The Kona Diving Company 2-tank morning charter is a 5-hour trip on the 46-foot Huakaʻi with two guided dives at sites chosen that morning between Pawai and Makako Bay. It suits certified divers who want long, relaxed dives with 5 divers per guide; the drawback is lava-rock terrain with little coral, rated 1 of 5 by 3 of 4 reviewers.
Highlights
$200 per certified diver before tax for two guided boat dives, tanks, weights and snacks; BCD, wetsuit and regulator rent separately
Sites are picked on the day from nearly 40 options between Pawai Bay and Makako Bay, based on conditions and the group's experience
No more than 5 divers per divemaster on the 46-foot Huakaʻi, which has shade, a cabin and a hot freshwater shower
Dives run until a third of a tank remains, giving bottom times above 70 minutes according to a September 2021 reviewer
Repeat divers can leave BCDs and regulators with the shop to be rinsed and set up for the next day
What to Expect
You sign the waiver and show your certification card; the office is at 74-5615 Luhia Street, and the exact boarding slip and check-in time are not published on the pages we could fetch.
The crew assembles your tanks and weights on board and the captain announces the two sites after checking the morning conditions.
The first dive is a guided descent on lava-rock reef with arches and holes that shelter eels, nudibranchs, shrimp and octopus; divers surface with a third of a tank, so dives often exceed an hour.
The surface interval includes snacks, homemade brownies and hot and cold drinks while the boat moves to the second site.
The second dive is at a different site; a November 2022 reviewer named Pipe Dreams and Eel Garden as his two.
Back at the dock about 5 hours after departure, the crew rinses gear, and repeat divers can store it with the shop.
What's Included
Two guided boat dives
Air tanks, dive weights and defog
Use of masks, snorkels and full-foot fins
Snacks and hot and cold beverages between dives
Hot freshwater shower on board
What's Not Included
Rental BCD, wetsuit, regulator and computer (prices not published)
Enriched Air Nitrox (optional; analyzer on board)
Private guide
7.712% GET and harbor tax
Gratuity; the operator suggests at least 20%
What to Bring
Certification card or eCard, plus nitrox card if using nitrox
Swimsuit, towel, rash guard, hat and sunglasses
Refillable water bottle and hair ties
Reef-safe sunscreen
Dive computer if you have one; rental regulators include a console computer
Restrictions and Requirements
Open Water scuba certification required
Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; divers aged 10–11 need a private guide
Passengers must sign a waiver and be able to converse in English
No flying, altitude travel or freediving after the dives; the operator links a list of activities to avoid
All diving is guided; a November 2016 reviewer notes independent diving is not allowed
Cancellation Policy
Cancel by phone or email at least 72 hours before the charter for a full refund; within 72 hours you owe the full cost unless the seat is rebooked. December 20 to January 5 charters need 5 days' notice, and groups of 6 or more need 7 days. Full refund if the operator cancels for unsafe conditions. Checked October 2026 on Kona Diving Company's booking policies page.
Kona Diving Company boat Huakaʻi; the operator's office is at 74-5615 Luhia Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. The boarding slip is not published on fetched pages.
Ratings from every source we could find
Other
5.0
563 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
General Kona morning dive charter sentiment applies - see Aquatic Life Divers listing for detail.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 4 full reviews for Kona Diving Company in October 2026: 1 on Greetwell (September 2026, 5 stars) and 3 diver reports on Undercurrent (November 2016, September 2021 and November 2022, dive-operation ratings 3, 5 and 5 of 5), all of which include daytime reef dives. We also scanned excerpts of 15 Undercurrent reports from 2011–2022. No 1–2 star reviews were found.
What Reviewers Praise
Full-service crew: setup, tank changes and gear storage between days(3 of 4 reviews we read)
Reviewers describe the crew assembling gear, swapping tanks, defogging masks and rinsing and storing BCDs and regulators for multi-day divers; one calls it concierge-level service.
— Undercurrent, dive operation 5/5, November 2022: for repeat divers, staff rinsed and stored BCDs and regulators and set them up for the next day.
Guides find small critters on lava-rock sites(2 of 4 reviews we read)
Two reviewers credit the divemasters with spotting nudibranchs, eels, shrimp, octopus and a large frogfish, and recommend macro photography; dives ran past 70 minutes with a one-third-tank rule.
— Undercurrent, 5/5, September 2021: "Daniel was a level above" at finding nudibranchs, eels, shrimp and octopus.
What Reviewers Complain About
Little coral and few large fish on the local sites(3 of 4 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: November 2022)
Three reviewers rated corals 1 of 5 and large fish 1 of 5, citing volcanic rock instead of reef, El Niño damage noted in 2016 and sightings limited to 1–2 sharks or turtles per trip.
— Undercurrent, 5/5 operation, September 2021: "a lack of corals and sea fans due to the volcanic nature of the islands."
Surge and chop make small-critter viewing harder(2 of 4 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: September 2021)
A November 2016 reviewer dived in choppy seas along the surge zone; a September 2021 reviewer notes little current but surge that made spotting macro life harder.
— Undercurrent, 3/5, November 2016: diving was along the island edge "in the strong surge zone" with choppy seas.
About the Operator in General
Across 15 Undercurrent report excerpts from 2011 to 2022, Kona Diving Company is repeatedly chosen for its smaller boat and group size (a 12-diver maximum was cited in 2013) and professional staff; one 2016 reviewer rated the operation 3 of 5 and would not return, mainly because the reef itself did not interest him.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $200 plus tax, this is a fair price for two long guided dives with a 5-to-1 ratio and a crew that handles every piece of gear, and it is the right pick for divers who like macro life and relaxed profiles. It is the wrong pick for divers expecting Caribbean-style coral walls or big animals; 3 of the 4 reviewers we read scored corals and large fish at the bottom of the scale. Pair it with the manta night charter for the 10% first-charter discount the operator advertises.
Book This Tour If…
You are Open Water certified and enjoy slow, 60–70-minute dives looking for eels, nudibranchs and octopus
You are diving several days and want the shop to store and set up your gear
You prefer a boat limited to 5 divers per guide over a larger charter
You plan to add the manta night charter and want the operator's first-charter discount
Skip This Tour If…
You want coral gardens or large pelagics; 3 of 4 reviewers we read rated both 1 of 5
You want to dive your own profile; all diving is guided
You cannot commit 72 hours ahead, because late cancellations are charged in full
You are flying or heading to Mauna Kea within 18 hours of the trip
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Bring a macro-capable camera; 2 of 4 reviews we read say the small critters are the main attraction
Wear at least a 3 mm suit; a November 2016 reviewer measured 75–78°F water
Ask for the first-charter 10% discount when booking both a morning and a manta trip, as advertised on the operator's charter pages
Confirm your boarding slip and check-in time when booking, since the operator's page only lists the office on Luhia Street
Budget a tip; the operator's policies page suggests at least 20% of the charter cost
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Kona Diving Company 2-tank morning charter?
The Kona Diving Company 2-tank morning charter costs $200 per certified diver as of October 2026 on the operator's website, before 7.712% GET and harbor tax. Tanks, weights, snacks and drinks are included; a BCD, wetsuit, regulator, nitrox or a private guide cost extra and the add-on prices are not published.
Which dive sites does the morning charter visit?
The morning charter picks two sites on the day from nearly 40 between Pawai Bay and Makako Bay, based on ocean conditions and the divers aboard. A November 2022 reviewer dived Pipe Dreams and Eel Garden; the operator says it tries to vary sites for guests diving multiple days.
How long are the dives on the Kona Diving Company morning trip?
Dives on the Kona Diving Company morning trip run until divers reach one-third of a tank, which a September 2021 Undercurrent reviewer says produced dives of more than 70 minutes. The whole charter, including two dives and a surface interval with snacks, lasts about 5 hours.
What is the boat like on the Kona Diving Company morning charter?
The morning charter uses Huakaʻi, a 46-foot Newton dive vessel with sun and shade areas, a protective cabin, a hot freshwater rinse shower and two large camera rinse tanks noted by a 2021 reviewer. Groups are limited to 5 divers per divemaster, and a 2013 reviewer cited a 12-diver maximum.
Do I need a wetsuit for morning diving in Kona?
A wetsuit is advisable for morning diving in Kona. Reviewers report water of 75–82°F depending on season; a November 2016 diver was told a full 2–3 mm suit was required, and a 2021 diver noted most people wore 2–3 mm. Kona Diving Company rents 3 mm and 5 mm full suits as a paid add-on.
What is the cancellation policy for Kona Diving Company charters?
Kona Diving Company gives a full refund for cancellations made by phone or email at least 72 hours before a charter. Inside 72 hours the full cost is owed unless the seat is rebooked. Holiday charters from December 20 to January 5 need 5 days' notice and groups of 6 or more need 7 days, as checked in October 2026.
Contact
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