Kona Honu Divers
Activities (19)
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Premium Advanced 2 Tank Long Range Charter
This long-range charter from Kona Honu Divers departs Honokohau Marina and heads into open ocean waters along the Big Island's coast. Pelagic animals such as whales, dolphins, and large fish may be spotted during the cruise. Between dives, a boxed lunch is served onboard. Free nitrox is included, along with tanks, weights, and a dive guide. Equipment rental is available for an additional fee. This charter is designed for experienced divers. To qualify, a diver must hold certification, have logged dives recently, show strong buoyancy control and air consumption, and dive with a computer. Divers must also be in good health with no heart conditions. Meet the boat at the harbor rather than at the shop, and sign any required waiver online before arrival. Bring a diver certification card, sun-protective clothing, reef-safe mineral sunscreen, a towel, and a reusable water bottle.
Private Charter Honu Lele
Private Charter Honu Lele departs from Honokohau Marina in Kailua-Kona. The vessel is a fast craft with plenty of shade and a fresh water shower on board. Snorkel or scuba gear, a boxed lunch, and drinks are all included in the charter. Certified divers must bring proof of certification, as diving is not permitted without it. Guests must be in good health with no heart conditions. Anyone with special needs should contact the operator before the charter date to discuss arrangements. Reef-safe sunscreen is required on board, and standard sunscreens with harmful chemicals are prohibited. Plan to bring sun-protective clothing and a reusable water bottle. Waivers must be signed by the evening before departure, and arriving a little early to check in is expected. Gratuity is not included in the charter price.
2 Tank Night Manta Dive Charter
The trip begins while daylight remains, giving divers a look at the reef as dusk settles in. After returning to the boat for snacks, a sandwich, hot drinks, and a briefing on local manta rays, divers head back into the water after dark. At that point, crustaceans emerge, eels move freely, and predators begin to hunt. The group then moves to a spot called the campfire, where manta rays gather to feed on zooplankton in the glow of lights and rising bubbles. Tanks, weights, dive lights, and free nitrox are included. Dive equipment is available to rent separately. Certified divers in good health with no heart, neck, or back conditions are suited for this trip. The charter is rated moderate in difficulty and runs weather-dependent, so conditions on the day affect whether it goes out. A private guide option is available. Divers should sign their waiver online and meet the boat at the Kona Honu Divers slip; no shop visit is needed before departure.
Black Water Night Dive
Black Water Night Dive, run by Kona Honu Divers, departs from Honokohau Marina in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Once offshore, divers hang suspended from a tether over a vast stretch of open ocean, watching pelagic animals drift past in the darkness below. This dive suits experienced, self-reliant scuba divers who are current and comfortable in open water. A minimum number of logged dives is required, and divers need to have been in the water recently. Strong buoyancy control is essential. Divers should be in good health, free of heart conditions, and prepared to meet the boat at the harbor rather than at the shop. The price covers a divemaster, tanks, weights, a dive light, nitrox, and a pre-dive briefing. Dive equipment is available to rent but is not included. Divers should bring their certification card, a towel, a bathing suit, and sun-protective clothing. Mineral sunscreens are required on board, as toxic sunscreens are prohibited.
Level 1 Freediver
The Level 1 Freediver course from Kona Honu Divers uses the FII education system to teach proper freediving techniques, moving students through classroom instruction, confined water training, and open water dives across the course. Safety and comfort are emphasized throughout, and students work toward mastering skills at depth. The course meets at the Kona Honu Divers shop in Kailua-Kona, and waivers must be completed before arriving. Personal gear is not included, so students need to bring or rent a mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt, and wetsuit. A towel, sunscreen, water, and a hat are also recommended. Participants must be in good health with no heart conditions, and a Medical Statement is required before the course begins. Lunch is not included. Students staying south of Kailua-Kona and driving north to the harbor should allow extra time, as morning traffic in that direction can be slow. A minimum number of students is required for the course to run.
Enriched Air Diver Course
The Enriched Air Diver Course through Kona Honu Divers earns divers their PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) certification in Kailua-Kona. Before arriving at the shop, participants must complete the PADI eLearning module included with the course. On the day, a PADI instructor guides students through the in-person coursework and a hands-on Nitrox tank analysis session. Once certified, divers can take advantage of free Nitrox on Kona Honu Divers charter boats, which can be booked separately. The course meets at the Kona Honu Divers shop. Transportation to the shop is not provided. Participants should arrive on time, as the schedule is kept strictly. Divers of a qualifying age who are in good health and free of heart conditions are eligible to enroll.
Private Charter Black Water
Blackwater diving takes place miles offshore at night, with divers suspended from a tether over very deep open ocean water. The charter departs from a meeting point in Kailua-Kona and is run privately, meaning the boat is not shared with other groups. Once out on the water, divers hang in the dark column below, watching pelagic animals drift past from the open ocean. All scuba gear needed is included, so participants do not need to bring their own equipment. Divers should bring a certification card if applicable, a reusable water bottle, and sun-protective clothing. Good general health is required, and those with heart conditions are not able to participate. Proof of scuba certification may be required depending on the participant. Waivers must be signed by the evening before the charter, and arriving on time is essential because the trip ends at its scheduled time regardless of when guests arrive. Transportation to the meeting point is not included.
Discover Scuba Diving Experience
The Discover Scuba Diving Experience, run by Kona Honu Divers, introduces beginners to scuba diving off the Kona coast with no previous experience required. Participants board a custom-built dive boat departing from the Kona Honu Divers boat slip on Kealakehe Parkway and complete two separate dives over the course of a morning. A Master Scuba Diving Trainer leads the water portion, and the ratio of students to instructors stays small so each participant receives close, individualized attention. All scuba gear is provided, so nothing needs to be rented or sourced elsewhere. Before arriving, participants must complete an eLearning module, fill out medical forms, and sign waivers. Anyone whose forms indicate a medical condition must obtain a doctor's approval before the dive. Plan to arrive a little early, as the boat departs on schedule. Sun-protective clothing and a reusable water bottle are recommended. Transportation to the meeting point is not included.
Open Water Course
The Open Water Course from Kona Honu Divers is a multi-day PADI certification program that takes students from poolside fundamentals to open ocean dives off the Kailua-Kona coast. The first day is spent in confined water at a pool, building core skills in a controlled setting. The following days move to the boat for open water dives, completing the required certification dives in the ocean. All premium rental gear is provided, including a BCD, regulators, a dive computer, and a full wetsuit, along with learning materials and snacks and water onboard. Students must complete the PADI eLearning and sign waivers before the first day. Mask, snorkel, and fins are not included and must be brought or purchased separately. Transportation to the meeting point at Kona Honu Divers is not provided, so arranging a rental car or other transport in advance is important, especially given that morning traffic in the area can be slow. Students should arrive early each day, as the course departs on schedule. Participants must be in good health with no heart conditions.
Level 2 Freediver
The course combines classroom sessions, confined pool work, and open-water depth training. Students study how the human body responds underwater, covering the physics and physiology of freediving, equalization techniques, breathing exercises, and safety protocols. The goal is to reach depths that require careful technique and a solid understanding of what happens to the body under pressure. The FII Level 2 Freediver manual and workbook are included. Transportation and personal gear are not. Students need a mask, snorkel, long blade fins, wetsuit, weight belt, and a freediving computer. All of that equipment is available for rent or purchase at the shop. Participants must be in good health with no heart conditions and may need a physician's approval before the course begins. Waivers must be signed in advance, and arriving on time is required.
Open Water Referral Dives
This course is the ocean portion of a PADI Open Water certification, completed through Kona Honu Divers off the coast of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. It is a referral course, meaning the knowledge and pool sessions must be finished before arriving. The vessel departs from The Honu One in Kailua-Kona, and transportation to that meeting point is not included. Master Scuba Diving Instructors lead every dive, and snacks and water are provided onboard. Family members have the option to join on certification days. Participants must be in good health with no heart conditions. Plan to arrive promptly each morning, as the vessel departs on schedule. Reef-safe sunscreen and sun-protective clothing are recommended, and bringing a reusable water bottle is a good idea.
Advanced Open Water Diver Course
The Advanced Open Water Diver Course with Kona Honu Divers is a multi-day PADI certification program that takes place on the water out of Kailua-Kona Harbor, boarding the Honu One vessel. The course wraps up with a Manta Night Dive off Kona. All required scuba gear is provided, along with instruction from Master Scuba Diving Instructors and a PADI eLearning code. The eLearning must be finished before the first day of the course. This course suits divers who already hold an Open Water certification and are ready to build on those skills at a moderate level of difficulty. Waivers also need to be signed before arriving. Transportation to the harbor is not included. A private option is available for those who prefer not to dive in a group setting.
About
Kona Honu Divers operates out of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, running a range of scuba diving and water activities along the Kona Coast. Morning boat charters take divers out to explore colorful reefs, swim through lava tunnels, and watch for large marine life including green sea turtles and octopus. The company also runs PADI certification courses, including an Advanced Open Water program that covers deep diving, underwater navigation, and the manta night dive. For those who want to give something back, reef cleanup dives go out in partnership with Ocean Defenders Alliance to remove debris from local reefs. Snorkeling, freediving, fishing, and shore dive options round out the lineup.
Kona Honu Divers is based in Kailua-Kona, Big Island. Big Island Activities lists 19 activities from Kona Honu Divers.
Categories: Scuba Diving, PADI Certification & Training and Freediving.
Listings include Premium Advanced 2 Tank Long Range Charter; Private Charter Honu Lele; 2-Tank Local Morning Dive Charter; 2 Tank Night Manta Dive Charter; Black Water Night Dive; Level 1 Freediver; and 13 more.
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