One of the best ways to scuba dive in Hawaii without the need to take a full scuba certification course. Kona has some of the best and easiest diving in Hawaii and is perfectly suited to new divers. Looking to try snuba diving? This is similar, but much better than snuba because there is no tether keeping you near the surface.
Dive Requirements
- Must be 18 years old
- You must be in good health with NO heart conditions and have a clear medical or a physicians release (Click on the Medical Questionnaire to view PADI requirements)
- You MUST be able to converse in English
- You must have basic swimming skills
- You should be comfortable in the open ocean
- You should be a proficient snorkeler
- This experience is done from our comfortable boat
What is it like to try Scuba Diving?
After your online eLearning and paperwork is complete, you will meet at the Kona Honu Divers boat slip to meet your instructor for a 2-tank diving experience! At a 2:1 student:instructor ratio, your private or semi-private diving experience will be catered to your interest and comfort!
Kona Diving is the best diving in Hawaii. Our reefs are plentiful with loads of hard corals in a variety of colors. Butterflyfish, Moorish idols, eels, and schools of goatfish are common sightings. Octopus can be a common sight when scuba diving on the big island. Occasionally we’ll see larger critters while diving like mantas, turtles, sharks and even humpback whales! Most of the best dive sights are just minutes from our marina, offering a great variety of Kona scuba diving in the area. There are over 40 sites within a 25 minute ride from the harbor. Our reef scape is often diverse with lots of swim-throughs, caves, overhangs, pinnacles, and walls. Often times we will find interesting things like nudibranchs hanging out inside arches. Our experienced and highly trained Instructors have been scuba diving Kona’s reefs a long time. Some of them more than 17 years! Additionally, we offer wonderful amenities top side. Valet diving, very low student to instructor ratios, plenty to eat and drink and superior rental equipment are among a few of the things that keep divers coming back year after year. Our spacious 49 passenger boat is roomy and offers loads of room for only 18 divers maximum. Kona scuba diving with us is a whole different level of quality.
Your Discover Scuba experience will have clear warm water, and little current make it ideal for easy diving conditions. Kona’s varied coastline and protection from ocean swells makes for an even better time on the surface. We have the ability to tuck away from open ocean swells using bays and points for shelter. Our dive boat the Honu One is large and comfortable with plenty of viewing platforms for watching whales and dolphins on the way to and from the dive sites. We take a spacious maximum of 18 divers while our boat is technically capable of accommodating up to 30. The Honu One has a main deck, a spacious bow and an upper deck for lounging that accommodates 8-10 comfortably. Our knowledgable dive Instructors will brief and debrief you on all of the critters we see when Kona scuba diving answering any questions you may have about them. Less experienced divers love Kona diving because it’s so accessible. Truly exceptional diving is Big Island diving.
In addition to great diving, comfy boats, and experienced staff, we strive to provide the complete Kona scuba diving experience. Valet diving means we handle your gear for you so all you have to do is show up and dive. Our experienced dive staff will set up your scuba gear and test its function. We will help you put your gear on so all you have to do is stand up, hop in, and start breathing! We will also rinse and store your gear for you so you don’t have to worry about it until it’s time to head home. You’re going to love diving with Kona Honu Divers. Kona diving like it should be! If you’d like to take advantage of our beautiful diving please give us a call so we can talk about the many packages we have available for you. There’s so much to see and do here underwater in Kona so let’s talk about what might be right for you. The ocean therapy awaits!
Call (808)324-4668 to Sign up Now or book online!
Frequently Asked Questions
What will I learn?
You will learn the basic skills to scuba dive with a dive instructor for the morning. This is NOT a certification but it is an experience!
These include:
- Briefing of dive equipment
- Ear equalization techniques
- Mask flood and clearing
- Regulator recovery
How long will I be underwater?
As long as possible! Your underwater time will be determined by your air consumption and comfort. Typical time underwater is between 30-50 minutes per dive.
What should I bring?
- Make sure you come wearing your swimsuit
- Reusable water bottle
- Towel
- Bring a rashguard and sun protective clothing
- Our Boat has plenty of shade but if you must wear sunscreen make sure it is reef safe
Can my certified family members join me underwater?
If you are interested in having a certified diver join you, please ask!
Where can I find snuba on Big island?
Fairwind cruises offers a limited snuba diving experience.
Is there SNUBA diving in Hawaii?
Yes! You can find out more on this article offering a directory of places to snuba my island.
Is SNUBA harder than snorkeling?
It can be. You are tethered to the surface by a hose so you are limited to a 10 feet (3 meters). You must also drag a float along on the surface so on especially windy days it will be a chore to fight the wind. You will not be weighted like a scuba diver so it will be more difficult to get down and stay down than on scuba.
Is SNUBA worth it?
Depends on your expectations. The ability to stay down and breathe underwater can be pretty amazing but the limited depth won’t give you much advantage over snorkeling. For a better underwater experience try scuba diving without a certification.
Can you scuba dive on vacation without certification?
Absolutely. It’s often called Try Scuba Diving or Discover Scuba Diving and it’s easy and simple. An instructor will spend about 20 minutes with you going over some basics and then take you diving.
