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

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!!

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!!

Wow!!! Another incredible manta ray night snorkel with Kona Ocean Adventures!…read more The team are pros and the experience is like nothing else. Majestic, magical, and beyond memorable! We again saw a continuous flow of mantas and all felt the magic of them touch us as they glided past. I'm sadly prone to sea sickness. But the team took great care of me. And the experience and memories far outweigh the discomfort. Highly recommend this when you visit the Big Island. It's not to be missed!

TLDR: Paddling to Captain Cook was a blast and we got to see an abundance of wildlife on what felt…read morelike a super curated tour by our amazing guide, Nina! If you're considering taking the Historical Hawaiian Outrigger tour with Ehu & Kai, consider this a sign to DO IT! From start to finish, this felt like an experience tailored for our group, supported by the friendliest, chillest staff. A special shout out to the friendly helpers on land who were incredibly fun and out-of-this-world friendly! Our tremendous guide, Nina, went above and beyond to curate an exceptional experience. From the lively banter and building camaraderie between a group of strangers sharing an outrigger to maximizing the amount of wildlife we got to see, being out on the water with this crew felt like being out with a group that's known each other for ages. Along the way, we got historical facts about the area, got to snorkel with an abundance of wildlife, and even enjoyed a visit from a pod of dolphins! Nina--you're truly one of a kind and I cannot thank you enough for being so friendly and thoughtful in your approach to this tour. Sadly, our tour was Nina's last before she heads out for a bit. Here's hoping we'll see her back at Ehu & Kai before we know it!

Memorable, unique, exciting experience with a friendly, helpful attendant to get you on your way…read more We saw dolphins and tons of fish. It took us about 30 mins each way to get there and back. Five stars with the caveat that no one was there when we arrived at 9:00 am (the time we booked online). After about 10 minutes or so, the employee appeared (didn't get his name, unfortunately). As other reviewers note, this place is just a table at the end of a road with a bunch of kayaks and a guy who will rent them to you. Don't expect storage for your belongings or bathrooms. Parking is along the street. All that being said, they give you this info in advance, so you should be prepared. We had our own snorkel gear (or did before I lost mine in the ocean later that day ha ha) so we only needed the kayak and dry bag. A dry bag is necessary (see "lost my gear in the ocean"). The employee gives you all the info you need to find your way to the snorkeling area and back. He said they "lose" about one party a day who overshoots the entrance to the cove when returning and they have to go rescue them. Don't be that person! Once at the snorkeling spot near the monument, you'll see lots of other people and boats, but once you're underwater, you won't notice them - it's like swimming in an aquarium. You need to keep your kayak with you at all times, so if you're paddling with someone else, consider taking turns holding the kayaks and snorkeling. You aren't allowed to dock or approach the shore (this is a hard rule - surly tour guides will yell at you if you get too close). Keep in mind that getting in and out of a kayak in the open ocean is not the same as doing that on the shore or in shallow water. There's no shallow water here at all, so practice in advance or consider taking a tour boat if that's not something you're comfortable with.

What an amazing once in a lifetime experience!…read more For the booking experience, I learned that Kahaluu-Keauhou is better to coast from than the north because it's only a few minutes to get to the destination versus 30 minutes. I emailed them for pricing which we paid $140 in cash, $70 per person and booked with them that way. We were able to find free street parking near the dock so that was perfect for us. We were next to their booth so we paid and I also rented out a wetsuit for $10 since I do get cold very easily. We brought our own snorkeling gear but they do have some for you to use. At the dock, you can leave your belongings in one of the staff member's cars and your shoes in a plastic bin outside. They really emphasize that you need to be a strong swimmer but all you need to do is doggy paddle about 10 feet and you're fine. You'll also have a pool noodle with you for some support and you'll immediately hold onto the board. The water was quite choppy during the experience and coming back, I did get a little queasy on the way back. The experience itself was absolutely amazing. You swim out to the board with a pool noodle. You rest your feet on it to stay horizontal to the water so that you don't touch the manta rays. Important you DO NOT touch them because it harms their immune system. One of the folks who came with us tried to touch them and it was ruining the experience for some of us. Nonetheless, it's amazing how close they get to your face and they are massive!!

Absolutely RAYdiant from start to finish! Peyton, Jacob, and Koa made this experience completely…read moreenjoyable. They kept us safe, made sure we had everything we needed, and created such a fun atmosphere the entire night. The tour started right on time and everything was so smooth and well organized. Seeing a whole group of manta rays glide beneath us was one of the most magical experiences we've ever had. The crew knew exactly where to position us for the best views and made the entire experience stress-free and unforgettable. Our manta-festations came true. If you're thinking about booking with My Kona Adventures don't let this opportunity swim away. This tour was aRAYzing and definitely the highlight of our trip. Mahalo Peyton, Jacob, and Koa for helping us have such a manta-stic night!

Aloha, Night snorkeling with the Manta Rays, through Dolphin…read moreDiscoveries, was the most AMAZING experience ever! From check-in to the boat crew all personnel were kind, caring, and very knowledgeable and informative about equipment fittings and marine life. I would love to give a shout out to the June 22, 2026 7:00 tour boat crew (Jack, Brayden, the captain, ship mate, and other diver. Sorry couldn't remember all crew members names). They all did a wonderful job of explaining exactly what was to be expected while snorkeling, and how to stay calm while the manta rays get up close and personal. Jack and Brayden did an excellent job of explaining the life of manta rays and how to identify each one while we were in the water. A big thank you to Brayden for be encouraging and keeping me calm while in the water. He knew I was a good swimmer, but am very nervous in deep water. Brayden was very good at informing us when a ray was getting close and to just stay still and calm if one were to get too close to our bodies. He did a wonderful job with keeping us safe, informed with marine life, and gave clear directions as to what we needed to do to get in the water, while we were in the water, and with how to get out of the water back onto the boat. Mahalo (Thank you) Dolphin Discoveries Crew for a wonderful night snorkel with the manta rays! I would highly recommend this excursion to anyone that is visiting the island of Hawaii!! It is a once and a life time experience and well worth the money you pay to go on the excursion.

Our manta ray experience with Dolphin Discoveries at 8:30 on 7/25/26 was outstanding from start to…read morefinish! From the moment we arrived, the team was welcoming, organized, and enthusiastic. Directions were clear, parking was busy but easy (out of anyone's control), and Brayden greeted everyone immediately upon his return from the previous trip. He was confident, professional, and kept the entire group informed, organized, and comfortable throughout the experience. Once aboard, the captain and his female crew member, Brayden and Carlo made sure everyone was safely seated, equipped, and ready to go. The captain operated the boat with confidence and precision, making us feel safe the entire time. I'm someone who gets sea sick very easily, but the trip and a quick 3 min ride out. He positioned the boat quickly and we were in the water within a couple of minutes. In the water Brayden and Carlo constantly communicated, positioning the float so we could focus entirely on the manta rays instead of worrying about other groups or drifting. Brayden was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing facts about the mantas, calling out their names and pointing them out as they approached, and making sure everyone had the best possible view. We never had to think about anything except enjoying the experience with our family. Getting back on the boat and returning to the dock was just as seamless. Within moments of tying up, our shoes were lined up waiting for us, and we were on our way. This is a first-class operation with an exceptional crew. We couldn't recommend Dolphin Discoveries more highly and will absolutely book with them again the next time we're on the Big Island!

We returned here for our third time, each time has been great. Kayak across the bay to the spot…read morewhere Captain Cook met Kamehameha and lost his life. Now it's a nice snorkel spot. Pick up your gear at Honaunau Poke - eat there after your trip. Ask for a discount.

Rented kayaks from here to specifically look for the dolphins in the Kealakelua Bay…read more Rental is right on the water so it's really simple to get into the bay. Equipment was good so no complaints. Saw a pod of 20 dolphins and the snorkeling was also amazing near cooks monument.