The Kona Honu Divers 2-tank local morning dive runs 7:45 am to 12:45 pm from Honokohau Marina on the 46-foot Honu One, with two guided reef dives, free nitrox and valet gear handling. It suits certified divers wanting easy hour-long dives; drawbacks are up to 18 divers per boat, little coral, and a $299 refresher if 2 years out.
Highlights
Up to $239 per certified diver before tax, including guide, tanks, weights and free nitrox; a refresher version with an instructor is $299
Two sites within 20–25 minutes of the harbor, with lava formations, endemic fish, octopus and resting white-tip reef sharks listed by the operator
Valet diving: the crew sets up, rinses and stores your gear, and the boat has a hot shower, marine head and camera tables with rinse buckets
Dives run about an hour; reviewers in January 2024 and October 2025 report 60–70-minute limits
A 6-diver version of the same morning charter runs on the smaller Honu Lele
What to Expect
You arrive at the Kona Honu Divers slip at Honokohau Marina by 7:45 am with your certification card, dive computer and completed waiver.
The crew assembles your tanks and weights while the boat runs 20–25 minutes to the first site; a January 2024 reviewer counted about 15 divers split into three guided groups.
Each guided dive lasts around an hour and stays above roughly 80 feet, with the group following the divemaster at a slow pace.
During the surface interval the crew serves snacks and water and the boat moves to a second site; whales and dolphins were seen en route by a January 2024 reviewer.
After the second dive the crew rinses gear and can store it for divers returning on later days; you are back at the marina around 12:45 pm.
What's Included
Guide and two boat dives
Tanks with air or free nitrox
Weights
Valet gear setup, rinsing and storage
Snacks and water during the surface interval
Marine head, hot shower and camera tables on board
Dive insurance (strongly recommended by the operator)
Transportation to the marina
Crew tips; the operator suggests about $10 per tank
What to Bring
Physical or electronic certification card, or a verification screenshot
Dive computer (required)
A hood if you get cold easily; reviewers measured 77–81°F water
Handheld camera (drones are not permitted)
Mineral sunscreen only
Restrictions and Requirements
Open Water certification or higher with proof before boarding
A dive within the past 2 years, otherwise book the $299 refresher
Ages 10 and up; 10–11 need a private guide ($349 extra), 12–17 must dive with a parent or guardian
Good health with no heart conditions; the operator notes doctors do not approve of diving while pregnant
Must understand English and be able to dive in a group
No flying or travel above 2,000 feet for 18 hours after the charter
Cancellation Policy
Cancel or rebook up to 72 hours before the trip for a full refund; cancellations within 72 hours are non-refundable, and arrivals more than 15 minutes late or no-shows get nothing back. Full refund or reschedule if the operator cancels. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell and the operator's site.
Kona Honu Divers boat slip (Honu One), Honokohau Marina, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
Check-In
7:45 am at the boat
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
5.0
7,700 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Kona Honu Divers runs one of the more extensive dive product lineups in this dataset, generally suggesting an established, full-service operation.
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 11 reviews and reports for Kona Honu Divers in October 2026: 4 full Undercurrent reports (March 2020, September 2021, January 2024, September 2024), 4 Undercurrent previews (June 2025, October 2025, July 2026, August 2026), 1 Greetwell review (September 2026), 1 Bluewater Dive Travel review and 1 testimonial on the operator's site. Six describe daytime local dives. The June 2025 report is negative but mostly paywalled.
What Reviewers Praise
Service-oriented crew that uses your name and handles gear(6 of 11 reviews we read)
Reviewers from 2020 to 2026 praise named captains and divemasters for organization and welcome, with one noting the crew used divers' first names on every interaction and another describing a merged load of 15 divers that still did not feel crowded.
— Undercurrent, October 2025: "Captain John and Divemaster/Instructor Rob were exceptional on their organization, competence and welcoming attitude."
Long, unhurried dives with varied fish and the odd big visitor(4 of 11 reviews we read)
Reviewers report hour-long dives with a generous 70-minute limit, healthy fish populations, frogfish and eels, and surprises such as a monk seal and whales near the boat.
— Undercurrent, 5/5 operation, September 2024: fish-heavy dives with one monk seal, several turtles and arches to swim through.
What Reviewers Complain About
Little coral; Kona is lava rock, not reef(3 of 11 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: June 2025)
Three reviewers rated corals 1–2 of 5, one summarizing that Hawaii is not a coral destination; the interest is in fish, arches and critters rather than reef structure.
— Undercurrent, October 2025: "Hawaii is not a coral destination, but the dives overall were interesting with healthy, varied fish populations."
Crew reluctant to take gear at the ladder(1 report · operator issue · most recent: June 2025)
A June 2025 reviewer with over 1,000 dives says the crew would not take his BCD and tank from the water, leaving him to climb a five-foot ladder fully weighted; he rated the operator 1 of 5 for advanced divers and the rest of his report is paywalled.
— Undercurrent, June 2025: crew were "highly reluctant to take my BCD and tank from the water."
About the Operator in General
Kona Honu Divers runs three boats and is one of the three large Kona dive shops; across 43 Undercurrent entries from 2004 to 2026 the June 2025 report is the only negative one, and a 2017 reviewer noted service had improved over a prior visit.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At up to $239 plus about 13% in tax and fees, this is a solid default morning charter for certified divers who want nitrox, gear valet and an hour-long guided dive on a comfortable boat, especially over multiple days when the shop stores your kit. Divers who want small groups or their own profile should pay for the 6-person Honu Lele version or choose a smaller shop. Expect fish, arches and critters, not coral.
Book This Tour If…
You are Open Water certified with a dive in the last 2 years and want two easy guided dives before lunch
You dive nitrox and want it free rather than as a paid add-on
You are diving several mornings and want the crew to rinse and store your gear
You want a boat with a hot shower, head and camera tables
Skip This Tour If…
You want a 6-diver boat; Honu One takes up to 18 and merges loads some days
You have not dived in 2 years and do not want to pay $299 for the refresher version
You expect coral reef; 3 of 11 reviewers rated corals 1–2 of 5
You have trouble climbing a ladder with gear, given the June 2025 report
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Book early in your trip so the free standby for the manta night dive and any gear storage work in your favor
Rent a 5 mm suit if you run cold; 3 of 11 reviewers wore 5 mm in 75–81°F water
Bring a dive computer; the operator will not take you without one
Ask whether the day's load is merged from two boats, as a January 2024 reviewer experienced
Budget roughly $10 per tank for tips, per the operator's own guidance
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Kona Honu Divers 2-tank morning dive?
The 2-tank local morning dive is listed at up to $239 per certified diver before tax and fees on the Kona Honu Divers site as of October 2026, with demand-based pricing; Greetwell shows $294.51. A refresher version with an instructor is $299, and a private guide adds $349. Nitrox is free.
What time does the Kona Honu Divers morning charter run?
The morning charter runs from 7:45 am to 12:45 pm, about 5 hours, departing from the Kona Honu Divers slip at Honokohau Marina. The boat reaches the first site in 20–25 minutes, and each guided dive lasts about an hour, with a surface interval for snacks between the two sites.
Which boat is used for the Kona Honu Divers morning dive?
The standard morning dive uses Honu One, a 46-foot Newton Dive Special with a hot shower, marine head, camera tables and an upper deck, carrying up to 18 divers. The operator also sells a separate 2-tank morning charter on Honu Lele, a 35.5-foot catamaran limited to 6 divers, at a different price.
Do I need recent dive experience for the Kona Honu morning charter?
Kona Honu Divers requires a logged dive within the past 2 years for the standard morning charter. Divers dry for 2 to 5 years must book the $299 refresher trip with an instructor, over 5 years need a PADI ReActivate, and over 10 years need to retake the Open Water course, according to Greetwell.
What marine life is seen on a Kona morning dive?
Reviewers of Kona Honu Divers morning trips report healthy fish populations, frogfish, eels, octopus, several turtles, a monk seal and, in January 2024, whales and dolphin schools from the boat. Coral cover is low; 3 of 11 reviewers rated corals 1–2 of 5 because Kona sites are lava formations rather than reef.
What is the cancellation policy for the morning dive?
Kona Honu Divers allows free cancellation or rebooking up to 72 hours before the morning dive. Inside 72 hours the booking is non-refundable, and arrivals more than 15 minutes late or no-shows get no refund. If the operator cancels you receive a full refund or reschedule, as checked in October 2026.
Contact
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