Kona Honu Divers

Kona Honu is as good as it gets.
I signed up for the manta snorkel charter and didn’t want to leave my partner behind. I asked if he could go on the boat with me and they politely discouraged the idea. I thought it was a little weird that they’d do that, but they were absolutely right! The water is rough and a lot of folks were being sick on the boat and in the water. No fault of Kona Honu, though! That’s just how the ocean is.
They were helpful in guiding us and instructing us about the mantas.
Keep in mind that Mantas are wild animals so you can’t always guarantee their presence. We were lucky and saw quite a few.
Definitely a cool thing to do if you have the chance!

These guys are great! I will not dive with any other company on the Big Island! We went diving with two other people and left the docks early. On the way, we saw a pod of dolphins and a whale. Once we got to Garden Eel Cove, it was great diving with a very professional and outgoing crew! After the first dive, they provided us with a beautiful sunset, sandwiches, and plenty of finger foods. Once the sun went down, we suited up again for the Manta Ray night dive. We saw 8 rays. Once the dive was over, they had a hot shower, hot chocolate and hot tea ready for us! The boat crew also rinsed all the gear (including personal gear). Bottom Line: This company is a very professional and friendly company with great employees!

These guys are great, and come highly recommended by many dive sites/​blogs. They are the go to choice for the black water dive. Their boat is huge! Lots of room for people and all their stuff. The dives are run smoothly, with everyone allowed to stay down as long as their air supply allows. The staff — divers and captains and shop manager — are all super great. I would highly recommend this company. The manta dive was very well run. You’re out on the boat for a few hours, and it gets cold, so be prepared. They have snacks and tea for you.

I went diving with Kona Honu divers twice this week for the Blackwater dive and truly felt like family on the boat! First off, Jeff, our instructor, is a biologist and so knowledgeable about the dive and animals! The ferver and energy on the boat truly made my experience! The blackwater dive is mind blowing and is the reason I came back to Kona.
Highly recommend this dive operation and instructors!

My wife and I went with Kona Honu Divers last night on a Manta Ray Dive. Captain Tom and crew were great. My wife had some congestion so she snorkeled and I dove. We both had a great time and I had a night dive that I will never forget. There were 11 Mantas that swam all around us while they were feeding. The dive crew gave us a good pre dive briefing but also some general info about mantas. They were concerned not only for our well being but also concerned for the Rays. I will absolutely dive with these guys again!

Best snorkeling experience ever! Did the Manta Ray dive, BEST DAY EVER. A must see/​do experience!!! Jeff, Ryan, Sara and Captain Tom are so knowledgeable and want to give you the best experience possible. They are very friendly and approachable. They were really great answering our questions and leading us to the fish. They start off with the boat ride, about 30 min??? Then let you free snorkel/​dive which is pretty awesome. We saw lots of different fish, and of course Manta Rays! Once the sun goes down, we put on our snorkel gear (mask, flippers, wet suit). We saw 4 rays-​3 female at least 14ft, and 1 male. SO AMAZING!!! They came within a few feet of us, so majestic and such beautiful creatures!!! Truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Kona Honu had some awesome divers. The crew was really nice and the reefs were vibrant. It was a good tour and the gear was nice and worked, which is always good lol
a hui kaua

These guys are awesome! We did the manta ray night snorkel and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. The captain and crew were top notch. They told lots of good info before the dive on manta rays. We lucked out and there were only 4 on our boat but they didn’t cancel. They had warm water to hose off with (so amazing after the chilly water) and also had hot cocoa, tea and snacks for us. Highly recommend this company!

Cliff’s Notes: Awesome crew, great boat, and a night that will not soon be forgotten. If you don’t book with Kona Honu, you aren’t doing yourself any favors!
Long Story: My wife and I were on the Big Island for a few days and decided to do a Manta Ray dive. Kona Honu Divers did not disappoint. We arrived while the team from Kona Honu was loading out the dive/​snorkel equipment and that was followed by a role call and short boat safety brief. Once underway everyone was encouraged to go to the bow of the ship or the second level so that we wouldn’t miss anything. On the way out to the dive site, a group of 8-​ish dolphins cruised with us for a little while, something many of us would have missed if it wasn’t for the ship’s crew.
We got to the dive site a bit before sunset and the Manta Ray dive only happens after dark so we all got to go snorkeling while waiting. The team was VERY helpful in making sure that everyone had the right gear, the right size gear, and knew how to use it. They made it effortless for us! And we got to see two Manta’s while snorkeling around!
After the sunset was another briefing but this one on the Manta’s and personal conduct around the Mantas. Jeff (the dive leader) led and it was both amusing and very informative. Shortly after we suited up and splashed. Words can’t describe this experience. We saw somewhere around 20 Manta Rays while down at the ‘campfire’. It was a surreal experience that I am not going to try to describe. During the briefing, Jeff told us that we might be another member of the underwater wildlife community, Frank. I don’t think that any of us thought we would actually see Frank, but he really does exists and it was quite a treat when he showed up.
After the dive, the gear was all rinsed and stowed by Kona Honu while all of us got to hang out with some snacks and hot coco/​tea while driving back to the marina.
I can’t say thank you enough to the team (Tom, Jeff, Lisa, Hip) for making the whole experience EPIC. If you are looking for a trip out to see the Manta’s this should be the crew you go out there with!

I Love diving with Kona Honu! We always, always go on the Manta dive when in Hawaii, and Kona Honu is our go to for a great adventure. Comfortable boats, nice guides, and a steaming hot shower after… It a great night! Do IT!!!

My wife and I went on a night trip to see the Manta Rays with Kona Honu Divers. My wife snorkeled while I did the dive.
The staff, from the store to the boat, at Honu Divers are absolutely amazing. They all do what they can to make you feel welcome and comfortable.
The boat staff got to the boat right on time. They wasted no time getting it ready for us. The Captain gave us a informative and funny pre boarding instructions. The boat is very clean and well maintained.
While on the boat ride to the site, the staff makes to keep ongoing conversation. They are very personable and sincere in wanting to know about their guests.
We got to the site a little early so we all got to do a little snorkeling before the sun went down. We snorkeled for about 20 minutes then got back on the boat. The dive master gave everyone about a 15 minute pictured introduction to Manta Rays. I learned a lot in those 15 minutes. He then told the the snorkelers what they are going to experience and how to handle themselves in the water. The snorkelers then left and we held our pre-​dive meeting.
We dove down to about 40 feet and joined about 30 other divers sitting in a circle. In the middle of the circle are lights to attract plankton for the Rays. We basically say there and pointed our flashlights towards the surface to attract more plankton.
The Manta Rays put on an amazing show. The swam over me within inches of my head. Any videos you see are true to form. The Mantas are so graceful and smooth.
When surfacing, the crew took care of rinsing my personal gear. They had snacks, water and hot chocolate for everyone. We all talked about our experience with the Mantas.
I have been diving for 15 years and have about 150 to 200 dives. Kona Honu Divers are now my choice company while here on the Big Island. Their personability and service get an A+++++ in my book.

Because you are relying on nature, this could be an awesome experience or just an ok experience. I saw one Manta Ray and it swam by quickly.
The crew was great; if you are going to go on a manta ray snorkel/​dive I would suggest this company.
Cons — tons of people in the water and you are constantly bumping into people from other groups. It gets cold laying in the water waiting for the manta rays. If you have one person in the group that kicks around a lot and is uncomfortable in the water, it could effect whether the manta rays swim underneath you.

I can honestly say this dive was the best DIVE I have ever been on. Now I have never swam with whale sharks, but, a night dive, with wildlife, and the lighting. Makes this just spectacular. The Spinner dolphins and the rainbow heading out were pretty cool too.

The spots selected were within 3 – 5 minutes from the harbor, this is quite disappointing while being in an island like Hawaii, seems like the crew just wanted to have the dives soon.
The boat was really nice though.
The snacks were really poor

We showed at the shop for the manta ray night dive and the boat had already been packed with all the gear we would need, very organized operation! After a friendly check in the lady gave us a map and was ready to show us where the boat was, very easy to find.
The boat crew was friendly, helpful, thorough, experienced and patient. They helped us set up and even put our gear on!
They knew a ton about the mantas. They also understood and shared our excitement about the manta dive. They even encouraged us to sunset snorkel before the actual night dive. Their safety brief was informative and short yet thorough.
Once in the water, everything went great and it was amazing! Definitely recommend this place for the Manta Night Dive.
Thank you Kona Honu Divers for an incredible lifetime experience!!!

We had an incredible experience with Kona Honu Divers! We saw a huge pod of spinner dolphins on the way out to the dive site. They provided full wet suits and snorkel gear for us, and gave us a briefing on manta rays and safety before heading out into the water. We had 8 manta rays show up at our site, and they were absolutely amazing to watch! Being that close to these impressive animals was the highlight of the trip for me! We had hot tea, cocoa and snacks waiting for us when we got back on the boat, which was the perfect was to end the night as we headed back to shore.
We will definitely book with Kona Honu Divers the next time we visit the big island! Can’t wait to come back as divers instead of snorkelers!

Summary: Great dive poor service.
Dive — 4÷22÷15
I guess you got to catch Kona Honu with the right crew and conditions. Our experience with them was barely passable. Here is why:
* The boat was FULL. Not only was the boat at capacity but the snorkelers were not organized and they didn’t have a plan for helping everyone to get in and out smoothly.
* The dive briefing was way too long on Manta information and short on specifics about the dive. Like how long will we swim, where do we meet on the bottom, hand signals, etc.
* Worn out equipment. I have had good and bad gear around the world and this was the most threadbare wetsuit I had ever squeezed into. The BC and Reg were fine but didn’t flow easily. All and all they need to update their rental gear in a bad way.
* Poor entry. The worst part was the getting in the water. The equipment hadn’t been checked and I gotten in and checked my weight only to find that there was NONE in the integrated BC. This happened to my wife and one other person. This was just super sloppy.
The captain and our dive master were fine and helpful but the rest of the crew were a bunch of young guys who clearly didn’t have the a clue about running the boat or caring for guests.
The Mantas were well worth seeing and we had some amazing close encounters but I would definitely pick a different and smaller outfit next time.

Went with Kona Honu Divers for a group Manta Ray dive. They were all very friendly and full of information. We stopped along the way to see humpback whales and dolphin pods. Unfortunately we went on a night where there weren’t many Manta rays but they were still very good about taking the group around the bay to continue the night dive. I would suggest bringing some snacks or food because the snacks that they have on board are very limited. Go with Kona Honu Divers for your Manta ray night dives.

My family and I chose Kona Honu for our manta snorkeling experience due to the excellent reviews. We did the 5-​hour manta snorkel. Unfortunately, aside from the crew, who were indeed excellent, we learned the hard way that this company is definitely not suited for beginner divers/​snorkelers, as the Unilocal description claims.
Our negative experience began in the dive shop when we checked in. Four people in our group of eight had never snorkeled before. The woman, Kristin, had major attitude about this. I felt like an annoyance to her from start to finish. For example, when we asked about wearing life jackets, she actually said, «We don’t have time to teach you how to snorkel.» I found myself (having snorkeled ONCE before) frantically trying to explain how to snorkel in the car ride to the marina. Kristin also brushed me off when I asked about the prescription goggles I reserved, saying everything we needed was on the boat in the marina. Well that wasn’t true, we were supposed to bring the prescription goggles from the shop and when our snorkel guide called her about it from the boat she actually had the nerve to deny that I asked her about it at all! So my glasses-​wearing father was just SOL.
The captain, John was awesome. He and our guide, Hipp are the reason I’m giving two stars for this review. Both were patient, friendly, and helpful. However, it should be noted that at no point did anyone ask if this was anyone’s first time snorkeling. Nor was any tutorial provided, aside from a briefing of what to expect to see and where we would swim once getting in the water. When we told them some of us were nervous about swimming without support in such choppy water, they offered us noodles. Needless to say, two of our number decided not to get in the water at the last minute. Two others got out of the water soon after getting in because they couldn’t handle the waves, even with noodles. One cousin couldn’t get her mask on properly. Basically, these four ended up paying $ 100 each for a five-​hour bout of nonstop sea sickness (even after taking Dramamine).
Speaking of choppy waves, one of the crew told us the water is just rough during this time of year (and super calm in summer). I think it’s really irresponsible that this information isn’t openly shared with people through the website. I understand that this could potentially affect business during winter months, but not telling people until they are throwing up an hour into the trip — even those who don’t typically get sea sick — is possibly worse. Now I’m just distrustful, which is unfortunate because I absolutely love snorkeling and had an amazing experience snorkeling in Puerto Morelos, Mexico (where we were offered life jackets, not scorned for bringing them up).
As someone who only writes Unilocal reviews when I feel something was incredibly outstanding, I feel that strongly compelled to warn inexperienced snorkelers about taking a trip with Kona Honu during winter. If you do decide to do so, ask a ton of questions and insist on a tutorial before getting in the water. The mantas were cool, but nothing is cool enough to warrant the overall experience we had. On the bright side, we are closer as a family now.

10÷10÷14− First open water dive ever.
My boyfriend chose this diving company for us because of their reviews on trip advisor and I am SO glad we dove with them.
Our first dive was a two tank dive– my boyfriend and his brother are certified however I am not so I went with a guide. I’ve only taken one full scuba lesson and that was in a pool so I was a little nervous about how I would do. I also have a pretty terrible fear of water and swimming, so this could have been a disaster. Unfortunately, I had a little freak out my first attempt going under and I sat on the boat for my first tank. For the second tank, Terry, the guide literally held onto me and swam me down. With her help I was able to CTFD (calm the F down) and actually scuba. She was so patient with me and for that reason I will recommend this company over and over! We were served fresh pineapple and snacks on the boat.
Our second dive was at night for the manta ray dive. I technically wasn’t able to dive because I wasn’t certified so I scubaed woke my boyfriend and his brother dove. The scuba was awesome and terrifying at the same time! We saw about 20 different manta rays and they swam literally less than 5 feet beneath us, which to me was petrifying, but I believe that others would enjoy it. Our night crew was a blast and Alex was hilarious. Kevin gave me some shit about screaming into my scuba mask, but u totally deserved it. I felt really safe knowing that he was right there just in case I freaked out too much. We were served hot chocolate when we got on the boat and it really was the icing on the cake.
My personal favorite thing about our experience with Kona Hanu was that it was not crowed at all. Our day and night dives only had 7 people on them!
Loved this experience and if we come back to Kona I will dive with them again!