The Big Island’s underwater geology is unlike the rest of Hawaiʻi. Lava flows have created arches, lava tubes, and drop-offs at depths reachable on a single tank. Visibility on the Kohala Coast regularly exceeds 100 feet on clear days, and the nutrient-rich water supports a higher density of large pelagic species than most of the state. Hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and Hawaiian monk seals have all been documented at accessible dive sites.
Guided dive tours depart from Kona and the Kohala Coast starting around $169 per person for a two-tank boat dive. Shore entries are free or low cost at several sites including Puakō, 2 Step at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, and Kealakekua Bay. Most operators on the island also run dedicated night dives, the most popular of which is the manta ray night dive at Garden Eel Cove, a separate experience with its own booking logistics.
If you need certification, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) open water courses run on the island through several operators, typically over three to four days. A resort course, also called a discover scuba or intro dive, takes about a half day and requires no prior experience. Either route puts you in the water at dive-quality sites, not a hotel pool.
Table of contents
- Comparison map
- Diving or snorkeling? A practical comparison
- Dive sites and conditions
- Kohala Coast Operators
- Kailua Kona Operators
- The manta ray night dive
- Getting PADI certified
- Scuba diving safety tips
Table of Contents
- Comparison map
- Diving or snorkeling? A practical comparison
- Dive sites and conditions
- Kohala Coast Operators
- Kailua Kona Operators
- The manta ray night dive
- Getting PADI certified
- Scuba diving safety tips
Six dive operators compared: price, duration, and region
Six operators run guided two-tank morning dives on the Big Island, split between the Kohala Coast and Kona. The table below shows standard two-tank pricing and duration for each. Full details on sites, group size, gear, and what guests report are in the operator sections further down.
| Name | Duration | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| 1Torpedo Tours (Details ↓) | 4.5 hours | $169 |
| 2Big Island Divers (Details ↓) | 5.5 hours | $179 |
| 3Hilo Ocean Adventures (Details ↓) | 2.5 hours | $189 |
| 4Jack's Diving Locker (Details ↓) | 6 hours | $200 |
| 5Kohala Divers (Details ↓) | 6 hours | $209 |
| 6Puako Dive Adventures (Details ↓) | 4.5 hours | $210 |
| 7Kona Honu Divers (Details ↓) | 5 hours | $219 |
| * Prices are for 2 tank morning dives. Full details on available dives, group size, gear, and what guests report, are in the operator sections further down. | ||
Scuba diving or snorkeling?
Both are worth doing on the Big Island, and many visitors do both. The practical differences come down to certification, budget, and how much preparation you want before you get in the water.
Scuba diving
- Scuba diving is more expensive than snorkeling. You need more gear, and each dive requires planning. Guided two-tank boat dives start around $180 per person.
- Diving gives you three-dimensional access to the underwater environment. Lava tubes, ledges, and habitats at depth are not reachable from the surface.
- Scuba diving requires certification. To rent gear independently, you need a PADI or NAUI card. If you are not certified, a resort course qualifies you for a guided intro dive in a few hours without a full course.
- Scuba diving requires good health and some planning. You need to manage equipment, maintain fitness, and follow safe ascent and pressure protocols. Read our safety tips before you go.
Snorkeling
- No certification needed. If you can swim comfortably, you can snorkel. Gear is minimal and available to rent at most beach parks and dive shops.
- Snorkeling is low-commitment. You can bring a mask and fins to the beach and get in whenever conditions look good. No advance planning required.
- Snorkeling is substantially cheaper. Rentals are widely available at beach shops and tour operators. Many of the best snorkel spots on the island are free shore entries.
See our snorkeling guide for locations, gear rental options, and tours on the Big Island.
Dive sites and conditions
Most visitors choose a guided dive tour. Local operators know which sites are working on a given day and handle logistics and gear. That said, the west side of the island has several accessible shore entry sites that experienced divers use independently.
Shore entry sites: Puakō, 2 Step, and Kealakekua Bay
The west (Kona) side of the island is where most shore diving happens. Puakō is a consistently accessible entry point with good visibility and coral coverage at accessible depths. 2 Step at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau (Place of Refuge) is named for the two-step lava shelf at the waterline. Entry is manageable when the water is calm; the lava rock requires attention. Kealakekua Bay is best known for snorkeling near the Captain Cook Monument, but the deeper sections of the bay also draw divers and the visibility is consistently good.
Other accessible shore entries on the west side include Kawaihae, Hoʻokena Beach Park, Kua Bay, and the Kailua Pier. Conditions at all of these vary with swell direction and season. Check local conditions before committing to a shore entry. For dive reports and site-specific depth and conditions notes, Zentacle’s Big Island overview is a useful reference.
Diving conditions: Kohala Coast and east side
Water visibility over 100 feet is routine on the Kohala Coast in good conditions. The west side sits in the rain shadow of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which means cleaner runoff and more sun. Conditions are best from spring through fall when surf is lower and has less effect on visibility. Winter swells from the north can reduce visibility at exposed west-side sites.
The east side of the island (Hilo, Puna, the Hāmākua Coast) is a different environment. Higher rainfall and river runoff mean less clarity than the Kohala Coast. Dive operators on the east side are limited; Hilo Ocean Adventures in Hilo covers both shore and boat diving for divers who want to explore the east side.
Kohala Coast dive tours
The Kohala Coast is the oldest volcanic region on the island. The underwater terrain here has had the most time to develop: tunnels, arches, ledges, and lava tubes at diveable depths. It is also the driest part of the island, which keeps the water consistently clear.
Kohala Divers: Kawaihae, PADI 5-Star, small-group tours
Kohala Divers is a PADI 5-Star Dive Center based in Kawaihae, approximately 20 minutes north of the Waikoloa resort corridor. Their main offering is a two-site dive and snorkel trip of around six hours, with sites selected each morning based on conditions. Their boat, the Namaka, has warm showers and easy entry and exit platforms. Hotel pickup from Kohala Coast resorts is available.
The small-group format is what drives the review consensus which is stellar, at 4.9 stars across 1,118 TripAdvisor reviews. PADI courses from Discover Scuba through professional certifications run through the Kawaihae shop.
6-hour Morning Dive at 2 Stunning Kohala Coast Dive Sites
Dive at 2 Kohala Dive Sites with great underwater scenes on offer for every diver’s experience level (and snorkelers as well)
from:
$209
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Puako Dive Adventures: manta ray guarantee, Kohala Coast
Puako Dive Adventures departs from South Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor and runs three programs: a morning two-tank dive (4.5 hours), an evening two-tank dive (4.5 hours), and a shorter manta reef combination that pairs one tank with snorkeling (2 hours). The manta program comes with a guarantee: if you do not see mantas, you rebook at no charge until you do.
Minimum age is 10. Certification is required for diving; bring your card for a visual check at the dock. Dive gear is included. Pricing is not listed on the website and requires booking through their FareHarbor page.
Book Puako Dive Adventures here.
Kona dive tours
The Kona coast offers the widest selection of dive operators on the island, with boats departing from Kailua-Kona for sites ranging from beginner reefs to advanced lava formations.
The Kona Dive Company runs guided two-tank boat dives and gear rental from Kailua-Kona. Other well-reviewed operators are:
Torpedo Tours: small-group Kona dives, intro divers welcome
Torpedo Tours runs the same 38-foot USCG-certified vessel used for their manta ray night tours on morning two-tank dives departing Kailua-Kona at 8:00 AM and returning around noon. The boat carries a maximum of 12 guests, with dive groups capped at 7 divers per guide. That ratio is about half the 14 to 18 divers per guide that comparable Kona charter boats typically run, and it is the main operational difference reviewers note.
The tour visits two to three sites from a rotation of more than 50 on the Kona coast, including lava tubes, arches, and marine sanctuary areas. Certified divers pay $169; snorkelers pay $129. Non-certified divers can book an intro dive at $275, which includes gear. Gear rental for certified divers is $40 additional.
2-Tank Morning Dive on the Kona Coast
Explore world renowned Hawaiian reefs, lava tubes, and more! Not certified? No problem! Go for an introductory dive under the direct supervision of one of our world class instructors!
from:
$169
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Kona Honu Divers: six-diver cap, free nitrox, blackwater dives
Kona Honu Divers limits each dive group to six people, which is the practical constraint that shapes everything else about the experience: 70-minute dive times longer than the Kona average, free nitrox for Enriched Air-certified divers, and detailed species briefings that reviewers describe as the kind you get when a guide is not managing a crowd. The Honu One has hot showers, padded seating, and a shaded upper deck. The operation has been running since 2006 and won all seven categories in Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
Beyond the standard two-tank morning dive, Kona Honu runs blackwater night dives, a separate manta ray night dive, and an introductory program for uncertified divers. Blackwater diving is rare among Kona operators: it involves descending into open ocean at night to observe deep-sea species that migrate toward the surface after dark.
Big Island Divers: five boats, from $179, advanced sites available
Big Island Divers operates five boats out of Kailua-Kona with a crew of more than 40, which gives them scheduling flexibility that single-boat operators cannot offer. Their Kona Local Two Tank starts at $179 and rotates across more than 40 named sites depending on conditions and experience level. The Kona Advanced Two Tank (from $239) requires a minimum of 25 logged dives and accesses sites with lava tubes, arches, and drop-offs that are not on the standard rotation. Night dives include both manta ray and blackwater options.
At 4.8 stars across 6,433 TripAdvisor reviews, Big Island Divers has the largest review base of any Kona operator by a significant margin. PADI and SSI certification courses run through the on-site shop in Kailua-Kona.
Jack’s Diving Locker: day dives, advanced trips, and open-ocean night dives
Jack’s Diving Locker runs three daytime and evening boat dive formats from two Kailua-Kona locations (Ali’i Drive and Honokōhau Harbor). The Classic 2-Tank Day Trip covers reef sites with sea turtles, lava formations, and seasonal dolphin and humpback whale sightings. The Advanced Adventure 2-Tank is designed for experienced divers and accesses deep drop-offs, drift dive sites, and cavern systems not on the standard rotation.
Their third distinct offering is Pelagic Magic, a one-tank open-ocean night dive into the water column to observe deep-sea species that migrate toward the surface after dark. It won Scuba Diving Magazine’s Best Night Dive award. Boat groups run around 20 people, which is larger than some Kona operators; reviewers note the crew expects divers to be reasonably independent in the water.
Book Jack’s Diving Locker here.
East side dive tours
Hilo Ocean Adventures: Hilo’s only commercial dive boat
Hilo Ocean Adventures operates Hilo’s only commercial dive boat, departing Wailoa Harbor for reef sites including Horizons and Wai’olena Reef. The boat dives cover volcanic formations and coral ridges at 40 to 70 feet, with consistent sightings of Hawaiian green sea turtles, octopus, and eels. The one-tank boat dive is $189 per person (approximately 2.5 hours, includes tank, weights, divemaster, snacks, and beverages). Non-certified companions can ride along as snorkelers at $139, which makes this a practical option for groups with mixed certification. Open Water certification required for divers; minimum age 10.
They also run a shore dive at Wai’olena Reef (also called Leleiwi), a few miles from downtown Hilo, where freshwater springs mix with the ocean and groups are capped at 6 divers. Certification courses accepting both PADI and NAUI run monthly. Shop at 1717 Kamehameha Avenue, open daily 9 AM to 5 PM.
Book the 1 tank boat dive in Hilo here.
Manta ray night dives: Garden Eel Cove, Kona
The manta ray night dive is one of the most specifically described experiences on the Big Island, and the mechanics are worth understanding before you book. Manta rays feed at night by doing continuous loops through plankton drawn to light boards held at the surface. The mantas are not trained or attracted by bait: the plankton bloom is what draws them, and on a good night you can count 10 or more passing within a few feet of the surface. The primary site in Kona is Garden Eel Cove off Kailua-Kona. Two operators run this consistently and have meaningful differences in format, price, and schedule.
We have a dedicated guide to this experience with additional detail on what to expect and how to book. Read more about the manta ray night dive on the Big Island.
Torpedo Tours: 18-guest cap, owner-operated 30+ years
Torpedo Tours caps trips at 18 guests, compared to 49 or more on most competing Kona operators. The boat departs Honokōhau Harbor at 6:00 PM (check in by 5:30 PM) for a 25-minute coastal cruise to Garden Eel Cove, arriving around sunset. Snorkelers hold lit flotation boards at the surface and look down into the water column; certified divers sit on the ocean floor and look up. The mantas pass between both groups during their feeding loops.
Torpedo Tours Manta Ray Night Snorkel and Dive
Manta rays at Garden Eel Cove off Kailua-Kona can reach 15-foot wingspans, and Torpedo Tours runs 18 guests maximum to see them: snorkelers and certified divers together on the same boat, owner-operated for over 30 years.
from:
$129
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Torpedo Tours has run this specific route for over 30 years under owner-operated management. No-touch protocols and the 18-guest cap earned them a listing on the Hawaii Ocean Watch Manta Ray Green List, a program that ran until 2023 and whose standards Torpedo Tours still follows.
Jack’s Diving Locker: two-dive format, afternoon reef then night mantas
Jack’s Diving Locker runs a two-part trip that begins before dark. The boat departs at 3:30 PM (April through September) or 3:00 PM (October through March) for an afternoon reef dive where garden eels and daytime species are common, followed by a surface break with a sandwich, juice, and water as the sun goes down. The manta ray dive comes second, after dark. Both snorkelers and certified divers pay $230 per person. Staff include PADI Manta Ray Diver Specialty Instructors and certified Manta Naturalists credentialed through Hawaiʻi Community College. The tour runs on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, returning around 9:00 to 9:30 PM.
A scuba diver alongside a young manta ray in the Kona district. Photo by Steve Dunleavy, CC BY 2.0
PADI certification and resort courses on the Big Island
To rent scuba gear and dive independently, you need PADI or NAUI certification. If you are not certified, there are two practical options:
- Resort course (discover scuba). A few hours of pool instruction qualifies you for a single guided dive at a real ocean site. No prior experience required. This is the fastest path to getting in the water at depth if you are not certified and do not want a full course during your trip.
- Full open water certification. A PADI open water course takes three to four days and qualifies you to dive independently to 60 feet. Liquid Cosmos Divers in Kona offers certification courses. Getting certified in Hawaiʻi means open water training from day one rather than a cold-water lake or indoor pool.
If you prefer to explore depth without a certification, Snuba is an alternative. Snuba divers breathe through a 20-foot air line connected to a tank on a surface raft, with a diving professional as guide. No certification required.
Scuba diving safety tips
- Carry current certification. To rent diving gear independently, you need a PADI or NAUI card. If you have not dived in more than a year or are not confident in your skills, dive with a guide and consider a refresher or resort course before renting gear.
- Check conditions before you commit. Review local swell and wind reports before any shore entry. Conditions at lava rock entries like 2 Step can change quickly with swell size. If the entry looks wrong on the day, it is wrong.
- Plan your dive before you enter the water. Rent quality equipment. Know your entry and exit points. Never dive alone, and do not use up all the air in your tank before surfacing.
- Wait 24 hours before high-altitude travel. Do not fly or travel to high elevations, including Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, within 24 hours of your last dive. Dissolved nitrogen from compressed air does not clear fast enough for rapid altitude changes.