The Kona Honu Divers blackwater night dive is a 3-hour charter taking 6 experienced divers 3–4 miles off Honokohau to hang on a 60-foot tether over 4,000-foot-deep water as larval and pelagic animals rise after dark. It suits divers with 50-plus logged dives wanting a specialist guide; drawbacks are seasickness, disorientation and one short dive.
Highlights
Up to $239 per diver before tax for a single night dive, limited to 6 divers; a private charter is $1,395
Starts between 5:15 and 6:15 pm and ends by 8:15–9:15 pm depending on sunset
Divers hang from a 60-foot line beneath the boat with their own 12–15-foot tether, over water the operator describes as more than 4,000 feet deep
Guide Jeff Milisen, author of a field guide to blackwater diving in Hawaii, led 3 of the 6 blackwater dives reviewers we read describe
Requires 50 logged dives, a dive within 6 months and age 18 or over
What to Expect
You board at Honokohau Marina at about 6:15 pm with your certification card, waiver and seasickness medication taken in advance.
The boat runs 3–4 miles offshore on the 35.5-foot catamaran Honu Lele; a September 2021 reviewer describes a cushioned, fully shaded deck.
The divemaster gives a briefing on the tether system and the animals; a September 2024 reviewer calls the briefing with photo boards thorough and impressive.
You backroll in, clip your 12–15-foot tether to the main line and hang between the surface and 60 feet with a powerful light, with no bottom or reference points.
Jellies, larval fish, squid and other gelatinous animals drift past; a March 2020 reviewer also saw three small pods of dolphins feeding on squid near the surface.
The dive runs until the group ends it; a September 2021 reviewer's dive lasted about 25 minutes after an oceanic whitetip approached repeatedly.
Seasickness or anti-nausea medication, which the operator strongly recommends
Full wetsuit with hood to protect against jellies
A BCD with a bladder for buoyancy control
Macro lens and a strong light if you shoot photos
Certification card and completed waiver; mineral sunscreen only
Restrictions and Requirements
At least 50 logged dives
A dive within the last 6 months; pool refreshers do not count
Age 18 or over; under-18s considered only with a Junior Rescue Diver certification
Excellent buoyancy and self-reliance; good health with no heart conditions
Must understand English briefings
No flying or travel above 2,000 feet for 18 hours afterward
Cancellation Policy
Cancel or change up to 72 hours before departure for a full refund; cancellations within 72 hours are non-refundable, and late arrivals get no refund. Full refund if the operator cancels, including for weather. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell.
Options available
Shared Charter
Private Charter
Choose your option and see its price on the booking page.
Honu Lele, Kona Honu Divers slip at Honokohau Marina, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
Check-In
Departs 6:15 pm per Greetwell; arrive before departure
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
5.0
7,700 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Kona is widely regarded within the international dive community as one of the best and most accessible blackwater diving locations in the world, owing to the unusually steep underwater drop-off close to the Kona coastline that brings deep-sea conditions within a short boat ride.
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, of which 6 describe the blackwater dive: 3 full Undercurrent reports (March 2020, September 2021, September 2024), 1 Undercurrent preview (August 2026), 1 Bluewater Dive Travel review (visit 2014, posted March 2025) and 1 testimonial on the operator's page (May 2021). No 1–2 star reviews of the blackwater dive were found.
What Reviewers Praise
Guide expertise on pelagic animals(4 of 6 blackwater reviews we read)
Four reviewers single out the divemaster's knowledge of blackwater fauna, two naming Jeff Milisen and his published field guide; briefings with his own photo boards are described as a class in themselves.
— Undercurrent, August 2026: "Highlight was the Black Water dive, where Jeff is a true expert on the fauna."
Unlike any other dive(5 of 6 blackwater reviews we read)
Five reviewers call it the highlight of their trip or the most unusual dive they have done, citing larval creatures with colored lights, jellies, squid and dolphins feeding near the surface.
— Undercurrent, 5/5 advanced, March 2020: a feeding frenzy rising from the depths and "lots of jellies and other gelatinous type things."
What Reviewers Complain About
Disorienting and hard; not for inexperienced divers(2 of 6 blackwater reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: September 2024)
Two reviewers stress the difficulty: no visual references, windy or choppy seas, and a beginner rating of 1 of 5; one did not see everything he hoped for but still called it worthwhile.
— Undercurrent, 4/5, September 2024: "Dive was difficult with few visual references."
Shark approach ended a dive early(1 report · outside operator's control · most recent: September 2021)
A September 2021 reviewer's dive lasted about 25 minutes after a 4–5-foot oceanic whitetip approached repeatedly; the divemaster blocked it with his camera rig and signaled the end of the dive. The reviewer reported no injury and still rated the operation 4 of 5.
— Undercurrent, September 2021: an oceanic whitetip of about 4–5 feet approached repeatedly and the guide called the dive.
About the Operator in General
Kona Honu Divers runs blackwater several nights a week on its 6-diver catamaran; across the 43 Undercurrent entries dated 2004–2026 the blackwater dive is the single most praised product, and the only negative report (June 2025) concerns a daytime charter.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
For divers with 50-plus dives and solid buoyancy, this is the most distinctive dive sold in Kona and worth up to $239 plus fees, mainly because of a guide who literally wrote the book on the animals you will see. It is a single, short dive in open water at night, so skip it if you get seasick, dislike disorientation or want reef scenery. Book it separately from the premium long-range day, which the operator advises against combining.
Book This Tour If…
You have 50 or more logged dives, one within 6 months, and trust your buoyancy without a bottom
You want to photograph larval and pelagic animals with a macro lens
You have tried a manta or reef night dive and want something stranger
You can take seasickness medication ahead of a choppy evening offshore
Skip This Tour If…
You are under 18 or have fewer than 50 dives; the operator will not take you
You get seasick; the boat drifts for an hour several miles out with no shelter from swell
You expect to see large animals; sightings are mostly small jellies and larvae
You want multiple dives for the money; this is one tank for up to $239
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Take seasickness medication before boarding; the operator highly recommends it
Wear a full suit with hood; the operator warns about jellies and 2 of 6 reviewers dived in 75–79°F water
Request a date when Jeff Milisen is guiding; 3 of 6 reviewers named him
Bring a macro lens and strong focus light; the operator lists both for photographers
Do not schedule this the same evening as the long-range day trip
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blackwater dive in Kona?
A Kona blackwater dive is a night dive in open ocean 3–4 miles offshore, over water more than 4,000 feet deep, where divers hang from a 60-foot tether beneath the boat and watch larval fish, jellies, squid and other animals that migrate toward the surface after dark. There is no reef or bottom in sight.
How much does the Kona Honu Divers blackwater dive cost?
The Kona Honu Divers blackwater dive is listed at up to $239 per diver before tax and fees as of October 2026, with prices varying by demand; Greetwell shows $271.77 plus mandatory fees. The fare covers a guide, air tank, weights and dive light for one dive. A private 6-diver charter is $1,395.
What experience do I need for the blackwater dive?
Kona Honu Divers requires at least 50 logged dives, a dive within the last 6 months, excellent buoyancy and self-reliance, and an age of 18 or over for the blackwater dive. Reviewers rate it 1 of 5 for beginners, and a September 2024 diver with 100-plus dives still found it difficult.
How deep do you go on a blackwater dive?
On the Kona Honu Divers blackwater dive you stay between the surface and about 60 feet, held to the boat by a main line with a 12–15-foot personal tether clipped to your BCD. The ocean beneath is more than 4,000 feet deep, which is why buoyancy control and a BCD with a bladder are required.
What animals do you see on a Kona blackwater dive?
Reviewers of the Kona Honu Divers blackwater dive report jellies and gelatinous animals, larval fish with bioluminescent colors, squid, and in March 2020 three pods of dolphins feeding near the surface. A September 2021 diver also had an oceanic whitetip shark approach. Sightings vary each night and large animals are not the goal.
What time does the blackwater dive start and how long is it?
The blackwater charter starts between 5:15 and 6:15 pm depending on sunset and returns by 8:15 to 9:15 pm, about 3 hours in total. The dive itself is a single tank; one September 2021 reviewer was in the water about 25 minutes before the guide ended the dive, and the operator does not publish a fixed bottom time.
Contact
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