1. Kona Honu Divers

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    Kailua-kona, HI

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    Kona Honu Divers

    4.8 (410 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Coming up from garden eel cover afternoon dive before manta night dive!
    Sarah S.

    My husband and I had a fantastic anniversary dive with Jospeh from Kona Honu Divers. He was great at briefing us and making sure we were all taken care of throughout the expedition. They were efficient and detailed at getting all of our gear organized and prepared and got all our sizing and weights right. We got the 2 tank manta dive package. The first dive was a tour of the reef where our manta dive would be. It was really great. We saw octopus, flounders, boxfish, Eels, shrimp, garden eels! And even a manta came to visit early! I like that they let divers stay down until their air is low instead of making everyone surface at the same time. I was able to get a while longer exploring the reef even after a few of our members surfaced which game me the chance to see the manga before sunset. In between the the dives they had sandwiches and snacks for us and I took full advantage of the hot shower. We also got visited by one of the 6 monk seals on the island that likes to rub up on the boats ropes. It was awesome to see up close. Then came the show of a life time...the Manta dive. This one can't be put into words. You just HAVE to do it. It was a life changing experience. I was in awe the full 45 minutes as many as swooped above my head, brushing me occasionally and dancing at the "campfire" (the viewing area, where we all gather and kneel to watch the mantas eat the plankton that gets attracted to the lights. Do not miss this chance of a life time dive. We scheduled with 2 other dive companies for this Tuesday night dive and they both canceled on us because there were not enough sign ups. Kona Honu Divers was luckily running a scuba dive that we got onto and the other divers were so great to get to know. It was a great grouping of people: captain, divers, dive masters and all.

    Anna and us.

    Great dives. Great dive guides and instructors. Best manta ray dive ever. Highly recommend. Would do this again and again.

    Brandon W.

    Sarah and Elias are wonderful instructors. Very friendly and eager to see us learn. Fantastic pace and communication skills. Learning how to SCUBA was a bit daunting at first, but thanks to these two and Capt John, it feels more like "fun" than a "class". My only regret was not doing this sooner.

    A female manta that circled us for 10 minutes.
    Chad K.

    This was my third time diving with Kona Honu Divers, and every experience has been outstanding. I get one special dive day each summer during our family vacation, and I always look forward to spending it with this amazing team. Taka has been the boat captain all three years ('23, '24, and '25), and he's consistently cheerful, helpful, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable -- a true highlight of the trip. Each year, I've booked the advanced long-range charter, and this time I had the pleasure of diving with Sarah as our guide. She was fantastic -- attentive, enthusiastic, and great at pointing out underwater life I never would have spotted on my own. One unforgettable moment was encountering a beautiful female manta ray who gracefully looped around us for nearly ten minutes -- a magical experience! Although we only made it to a true long-range site one year (due to weather in '24 and a small group in '25), every dive has been excellent. Even with a smaller group this time, the team made sure the experience was top-notch. We repeated "Touch of Grey" on this trip, and it was just as stunning the second time around. I can't recommend Kona Honu Divers enough. They're professional, friendly, and passionate about what they do -- truly the best dive outfit on the island!

    Oceanic White Tip Shark!
    Justin S.

    I had a great time diving with Sarah and Taka with Kona Honu Divers yesterday. I was on the long range advanced boat which was great for more advanced divers. We even got to snorkel with some pilot whales on the way to our dive site, as well as see Mahi Mahi and an Oceanic Whitetip Shark! This was a highlight of the trip for me. The dive sites were amazing as well and Sarah was an excellent guide. We went to Au Au Crater and Twin Sisters sites which had excellent reef structure.

    Box jellyfish

    All around awesome experience with Jeff and captain Mo. If you are going to do a backwater dive this is the shop . Jeff wrote the book on black water dive creatures in Hawaii . He has an incredible amount of knowledge that he freely shares.

    Porcupine Fish
    Doug B.

    I've dove all over the world, and Kona Honu Divers is one of the best outfits I've dove with. Look no further for Big Island diving. The manta night dive was excellent. What a cool experience. 5* service, 5* equipment, 5* boat, and even 5* effort from the mantas The manta night dive is a bit pricey (~$230) but lives up to the hype. At one point, we had three mantas in the mix and a 4th circling the snorkelers 40' above us. AMAZING, AMAZING experience. We were met at the skip at 2:45pm and departed after 3pm once everyone showed up. The first dive is a daytime dive in the vicinity of the manta "campfire" area. The campfire is the spot where they have all the lights to attract the plankton which the manta feed on. It does look like a campfire. Safety and service from the Team was superb. Thanks to Matt, Joseph, and Captain Andy. They grabbed our gear, set it up, and got us all ready (~5 people per guide). It was a 30 min ride to the site. I think we do the 1st dive in the same spot to get a spot early. We were told that it can get very, very crowded with boats. Great experience. I wish I'd had more time for some regular dives with the group. Lots of fun. Great effort. Easy, easy 5* experience. Definitely look no further for Big Island diving.

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    6 months ago

    A very pleasant and professional crew. A nice big boat too! The Night Manta Ray dive is awesome!

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    7 months ago

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    3 months ago

    I love Kona Honu Divers! They have everything needed for water play Hannick and Liz and Connor are the best!

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    Byron K.

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    3 months ago

    great dive masters, great equipment, and good times!! they were patient and helpful and very friendly.

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    1 year ago

    love the shop! super cute merch especially the array of masks and snorkel gear. My littles love the stickers..and shop dog.

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    Review Highlights - Kona Honu Divers

    We were thrilled Kona Honu was open for business because it's been a bucket list to dive with the manta rays.

    Mentioned in 74 reviews

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    Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii

    Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii

    4.8
    (173 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Our group had a fantastic experience with Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii. The directions were accurate,…read moreeverything was well organized, and the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful from start to finish. Our crew included Mike, Justin, Eric, and another Mike (I think!). I wish they had introduced themselves a little more clearly because every one of them deserved recognition--they were all fantastic. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, but what stood out most was how genuinely respectful and non-judgmental the entire crew was. At many popular tourist attractions, it's understandable that after giving the same presentation countless times, things can start to feel rushed or impersonal. That was absolutely not the case here. Every crew member seemed genuinely happy to be there. They welcomed every question with patience and respect, and if the answer to something was "no," they took the time to explain why instead of simply dismissing it. As a parent, I especially appreciated this because it's just as valuable for children as it is for adults. Justin did an amazing job teaching us about manta rays before we got in the water. He took the time to show everyone charts and photos, explain their behavior, and answer questions. It made the experience much more meaningful than simply showing up and jumping in the water. Once we were in the water, one of my kids became a little overwhelmed by all the gear and new variables. Mike handled it beautifully. He stayed calm, encouraged them to sit on top of the float board until they felt comfortable, and made sure they were doing okay before moving the board farther from the boat. That patience and reassurance made a huge difference. I have two suggestions that aren't complaints at all--just ideas that I think would make an already excellent experience even better. First, it would be helpful to give guests a quick overview of the evening at the very beginning. Something like: "We'll have about a __-minute boat ride out, anchor at the site, pass out and fit gear, wait for sunset, then enter the water one at a time and hold onto the floating boards for about 45 minutes before returning to the boat and heading back to the harbor." Having that roadmap would have helped both my kids and me know exactly what to expect. Second, I would recommend letting guests know to bring an extra towel to sit on during the boat ride. The ridged metal benches became a little uncomfortable after a while, and a folded towel would have made a big difference (we were allowed to move around the boat which was also awesome- just for those who didn't want to). Overall, this was an incredible experience. We came for the manta rays, but what we'll remember just as much is the crew. They were knowledgeable, professional, patient, and genuinely passionate about what they do. We felt welcomed as people--not just another group of tourists--and that made all the difference. I would absolutely recommend Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii.

    We did 3 dives with Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii. We did a 2 tank morning charter and the night manta…read moreray dive. This place is top notch. They even have sandwiches for you after diving, pineapples, drinks and all sorts of snacks. The crew is outstanding. We do iced with Kenny all day. Very nice guy, lots of experience. The water is very cold in my opinion, too cold for 3mm. So if you want to be more prepared bring a 5mm. Especially for the night dive. We came in March and my husband and I were both freezing. Lesson learned. During the night dive, your GoPro will work without any lighting because they light up the entire area with 6000 lumen lights in a "campfire" circle. It was the coolest thing to see those manta rays! We even got a show by an eel dancing around. Anytime we come back, we will dive with this company. They are amazing!

    Photos
    Sunset 3/11/25
    Sunset 3/11/25
    Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii
    Sunset 3/11/25

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    Sunset 3/11/25
    Aquatic Life Divers

    Aquatic Life Divers

    5.0
    (160 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Woohoo!
    Woohoo!
    Mantas
    Mantas
    Divemaster Tara - Finder of All Things

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    Divemaster Tara - Finder of All Things
    Pacific Rim Divers

    Pacific Rim Divers

    4.9
    (45 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Just getting back into diving. This was my third trip to HI in 3 months and this was my first with…read morePacific Rim Divers. Where to start? As their website says, "Small groups and a relaxed atmosphere." We hadn't even left the harbor and it felt like I'd known them forever. While very easy going, the all female (clearly very experienced and professional) crew is right on top of the smallest detail, catching gotchas before you make a splash. After each dive, if they noticed something that might prove beneficial (weight, trim, danglies, etc) they were right there offering a solution if you want it. What an outstanding operation! Then there's the Kona coast diving. From mantas and eels and turtles, down to the tiniest nudies, This gang knew and found them all. I was new to underwater photography for this trip and was pleasantly surprised that a few of the crew were into it big time.,They helped a ton, from camera buoyancy and balance to setting up shots underwater and then rinsing/handling my gear after I handed it up. I did get some amazing shots! Kudos to the owner Kai, for putting together an outstanding crew of captains/divemasters. This will absolutely be my go to boat for Kona diving!

    Kai and her crew are wonderful. We left the boat wishing we had scheduled more dives with them!…read more They took us to two different spots and showed us some wonderful fish. Their joyful glee in sharing their scuba world was contagious and made the dives far more enjoyable. They had that kid in a candy store joy when seeing fish underwater and were quite knowledgeable in identifying every fish in the reef. They start earlier then the other shops so you get to the dive spots before those boats arrive and don't have to spend time bouncing around trying to find room along the shoreline. I didn't realize until a few days later how beneficial it was to be the early bird in that ocean. I rented all my gear from them and the quality of the wetsuit and BCD was the best of the three dive shops I used while in Hawaii. I am typically first to return and enjoyed my time getting to know the captain while waiting on the other divers. It felt like talking to an old friend. The snacks provided were a mix of anything one might desire, they had cheese, apples, trail mix, and homemade brownies! The only boat I want to use for future dives in Kona!!

    Photos
    Birthday fun!
    Birthday fun!
    Pacific Rim Divers
    Found a a tiny Frog Fish!  Come see!!

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    Found a a tiny Frog Fish! Come see!!
    Kona Manta Diving

    Kona Manta Diving

    5.0
    (3 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Took family on the Manta Ray night dive. The experience was amazing. Saw up to 6 Manta Rays inches…read morefrom me. You a tell the difference from there spot on their under belly''s. The crew was also mazing and explained in detail what we would be experiencing from how to enter the water, how to float and relax, how the Manta Ray encounter experience would be, and most importantly how to protect the Mantas by not touching them. My wife was hesitant to get in the water having never snorkeled. She decided to remain on boat. Captain John cautiously maneuvered boat so she could see them yet not risking swimmer in the water. They run smaller boats to allow them the do that. A lot of the bigger boats out there would never have been able to do that for my wife. Definitely would go again with the Kona Manta Diving.

    Many had recommended this activity, so we had to give it a try. I had some trepidation about…read morenight-time diving, length of activity, and getting cold. I didn't need to. The team (especially Mads, our guide) made this easy. We held onto a surfboard which had a light to attract the plankton, and the mantas came to us to feed. It was easy, and it was spectacular! My husband and I had debated whether to scuba or snorkel the adventure. I'm not sure how the scuba experience could have been better as the mantas came within inches of us over he course of the dive, putting on their own show. Truly wonderful experience. Kudos to the entire team (including the boat captain) who made this such a wonderful experience!

    Kona Wildlife Adventures

    Kona Wildlife Adventures

    5.0
    (4 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    What an awesome time! I would wholeheartedly recommend Kona Adventures if you are looking to have…read morea once in a lifetime experience with a great group of people. From the beginning our tour guides, Brie and Natalie were so helpful and sweet. They remembered all of our names in the party of 11. They explained the process from the beginning to the end, and were very patient in answering all of our questions as well as all the kids. Captain Jared was also great. He was always asking if we were okay and if we were having a great time. As soon as we were all suited with wetsuits and snorkeling gear and went into the water, we immediately saw a giant manta ray who came up close. The kids all started freaking out and were yelling with excitement through their scuba gear. Again, Brie and Natalie were awesome in the water. They asked if we were all okay and they were just so wonderful. Unfortunately, two of us in the group got seasick, but Brie, while holding a kid swam us back to the boat. Although the boat was not close, I felt safe in the water and felt like we were being escorted back to the boat by Wonder Woman. I truly believed she could of saved all 3 of us if needed. The captain was also kind to my friend and me and offered us advice on trying to feel better. He offered us beverages and a small snack if we wanted. Once the rest of the group finished, they all had snacks and drinks waiting for them. In the end, we all had an awesome and unforgettable time. The whole group had a once in a lifetime experience and were guided by knowledgeable, friendly, and a wonderful group of people. We are so thankful for them and would highly recommend them.

    Thumbs UP! Brey and Jared were friendly, informative, and remembered everyone's name. My wife…read moregets seasick and Brey had a calming influence. Jared was able to tell me the history of Mantas in Hawaii. On our trip we had a monk seal follow us around. She was huge and friendly. I had to back away because she wanted to kiss me!

    Photos
    Freediving with sharks.
    Freediving with sharks.
    Scuba dive with us at our favorite Kona spots; tell us what you want to see and we'll plan our destinations accordingly.
    Scuba dive with us at our favorite Kona spots; tell us what you want to see and we'll plan our destinations accordingly.
    A turtle encounter on a reef snorkel.

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    A turtle encounter on a reef snorkel.
    Kona Diving Company

    Kona Diving Company

    4.9
    (331 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    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!

    Photos
    Underground camp fire to Attract the rays.
    Underground camp fire to Attract the rays.
    Tiny Pom-Pom Crab
    Tiny Pom-Pom Crab
    Sunset

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    Sunset

    Kona Honu Divers - scuba - Updated July 2026

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