I absolutely LOVE diving in Kona, Hawaii (the Big Island).
The fish are colorful, much of the diving is accessible from shore, and the water is warm and blue.
Most of my love of Kona, and my experience with the many dive sites, I can credit to my friends Terry & Donna Miller (of Black Rock Scuba). They used to annually travel to Kona for a month for vacation, and now they live there.
Top Dive Operators:
Black Rock Scuba [great for instruction and boat chartering]
Jack’s Dive Locker [gorgeous show room, great selection]
Hawaiian Scuba Shack [good for steel tank and weight rental]
Top Shore Diving Sites [links go to ShoreDiving.com]:
Place of Refuge (also known as Honaunau Bay or Two Step)
Leave time to enjoy the sunset before travelling back over the mountains after your dive, the sun sets directly into the ocean.
Honokohau Harbor (aka Alua or Crescent Beach, Naia Bay, Manta or Eagle Ray Bay, etc.)
The beach is just to the south of the harbor. Drive out the road past the harbor, park at the end. Gear up.
Walk to the beach you see on your left.
Warning: It’s a winding trial, walking on lava rock.
Outside the Sheraton at Keauhou
Top Boat Dive
The Manta Ray Night dive is simply amazing. Do Not Miss It!
You can book through Black Rock or Jack’s above.
Bring a big Pacific Northwest Light
Other Sites to Research: