, this is 100% the team you want to go with. We would recommend them to anyone, whether it's your first dive or your hundredth. Such an unforgettable experience--we'll definitely be back!

The Manta Ray night snorkel was incredible and majestic! My two sons and I went on the tour with…read moreCaleigh and she took us to the best spot. We saw 4 mantas, two of which did a full barrel roll directly underneath us! They were so close it was almost as if we could touch them. A truly unforgettable experience and I found myself giggling with how unbelievable it was to be so close to such incredible animals. Highly recommend Aquatic Life Divers with Caleigh and the next time we're back in Kona, we'll be using them for another tour.

I had a blast on this daytime snorkeling tour. I got to climb aboard the RIB navy seal type boat,…read moreit felt like an adventure. The guides took the tour out to the Captain Cook Monument, where the snorkeling was cool. The water was clear, the marine life plenty, and it ended up being one of the best snorkeling spots I've experienced. One tip: be sure to rent the flippers when you sign up. They made a huge difference and helped a lot in the water. They are not provided from the all in tour price. For the tour price you get the ride and snorkel mask with a floaty. They also rent life jackets if you need that. This tour is definitely geared toward people who are comfortable swimming and being on an open-air boat. If you're nervous in the water or can't swim or prefer a more relaxed boat ride, this isn't it. If you're looking for excitement, it's hard to beat. What really made the experience special were the crew members. Our captain and lifeguard were laid-back, friendly, and made everyone feel safe while keeping the atmosphere fun. The highlight for me was racing along the coastline at nearly 50 knots, bouncing across the waves and taking in incredible views of the island. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Think twice before booking with this company…read more I chose this excursion because it was shorter (2.5 hours) while still including snorkeling and a tour of the Captain Cook area. Unfortunately, the experience did not meet expectations. The first issue was the check-in process. The confirmation email tells guests where to meet but does not provide clear instructions on where to check in. Parking at this harbor is extremely limited, and Kona traffic can be very congested. Ironically, the company's own confirmation email emphasizes allowing a one-hour buffer before and after the tour and specifically advises guests not to schedule anything within an hour of the excursion. That warning exists for a reason. Despite everyone else arriving on time, our departure was delayed by nearly 30 minutes because the crew chose to wait for two guests who were stuck in traffic. As a result, every passenger who arrived as instructed lost approximately 30 minutes of a tour they had paid for while standing in the heat waiting. It felt unfair that those who planned accordingly were penalized because others did not. I expressed my irritation to the lifeguard assigned to our boat and was met with a dismissive response rather than an acknowledgment of the inconvenience. Once we finally departed, the captain welcomed everyone and said to let the crew know if we needed anything. During the safety briefing, I asked if my son could have some water. Instead of simply providing it or explaining when it would be available, I received a sarcastic response, and my son was not given any water. While the scenery and destination are beautiful, the customer service and handling of these situations left much to be desired. Better communication, adherence to the published schedule, and more respectful interactions with guests would have made for a much better experience.

Went whale watching first charter of season, 12/22/25, got plenty of action!…read moreSpouts, 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

These guys is so pilau... Park their boat infront the poles when we already have everything set up…read more We called them and they said there's nothing they can do... Thats so unsafe these guys don't care about your safety

Our Waikoloa Scouts Troop and families went on our annual whale watch on March 8 aboard Sea Smoke…read morewith Ocean Sports, and after doing this outing for more than 9 years, I can honestly say this was one of the best trips yet. We had about 30 Scouts and family members join us, and the whales absolutely showed up! We saw pods everywhere, tail slaps, and even a full breach. The highlight was when a humpback surfaced about 10 yards from the boat, giving the kids a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The crew also dropped the hydrophone, allowing everyone to hear the whales singing underwater, which was an incredible learning experience for the Scouts. Moments like that truly connect our youth with the ocean and the amazing wildlife here in Hawaiʻi. Ocean Sports continues to impress us every year. Booking was easy, waivers were handled electronically, check-in was smooth, parking simple, and the hospitality from the crew was outstanding. They were knowledgeable, welcoming, and fantastic with the kids. Mahalo to the entire Sea Smoke crew for sharing the ocean with us and helping create such an unforgettable adventure for our Scouts and families. Your aloha spirit and professionalism make this trip something we look forward to every year. Highly recommend Ocean Sports whale watch tours!

Buddy was the rudest, most insulting employee I've encountered at any type of Company, let alone a…read morehospitality business in the last 30 years. Zero stars merited.