The Kona private dive charter on the Honu Lele gives up to 6 guests exclusive use of Kona Honu Divers' 33-foot catamaran for 5 or 7 hours, mixing divers and snorkelers, from $1,927 per boat. It suits families and small dive groups wanting their own sites and pace; drawbacks are the per-person cost for couples and a 7-day cancellation cutoff.
Highlights
Whole-boat hire of the Honu Lele, a 33-foot World Cat with full shade, swim step, freshwater shower and a 42 mph cruising speed, for up to 6 passengers
Two lengths listed on Greetwell in October 2026: 5 hours at $1,927.42 and 7 hours at $2,154.84, plus $100 when the group mixes divers and snorkelers
Snorkel or scuba gear, a boxed lunch, drinks and paddle boarding are included; the operator says it can target specific marine life or remote beaches on request
Departs Honokohau Harbor, with the operator citing more than 49 dive sites within a 30-minute run
Kona Honu Divers has offered private charters since 2002 and also lists larger boats (Orca for 18, Honu One for 49) for bigger groups
What to Expect
Book the 5-hour or 7-hour option and tell the operator how many divers and snorkelers are in your party; the mixed-group surcharge is $100.
Meet the Honu Lele at Honokohau Harbor, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, at your scheduled charter time; divers must show a physical or electronic certification card before boarding.
Agree the plan with the captain and guide: coastline cruising, caves and caverns at some sites, specific marine life, or a remote beach stop.
Divers make guided dives while snorkelers use the swim step and provided gear; a boxed lunch and drinks are served on board.
Rinse off under the freshwater shower and return to the harbor at the end of the booked window.
Do not fly or drive above 2,000 feet for 18 hours after diving, per the operator's rules.
What's Included
Snorkel or scuba gear
Boxed lunch
Drinks
Onboard shade and freshwater shower
Captain and guide
What's Not Included
Transportation to the harbor
Gratuity
Sales tax (4.4386% shown on Greetwell), 3% harbor use fee and 5% booking fee
$100 surcharge when the charter mixes divers and snorkelers
What to Bring
Certification card for every diver
Mineral-based sunscreen only
Swimwear, towel and a hat
Restrictions and Requirements
Maximum 6 passengers on the Honu Lele
No heart conditions; everyone must be able to converse in English for safety briefings
Divers inactive for over 2 years need a refresher, over 5 years a PADI ReActivate, over 10 years a full open-water course
No flying or driving above 2,000 feet for 18 hours after the charter
Mineral sunscreen only
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at least 7 days before the charter for a full refund. Cancellations inside 7 days and no-shows are not refunded. If Kona Honu Divers cancels, including for weather, you can reschedule or receive a full refund. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell.
Honu Lele, Honokohau Harbor, 74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Check-In
Arrive at the scheduled charter time
Ratings from every source we could find
Other
5.0
7,700 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
General private dive charter sentiment favors flexibility for group site selection.
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 have not yet read individual reviews of this private charter. We read 3 operator-level reviews of Kona Honu Divers (Undercurrent, August 2026; Bluewater Dive Travel, 2014; Greetwell, September 2026), and the rating below is the public score shown on the Greetwell listing as of October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Guides and captains praised by name(3 of 3 operator-level reviews we read)
Each of the 3 operator reviews we read names specific crew for patience and marine-life knowledge, which matters more on a private charter where you spend the whole day with the same two people.
— Greetwell, 5★, September 2026: a guest praised a guide for being patient with newer divers on a mixed-experience trip.
What Reviewers Complain About
No critical reviews found yet(0 of 3 reviews we read · operator issue · most recent: August 2026)
None of the 3 operator-level reviews we read contained a complaint about the boat or crew. The one mixed score was an Undercurrent reviewer rating coral quality 3 of 5, which is a site condition rather than a charter issue.
— Undercurrent, August 2026: boat facilities rated 4 of 5 and corals 3 of 5 across a long range trip, a local trip and a manta dive.
About the Operator in General
Kona Honu Divers shows a 5.0 score across about 7,700 FareHarbor-fed reviews on reseller listings as of October 2026. HawaiiGuide's March 2026 profile scores the operator 76.3/100 and positions it as a specialist for certified divers rather than first-time snorkelers.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
For a group of 5 or 6, the 5-hour Honu Lele charter works out near $320–$385 per person before fees, which is in the same range as two individual seats on the operator's long range charter but with your own itinerary. For a couple it is hard to justify against $269 scheduled seats. The 7-day cancellation window is stricter than the 72 hours on the operator's group trips, so treat this as a firm commitment.
Book This Tour If…
You are 4–6 people who want to choose sites and pace, including a mix of divers and snorkelers
Someone in your group has limited experience and benefits from the guide's full attention
You want a shaded, fast boat for a family day with snorkeling and paddle boarding rather than a dive-only trip
Your dates are fixed at least 7 days out
Skip This Tour If…
You are a couple or trio; scheduled 2-tank charters cost far less per person
Your group is larger than 6; the operator's Orca (18) or Honu One (49) would be the right boat
You might need to cancel inside 7 days
You want a guaranteed itinerary; sites depend on conditions on the day
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Greetwell listed $1,927.42 for 5 hours and $2,154.84 for 7 hours in October 2026; the operator's own page gives no prices, so get a written quote
Add $100 if your party includes both divers and snorkelers
Bring certification cards for every diver; boarding is refused without them
Food beyond the boxed lunch can be arranged with advance notice, according to the operator
Allow 18 hours after the charter before flying or driving to Mauna Kea or Volcano
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a private charter on the Honu Lele?
Greetwell listed the Honu Lele private charter at $1,927.42 for 5 hours and $2,154.84 for 7 hours in October 2026, per boat for up to 6 guests, plus sales tax, a 3% harbor use fee and a 5% booking fee. A $100 surcharge applies when divers and snorkelers share the charter. Kona Honu Divers' own site publishes no prices.
How many people fit on the Honu Lele private charter?
The Honu Lele carries a maximum of 6 passengers, whether they are divers, snorkelers or a mix. Kona Honu Divers lists it as a 33-foot World Cat catamaran with full shade, a swim step, a freshwater shower and a 42 mph cruising speed. Larger groups can ask about the 18-passenger Orca or 49-passenger Honu One.
What is included in a Kona Honu Divers private charter?
The Greetwell listing includes snorkel or scuba gear, a boxed lunch, drinks, onboard shade and a freshwater shower, plus a captain and guide. Transportation to Honokohau Harbor and gratuity are not included. The operator says extra food service and targeted marine-life outings can be arranged with advance planning.
What is the cancellation policy for the private charter?
Private charters on the Honu Lele require at least 7 days' notice for a full refund; cancellations within 7 days and no-shows are charged in full. If Kona Honu Divers cancels for weather or other reasons, guests may reschedule or receive a full refund. This is stricter than the 72-hour window on the operator's scheduled trips.
Can non-certified people join the private dive charter?
Yes, snorkelers can join the same charter as certified divers, with a $100 surcharge for mixed groups. Certified divers must show a physical or electronic card before boarding, and anyone who has not dived in more than 2 years needs a refresher first. Every guest must be free of heart conditions and able to follow English briefings.
Contact
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TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Kona Honu Divers directly.
